I have been a long time supporter of Microsoft consoles, ever since I got my original Xbox, but I’m beginning to reconsider. I’m currently on my third 360, the first had a RRoD that was repaired for free by Microsoft, the second was sidelined by disc read errors. Through all three systems, all old body style, I have had trouble with games randomly not loading or freezing.
Every version of Madden from 08 through 12 has had freezing issues. I will get deep into a season or career and randomly the console will freeze up while loading the menus after a game. Before my disc drive went on my second system, I had trouble loading the game Race Pro. I would have to turn my console on, let it sit for 10-15 minutes to warm up, then load the game. If I tried before that, I would get a disc read error. A few months ago I received Dead Rising 2 from GameFly and the game would not load. At all. I had to return it without even playing it because it would give me disc read errors. Then there was Fable 3. Where I got about 5 hours in and suddenly there was no dialog. Every person I tried to talk to in game would result in nothing. No audio, no captions, nothing. In other words, I no longer could play it. Now I’m having freezing problems with Forza 4. I bought Forza 4 on Friday and every time I run a race at Laguna Seca, the game freezes as soon as I hit my breaks going into the first corner. So I skipped that race and went to another track and was able to play for a while again. Then eventually I got to another track that started freezing.
I’m sure not all of these problems are due to my consoles. You can scroll through page after page of forum posts about Madden’s freezing issues, and the Fable 3 audio bug is well known, but Fable and Forza are both Microsoft Studios games. These games should have the least problems or at least have their problems fixed the fastest.
Do I dare buy a 360s? And take the chance of spending $200-300 on a new console that might do the same thing?
All I know is I own a PS3, and if given the option, I’ll buy a game on the PS3 before I buy it for 360. I haven’t had any problems with loading, freezing or anything of that nature on my Sony system. Sometimes it only takes a lax in quality to make a longtime supporter to reconsider his allegiance.
(The opinions expressed here are not the opinions of the entire The Preferred Nerd staff)
The Preferred Nerd 