Dutch TV investigates
Representatives from Dutch TV programme Kassa have sent us the following statement:
Following tests on VARA Dutch consumer television programme Kassa,Microsoft has admitted that the Xbox-360 may leave scratches on game CDs and DVDs.
This happened after consumer programme Kassa provided evidence in two episodes. The programme has currently received 1,000 complaints from gamers whose expensive games got scratched in the Xbox. The fact that Microsoft has admitted this is a breakthrough: for months, Xbox users were sent back and told it was their own fault.
Kassa raised the issue of the Xbox for the first time at the end of last February. The Xbox-360 was tested by a company called Hardware.info after the programme received complaints about games getting scratched for no apparent reason. The tests revealed that due to an absence of rubber pads around the lens, the latter touches the CD leaving deep circular scratches and making it unreadable. Microsoft denied this emphatically and insisted that "…if placed on a stable surface, the Xbox-360 cannot leave scratches on games.".
However, a test that VARA’s Kassa broadcasted on Saturday 14 April, revealed that even stably placed Xbox's can cause scratches. This evidence is a major breakthrough, as worldwide complaints about scratched games due to flaws in the Xbox drive have up to now remained unsettled.
Click for larger imageIn a press release addressed to Kassa Microsoft now admits that "…it is possible that scratches may originate from frequent use." (*)
It is unclear what consequences this statement will have. There is some information, known to Kassa, that this case concerns a series of between 1 and 2 million Xboxes that were sold worldwide. Microsoft does not intend to issue a worldwide recall, but has promised to help all Dutch Xbox users with this problem.
Watch the two episodes of Kassa on youtube.com with English subtitles:
1st episode 24th february 2007:
Test shows absence of rubber pads around the lens, the latter touches the CD leaving deep circular scratches and making it unreadable:
Part 1
2e episode 14th april 2007:
Even stably placed Xboxes can cause scratches, a major breakthrough; Microsoft now admits that "…it is possible that scratches may originate from frequent use. "The complete broadcast of Kassa is shown on YouTube, with English subtitles. Because of the length of the show, it is cut in two parts, as YouTube only accepts videos which are shorter than 10 minutes.
Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=513I87Evjuw
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=513I87Evjuw
HEXUS comments: So Microsoft has admitted that "…it is possible that scratches may originate from frequent use." What's the big deal here? Are we missing the point?
