Dead Powerbrick: Returned

Ok, I have been away awhile due to work commitments. However, over the course I was fortunate enough to have my PSU returned to me from Microsoft about 2 weeks ago. For those of you who are curious about the process. I had to wait roughly fifteen days for the PSU to arrive back from the day I sent it in.

On a side note, I did not recieve a brand new PSU, but infact a refurbished model which was of an older make. That said, I sent in a 175 watt PSU and recieved back a 203 watt PSU. I guess they have to recycle old parts somewhere, but the good news is that it functions all the same with no apparent issues. In conclusion, I did not have to wait as long as I dreaded beforehand for my PSU to be returned to me, the process was a little tedious with all the procedures and tests to perform, but 15 days was nothing short of a minor setback.

There you have it, although I am not completely happy with the ordeal I am glad that MS honored there part of the deal and sent me back a functioning PSU without a prolonged delay, props to the technical staff who were very helpful and informative.

Red Powerbrick of Death

After only 3 months of usage my XBOX 360 has experienced problems with not the Red ring of death, but instead the PSU. Who would have thought that the PSU would die after only three months of usage and being kept well elevated from the ground in a cool environment. Fortunately, I was still within the 3 month warranty for supplied accessories as the PSU oddly enough is categorised as an accessory. Therefore, after trying everything on the MS help page for the PSU, I was on the phone to a MS representative presenting my case of dead powerbrick.

Having called the support line, I was greeted with a helpful representative who got me to try a number of things before telling me that my PSU would be replaced by MS free of charge given it was within the warranty period. Soon after they present you with a case ref# and an email with details as to where to send the faulty part to. Fortunately, it was a 'reply paid' address else shipping would have been a good $20 or so given the weight of this thing. Now along with many other customers I am playing the 'waiting' game. I have nothing ill to say about MS' tech support line, as the staff have been most helpful. However, I am heavily disappointed with such a poorly made product given the hefty price tag of the elite console. I will post again with status on the 'waiting period' and customer satisfaction report once I recieve the new PSU. MS, I really like the 360, but you guys need to get your product together if your going to stay ahead in the console department. Looks like Sony has a bright future if MS does not resolve these problematic issues surrounding their flagship console.

Gears of War 2

Alright, I've been busy with all the new releases on the XBOX 360 and honestly it has been quite the challenge to simply keep up with acquiring these games. There have been so many good titles released within a week of each other that, like many of you guys, I believe that our pockets have taken a massive toll.

Gears of War 2 is one of those action packed games that is sure to impress any gamer that is remotely interested in FPS shooters or just feel like being immersed in an awesome experience. Marcus Fenix returns to wage war on the Locust Swarm, likewise he is joined by returning heroes (Alpha Squadron) and Dom Santiago. In contrast to the likeable cast, there are also a number of new faces to add the the lightning fast-paced adventure.

Gears of War 2 will feel similar to returning players, although various factors of the games dynamics have been reworked to make the game run even smoother and feel more realistic than ever before. By pressing the 'X' button your character is able to 'take cover' and in Gears 2 this system has been refined to feel even smoother and more responsive better allowing you to interact with the environments. Players will be happy to know that the arsenal is more extensive this time around, introducing new weapons and finishing moves on downed opponents. One of the nicer touches I have noticed is the ability to use a downed opponent as a shield at pistol-point.

For those of you who are yet to tackle the gears of war experience, now is as good a time as any. In fact, if you own a 360 and remotely like FPS games, or occasionally suffer from an itchy trigger finger you need look no further. Gears 2 is an awesome sequel and enticing game that will keep you occupied for hours on end.

Diablo 3: Wizard Trailer

Ok, new news from Blizzard regarding Diablo 3 is always good welcome news. Blizzard has released a teaser trailer concerning the revamped wizard class. I must say that watching the sheer power of this class sends all sorts of tingling sensations down my spine as I highly anticipate the release of this game. Blizzard sure knows how to tease their players and they've definitely captivated myself with that display. The wizard looks powerful to say the least, the spell effects look fantastic and the way they interact with the physical environments looks simply amazing. Honestly, I am not the biggest fan of magic wielding classes, but blizzard has surely changed my mind with the introduction of this class. What can I say? I can barely wait... For those of you yet to see the trailer, you can view it below. Enjoy :)

- E

360 Vs PS3

So I decided to pickup a 360 elite on the weekend, performance wise this machine rocks it as hard as it's PS3 competition. However, I do have to give hats off to the PS3's build quality in comparison to the Xbox offering. Here are my comparisons:

The 360 console looks pretty sleek and modern, although in comparison to the PS3 it loses out aesthetically due to the fact that the power brick is large and external, there are no touch buttons and last but not least the controllers do not come with the battery charge pack.

I will definitely give heads up to the PS3 in the design department. The PS3 is simply a better thought up product designed with much innovation in mind. Naming only a few of the features: Bluetooth, BluRay and an in built PSU etc. However, I will mention that the 360 did lead the pack having released it's console signifcantly before Sony, therefore the PS3 was expected to be the sharper console.

I bought the 360 mainly because I wanted to play it's vast offerings of exclusives, the diveristy on games on both consoles make both an equally tempting buy. Especially, with the 360 price cuts and bundled deals appearing on the market further adds to the 360's attractiveness. Finally, if I were a first time buyer I would follow my heart and research the current offerings I'd like to play more. Although, I do see the Playstation 3 as having a slightly brighter future with a stronger aspect of longevity.