Xbox 360 gives up the ghost... again

By Ed Stasick

My Xbox 360 has gone to console heaven. It happened fast. I don't think it felt any pain. It powered-up, began loading up the HD-DVD of Superman: The Movie and then came to a screeching halt (literally, it was screeching). Then it was on to the blinking lights of death. Goodbye, Xbox 360. I hardly new ya.

Why am I wasting your valuable PS3 playtime telling you about the shameful existence of an Xbox 360 corpse in my home? I'm glad you asked:

  1. This is the second time this has happened to my Xbox 360! Yes, two have died under my care. I'll quote a post I wrote when my first Xbox 360 bit the bullet: "Never laugh at the less fortunate. I've never had a console problem in my life. I laughed at these stories of people going through 2, 3 and 4 defective Xbox 360s. Laugh I tell you! And not just a chuckle, but a deep, evil genius laugh. Well, who's laughing now? Touche, Mr. Gates." Touche indeed. So far my PS3 has worked perfectly. And I've heard no stories of mass PS3 failures.
  2. My Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive is now a very expensive decoration. I've made a decent investment in HD-DVDs and they're all coasters for now. At least I have a few Blu-ray movies on hand that will allow me to continue living the sweet, sweet HD dream.
  3. Flame bait.

Now, Microsoft is sending me another new console. I'll miss certain games and HD-DVDs while I wait, but the bottom-line (and the moral of this whole story) is that I'm scared every time I turn on my Xbox 360. I'm excited when I turn on my PS3.

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