5.77 - The One with Bumblebee

Picked up Forza 3 last night...pretty sweet game and it'll give the Gran Turismo series a run for it's money. The customization in this game is fun too...I didn't have much time but this is what I've done so far:

5.21 - The One with the NXE

Look! It's me! I've been NXE'd. Microsoft decided that they wanted to jump on the avatar making bandwagon a la Nintendo's Mii's, and I'm pretty sure that Sony has something similar to this with their PlayStation Network for the PS3.

So yesterday Microsoft luanched the "New Xbox Experience" which was basically a redesign of the XBox 360 interface. It looks really good...and it's prett user friendly. I still don't really know what these avatrs will be used for. I've got Scene It! Box Office Smash! that will take advantage of the new avatars...but I can't see what else they will be used for unless XBox games start looking like the Nintendo Wii games. In anycase...these avatars will keep me entertained for a few minutes every so often...

...side note...this is the second consecutive post about Microsoft...

4.30 - The One with THE return

Day 12

I recieved a large white box today. It contained my new (refurbished) XBox 360. Microsoft you did good on this one...less that 2 weeks. You even gave me a month free on XBox Live...I'm impressed...now about this Vista thing...

4.29 - The One with the hopeful return

Day 11

I checked my XBox 360 repair status today and there was something new to see...they changed my serial number and the status read: Device Shipped to Customer. Should be here tomorrow then...I hope...

4.27 - The One with the worst parents in the world

Remeber when you were a kid and you had one thing that you really wanted but never thought you'd get because it was expensive? You'd try to be really good so your parents could get it for you for Christmas? You'd do your chores, go to bed early...even do your homework? And when that fateful day came you'd unwrap all your presents and getting clothes instead? But then your parents would pull out one more present from the magic parent hiding spot and low and behold...it's the very thing you wanted. You'd jump and and down, screaming for joy and yelling "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" You're parents would just sit back and relax, wondering if they made the right choice in buying you such an expensive present when they know that you'd go back to your mischevious ways in a few days...but in those few days you're parents are the best parents in the world.

Then I came across this on Engadget...

Young Jonathan is pretty exciting on Christmas morning when he unwraps a rather larget present that turns out to be an XBox 360! (You're thinking to yourself...what's so bad about that? Well let me finish...) As he opens the box he discovers that there is no XBox inside...instead he got some lame blue and grey fleece clothes. The family thinks it's so funny and laughs hysterically at this poor kid. Doesn't help that his idiot older brother is filming and was obviously in on it saying, "we can't afford an XBox!" What kind of sick joke was that? I would have flipped...

The video of this was uploaded by his brother who claims that Jonathan sneaked a peak at his Christmas presents so they took the console out of the box to teach him a lesson. His brother also claims that there's another video that shows Jonathan getting his XBox later...but his brother has failed to post it.



Since the posting on Engadget, they've been flooded with e-mails, even from Microsoft wanting to help out Jonathan. His family admitted that he never did get an XBox, they just wanted to punk the kid. In the end...he'll get his XBox 360...I hope that he doesn't let is stupid family play...

I feel sorry for the young one...just remember...what goes around, comes around...

[via Engadget]

4.26 - The One with the 7th day

Day 7

Microsoft e-mailed me yesterday and told me that they have received my XBox 360 and that I can check the status of the repair by logging on the the Xbox website. There it explains to me which step they are on...the problem is...they only have 4 steps:

1. After your repair order is submitted, your status will change to Repair order submitted. This means that it is in the queue to be processed.
2. After it is processed, your repair order status will change to Waiting for device at service center. The total length of this process depends on you! We will ship an empty box to you by using ground service. When you receive the box, you will pack your console using the included instructions. Send it back to us by using the ground shipping that is included.
3. When we receive your console, the status will change to Device received at service center. It will require up to two business days to repair or replace your console.
4. When your console is repaired or replaced, we will ship it to you by using ground service. The status of your order will change to Device shipped to customer.

so currently we're on step 3...hopefully they send it back to me on Monday...here's hoping. At least I didn't have a customized case that got cleaned by the repair staff. Read the article after the jump.

Once upon a time there was a boy who loved video games. This boy bought an Xbox 360. Two years later it broke. The boy had no choice but to send it in for repairs. It was then that Microsoft decided to screw him over. A very big bend on over so we can give you the royal treatment sort of screwing.

[via Hawty McBloggy]

4.24 - The One with the "coffin"

Day 5

When I called Microsoft on Saturday to tell them that my XBox 360 had red lighted they told me that they would send out a box (coffin) for it to be sent back to their repair facility. They told me that it would be about a week before I get it. I thought that it was coming from the States, but to my surprise...it came yesterday (Tuesday) from Toronto. So this gives me a little more hope that my XBox will come back to me sooner than I though. Here are some pics of the "coffin"...I'm dropping it off at the Purolator depot today to be sent back...

...it came with instructions with pictures, telling me what to put in the box...

...the XBox 360 getting it's foam on...

...packed up and ready to go back to it's maker.

4.23 - The One with the 3 Red Rings

3 Red Rings...

I didn't think it would happen to me...

...I've heard it happening to others...but not me...

...but...it happened...

my XBox 360 finally succumbed the infamous 3 Red Rings of death. Basically it means there's a hardware failure and it's not going to work anymore. Luckily Microsoft is pretty good about this and will fix it for free. But that means no Rock Band for a month!

Well I still have my Wii...and ever since I got Rock Band, I haven't paid much attention to my Wii. It looks lonely...it's a good thing that Smash Bros. Brawl is coming out soon...

3.73 - The One with the 2 turkey dinners

This must be the warmest Thanksgiving weedkend in recent memory. I'm not complaining beacause I know what's coming...I even got a change to go golfing yesterday...probably for the last time this season. Anyways, I've got a lot to be thankful about this year. Funny how we need a holiday to really stop and put things into perspective. We live out our lives, and take things for granted most of the time...well at least I do at times. I don't usually stop and think about how incredibly privileged I am. So I'm glad we have this holiday to give us a chance to stop and reflect on what really matters.

This year I get 2 turkey dinners...mmmmm...oh ya...and I got an XBox 360 this weekend too. J-Ray sold me his for a really really good price...he wanted to get the XBox 360 Elite. I was more than happy to take his plain white one off his hands. Picked up Madden 08 and Halo3 as well...

...Happy Turkey Day everyone (except for you guys in the States...Happy Columbus Day)