Get the Red Rings of Death - Get a Free Game!
Last week sometime while on Bomberman Live, I got the dreaded red rings. Inconceivable I thought, I mean, I just got a nice “new” refurbished machine no more than a couple of months ago. Before that, I was running on my launch console for years. Well, I shut down the machine and turned it back on ten minutes later with no problems since then.
Forward to this week, my Bioshock pre-order arrived, woohoo, game of the century and all that, I turn it on, I play for hours and hours. The next day, I play some more hours… then… it happened.. RED RINGS! I couldn’t believe it. I tried using that new service.xbox.com page Microsoft set up, it gave me errors. I didn’t want to towel trick just yet, because the 360 does work if I let it cool off, so screw it, whatever, I just waited to give a call as soon as I woke up (which was roughly an hour ago).
Spoke to my fine Indian friend at the Microsoft call center, I always have found them pleasant even though the whole situation is a hassle to have to make the call in the first place. As I was on the phone, memories of a gamer getting a free game out of Microsoft came to mind for having to get a third 360 because of the red rings (Note: I can’t find the link to that guy’s account, but when I do I will update this post so you see how he did it too). Either way, the long and short of the conversation was:
Me: Hey, I run an Xbox web site, this is now my second time having to get a refurbished machine, and I have only had this for a couple of months now, is there anything you can offer me, a controller, a free game, something, to make sure that I do not have to give Microsoft bad press over this issue.
Them: Hold on, let me check on that *puts me on hold*
*comes back* I have Kameo, Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Viva Pinata which I can offer you.
Bam! So not only do they send me an extra 1 month of Xbox Live Card (if you have got a refurbished machine, you know this is what you get already), but now a free game. I highly highly suggest doing this yourself I am having no hopes of getting an HDMI machine, but I the free game is making me feel all happy. Now, if problems arise before I get my coffin, I will in fact just towel trick till I get the box to ship my 360 in.
There you go, get the red rings, get a free game, here is the cliff notes to do it yourself:
- Call 1-800-4MY-XBOX (Screw services.xbox.com)
- Say this is not the first time this has happened and you run a web site and will give bad press, tell them “What can you offer me!?” (be polite)
- Pick a game, say thank you.
- Now, just play the waiting game.
-
“Ah, the waiting game sucks. Let’s play Hungry-Hungry-Hippos!’” - Homer J Simpson
UPDATO MAGNIFICO:
September 4th, and I have already received my copy of Viva Pinata! I thought it would be inside the box or something, awesome job Microsoft! (I guess it would be more so awesome if the machine never broke in the first place, but they admit their mistakes and are definitely fixing it!)Did You Enjoy this Post? Subscribe to XBox 360 Rally. It's Free!
August 30th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
…you’ve had yours fixed twice in the time mine has been out? I hate you, dude.
August 30th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I just can’t believe how quickly this second machine red ringed on me. I had that launch one for years, I had so much faith in this system
August 31st, 2007 at 11:00 am
They’re giving me a free controller, but they screwed me far worse than they screwed you.
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:58 am
[...] care as much as I should, I called Microsoft and am getting another new one, included with a free game which they actually already shipped me, but still haven’t received a coffin for it). Sadly, I [...]
October 25th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Thanks, I might try it out, but would feel kind sleazy doing it. I have had quite a few red rings though…
November 9th, 2007 at 7:40 am
[...] read more | digg story [...]
June 15th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
[...] *Red Rings? Get a free game. [...]