Support NeoGAF

[The Faceless Master]

GameSpot.com Bogus
>> I don't normally address garbage on the net so directly, it's 2am as I write this, but it needs to be said...
From gamespot.com:

RUMOR #3: The real reason Microsoft recalled 14.1 million Xbox power cords is because of a fault in the Xbox itself, not the cords.

Source: Xbox-mod-mad site Xbox-scene.com.

The official story: See below.

What we heard: Given Microsoft's admitted cord-failure rate of "about 1 in 10,000," its recall seemed a prudent move. But according to the techno-savvy scofflaws at Xbox-scene.com, it was instead a massive cover-up. "There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with the Xbox power cords. MS just had the recall to cover their butts," said the site. So what was really wrong? The site blames an early version of the console's internal Foxlink power supply, which allegedly suffers from a high rate of solder-point failure. Xbox-scene accuses new cords of being a "Band-Aid" that will merely prevent affected Xboxes from catching fire (as some have been reported to do) but not shorting out. [UPDATE] But that is absolutely not the case, according to an official Microsoft spokesperson. "The report referenced is simply not true," he said. "The cord consumers receive are designed to shut off power to the Xbox if it detects an electrical condition called 'sustained overvoltage.' This rare condition can be caused by things like downed power lines in a wind storm or faulty wiring in a house."

Bogus or not bogus?: Bogus.

It's nice to see that GameSpot swallows Microsoft Propaganda at the first drop of a pin from MS. Had GameSpot even read our thread, that Biased Site would know 2 things.

1 - there is more than enough evidence showing the broken solder points on the power supplies of units that MS is providing those band aid breaker cords for.

2 - that the scene as a whole has known about the faulty Foxlink power supplies for a long time now. What's worse.. their repair depots have been charging up to 90$ US to have them fixed throughout the years.

The electrical condition Microsoft described as rare, may very well be rare, but it wouldn't be limited to certain version of xbox as they claim, as the cables themselves have not changed from one generation to the next. We've had people cut up numerous cable from each gen of xbox.

Unlike GameSpot, XS has knowledgeable people who know every nook and crannie of an xbox. For us, not all xbox units are created equal, and we know it. For them, they are all black, and power on and that's all they know.

Microsoft knows that they have been exposed, and is now using media outlets like GameSpot which accept direct and indirect advertising and support from Microsoft, Microsoft Games Developers, and other sources.

GameSpot.com - Biased site, uninformed, and does not do their research. If they had they wouldn't not have placed BOGUS in their story. People aren't stupid, and know that Gaming sites that feature nothing but retail product reviews and trailers and rumors aren't honest. When was the last time anyone read a worthy review on GameSpot that didn't feel like MS or another dev wrote it for them?

I invite GameSpot "editorial" staff ( I use that term with a grain of salt.., as it might be better called MS PR dept #2 ) to read the XS Forums thread and get an education. While they are there check out the pictures provided by people in the scene as evidence of the faulty soldering on the Power Supplies.

If GameSpot would like to post "rumors" than maybe they should consider this one. 2 Groups are actively investigating their options of moving forward with a class action lawsuit against Microsoft, and their Xbox Division. Suits considered are US/Canada.

GameSpot.com ... Bogus Site.

Microsoft Announces Power Cord Replacement for Xbox
Different power cords
Power cord: Microsoft denies soldering problems
Xbox Cord Program Exposed on XS Forums

looks like things have heated up

 

[Error Macro]

looks like things have heated up

and its not just the xboxes anymore!!

 

[Teddman]

The thing about the rumor control column is that it nearly always takes an obvious stance on every item. Gamespot never adds any inside info they might be privy to in order to shed light on a situation. You can get just as good or better analysis from the threads they source for these pieces.

Call the companies involved, ask for official comment, regurgitate that with a little commentary, and there you have just about every entry.

 

[GDJustin]

Xbox-Scene has a point, but they invalidate it by pointing out shit like GameSpot "taking advertising money" from MS, as if that makes them dirty, or some shit.

They need to grow up if they want to be taken seriously.

 

[Agent Dormer]

Ouch. That's a nasty rebuttal!

 

[The Faceless Master]

Xbox-Scene has a point, but they invalidate it by pointing out shit like GameSpot "taking advertising money" from MS, as if that makes them dirty, or some shit.

They need to grow up if they want to be taken seriously.

what point did they invalidate by dissing gamespot?

how do you invalidate the truth?

 

[dark10x]

Xbox-Scene has a point, but they invalidate it by pointing out shit like GameSpot "taking advertising money" from MS, as if that makes them dirty, or some shit.

They need to grow up if they want to be taken seriously.

Yep, that's how I feel. They are acting rather childish about the whole thing...

 

[Shard]

Can such a thing be done on the internet?

