Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

[Goufunaki]

Have no idea if we can choose the game or if it's gonna be just one title. Hopefully they let us choose.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6184292...stnews;title;2

Free game for Xbox Live users
Microsoft apologises for the spotty service over the holidays, will be offering a free Arcade game to all members to make good.
By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UK
Posted Jan 4, 2008 3:26 am PT

Over the holidays Xbox Live suffered a week of off-and-on-again outages, comprising a variety of different errors including problems signing in to the service and difficulty recovering accounts.

Microsoft put the issues down to the fact that "record numbers" of people had been trying to get online, either to register for new accounts after picking up an Xbox 360 for Christmas or to play games online over the break.

Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb admitted that the issues were "not acceptable." Now Microsoft wants to say sorry by offering Xbox Live members worldwide a free Xbox Live Arcade game "as a thank you for your loyalty during the holiday period."

A post on Hryb's Major Nelson blog, which contains a statement from the general manager of Xbox Live, states that January 2 saw the biggest ever number of concurrent members using the service, and the holiday period also saw the most new users sign up for the service in its five-year history.

More details of the free game offer will be made available "in the coming weeks."

*edit*
Sued.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6184323...stnews;title;0

Microsoft sued over Xbox Live outage
Irate gamers demand over $5 million in damages following slate of reported problems over holidays.
By Ina Fried, News.com
Posted Jan 4, 2008 6:33 pm PT

Microsoft now faces a lawsuit over recent problems with its Xbox Live online gaming service. Three Texas residents filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of themselves and others who have had trouble connecting to Xbox Live in recent weeks.

The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Houston, claims Microsoft's outages represent a breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation for which the software maker is liable. The suit doesn't claim specific damages, but notes the amount is in excess of $5 million.

In the suit, the plaintiffs allege that Microsoft should have known strong holiday sales would tax its servers. "Microsoft knew the increase in subscriptions would increase game-play on its servers, yet failed to provide adequate access and service to Xbox Live and its subscribers," read the filing.

Microsoft has apologized for the outage and said it would allow Xbox live subscribers to download a free game. A Microsoft representative was not immediately available for comment.

[lil_das]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time.

Ryner beat ya to it.

http://www.pavilionboards.com/forum/...t=15488&page=2

[Toaster]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Regardless, sueing M$ is a complete load. I remember you making a post a while ago about some jerks having the nerve to sue the company for an absurd amount just because their X-Box 360 was "scratching their discs".

You don't hear of too many other companies being sued because their products fall apart. If we did then Whirpool and Maytag would be in a heap of trouble.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

As long as they give part of the 5mill to all the gamers out there, sure, why not?

But I know they wont.

Because doing "on behalf of all gamers" is complete bull.

[lil_das]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Man that is ****ed up.

Those people are sad.

[marcus]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

It'll never go through. M$ will either pay them off to STFU or the ARMY OF LAWYERS will storm the courts and the guys who filed the case will end up paying out the a** for the court costs.

I think it's kind of smart. Taking advantage of a user/developer agreement and taking one of the world's largest corporations to the bank.

[Chad]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Might as well make it a class action "on behalf of all the gamers."

[Jamos]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Wait... am I reading this right? "We couldn't play a game so we want 5 mil!"

[Riotsword]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Boo ****ing hoo, is all I have to say about it.

[marcus]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Wait... am I reading this right? "We couldn't play a game so we want 5 mil!"

Actually it's more like "Because we pay for XBL, your contract gives us rights to games; without warning we couldn't play said games, breaching the contract, so we want 5 mil."

[Funk]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

Wahbulance!

OH! I COULDN'T BE AS MUCH OF A LOSER AS I WANTED TO BE! GIVE ME 5 MILLION DOLLARS!!!

Frivilous lawsuits like this are what make living in the United States such an embarassment. **** happens with technology. Get over it. Better yet: GET A LIFE!

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

ms' army of lawyers will crush them into dust. the lawsuit is weak, and unless its a class action lawsuit where all gamers decide to join in on the process then it cannot be considered a service for all gamers.

its unreasonable to assume that ms servers would be infallible. im sure its carefully worded in the contract you accept for all of ms' services so ms is definably protected.

this is why pointless lawsuits should be banished, its one of the big things thats ruining america. what happened to common sense?

[gray]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

at least we don't have hockey players on our money

[Valkysas]

Re: Free XBLA game for down time. And M$ gets sued!

the lawsuit is stupid. you can't blame someone for having a network failure and doing everything they could to get it back up and running in a timely manner. cable goes out, power goes out, nobody ever sues those companies, despite you paying them for a service.