 

[Juice]

I don't think whether we should be taking them seriously is the issue. They're not journalists, they're fans of modding Xboxes. I'd take their collective word on it before GameSpot's or Microsoft's.

 

[Hero]

Xbox-Scene is correct in what they say. I have a first gen Xbox that had this problem, and I've seen many other Xboxes that once taken apart, have shitty soldering on the unit that they speak of.

For Gamespot to call the entire XS community liars and fakes is pretty fucking ridiculous, as I doubt whoever wrote the GS article has ever even seen the insides of an Xbox. These people take apart Xboxes for fun. They even detail the difference between model numbers and how to go about modding each and every one.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Xbox-Scene is correct in what they say. I have a first gen Xbox that had this problem, and I've seen many other Xboxes that once taken apart, have shitty soldering on the unit that they speak of.

For Gamespot to call the entire XS community liars and fakes is pretty fucking ridiculous, as I doubt whoever wrote the GS article has ever even seen the insides of an Xbox. These people take apart Xboxes for fun. They even detail the difference between model numbers and how to go about modding each and every one.

that's part of the reason i posted this thread too...

i also have a 1.0 Xbox with a Foxlink power supply that i had to fix the solder joints on after it started sparking up back in 2002...

 

[Ramirez]

Who cares what the real reason was?

 

[Folder]

Shock as GameSpot Rumour Control proves to be self-serving bullshit. This has happened so many times now, it’s astounding and yet people still link to it as being gospel. The fact that on several occasions they can get nothing other than “We don’t comment on rumour and speculation” in my mind illustrates that far from being an independent observer of truth, GameSpot journalists so often are stuck on the outside of the games industry, keeping PR people happy with inappropriate review scores and providing copy for no other reason that to enable their sales staff to shift advertising.
/rant.

 

[GSG Flash]

I trust Xbox Scene on this mainly because I am 95% sure they know the Xbox hardware better than Gamespot, I just hope my Xbox's power supply isn't messed up.

 

[KyotoMecca]

Shock as GameSpot Rumour Control proves to be self-serving bullshit.

;-)

What we need is a "GameSpot Rumor Control CONTROL"....

 

[Operations]

GameSpot.com - Biased site, uninformed, and does not do their research. If they had they wouldn't not have placed BOGUS in their story. People aren't stupid, and know that Gaming sites that feature nothing but retail product reviews and trailers and rumors aren't honest. When was the last time anyone read a worthy review on GameSpot that didn't feel like MS or another dev wrote it for them?

What a ridiculous statement from Xbox-scene. Amazing how they expect credibility with such BS.

 

[Folder]

GameSpot.com - Biased site, uninformed, and does not do their research. If they had they wouldn't not have placed BOGUS in their story. People aren't stupid, and know that Gaming sites that feature nothing but retail product reviews and trailers and rumors aren't honest. When was the last time anyone read a worthy review on GameSpot that didn't feel like MS or another dev wrote it for them?

Is exactly right.

What a ridiculous statement from Xbox-scene. Amazing how they expect credibility with such BS.

Is exactly wrong.

 

[Ferrarisimo]

Is exactly right.

It's actually true. The fact that GameSpot has reviews of commercial products instantly makes them untrustworthy. Who can trust anyone or, dare I say, anything, that reviews commercial products and/or hosts videos on his, her, and/or their site. The logic of this is obvious to me.

ALSO, GameSpot's review scale is directly tied in to their revenue streams. They have a pretty ingenious structure where they charge developers and publishers $1,000 for every tenth of a point up until a 7.0, $5,000 up until 9.0, and $15,000 for every tenth of a point thereafter.

For an extra $50,000, GameSpot also gives publishers and developers the option to ghost write their own reviews.

This is true.

Do not trust them.

Because they host videos.

 

[KyotoMecca]

They have a pretty ingenious structure where they charge developers and publishers $1,000 for every tenth of a point up until a 7.0, $5,000 up until 9.0, and $15,000 for every tenth of a point thereafter. For an extra $50,000, GameSpot also gives publishers and developers the option to ghost write their own reviews. This is true. Do not trust them.

8-O

You'd better HOPE this is true...!

 

[Hero]

I guess it really doesn't matter anyway.

Anyone with the intelligence to do stuff to their xbox as seen on Xbox-scene.com would probably have more intelligence than to trust Gamespot anyway.

 

[Sho Nuff]

Rumor control = Ask the company and print their response, which turns out to be bullshit in the long run anyhoo

 

[Wario64]

I like how Gamespot didn't have a rumor control article this week. Haha.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Yep. More confirmation that GS's rumor column sucks.

 

[number386]

I like how Gamespot didn't have a rumor control article this week. Haha.

Yeah, I was waiting for the rumor control article this week to see how gamespot would respond.

 

[loffer]

for those who can read swedish!

http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/it/story/0,2789,616487,00.html

 

[Ecrofirt]

OH SNAP!

Looks like Gamespot got pwned.