Xbox 360 red rings on GDC show floor

by Xav de Matos { Feb 19th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Now in the news of hilarity. In the XNA area of Microsoft's GDC '08 booth Blip.tv caught one of the playable consoles had suffered from the red ring of death. We suppose it fell into that 16th percentile. It's not as embarrassing as it sound though. The room was only filled with game developers, press and executives all armed with cameras and the internets to blog the occurrence. Oh wait. Yeah, that's not good.

Tags: gdc08, gdc08fanboy, rrod

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Michael Paul @ Feb 19th 2008 4:05PM

Memo to staff: demo with 175W units only...

thisguyrighthere @ Feb 20th 2008 8:37AM

The 175's aren't immune to the RROD. I just had one go on me. While it's awaiting it's coffin I figured I'd pick up an "Arcade" console as a backup. It's a 203. I almost made a stink but if my 175 just died I'm guessing it doesn't much matter if I end up with a 175, 203 or 230.

I've lost a 230 from launch a 175 from replacement and I just expect that sooner or later this 203 will die and probably whatever they send back as a replacement for the 175 will as well.

There are no 100% RROD proof consoles out there yet. The 175's may die less often but they'll still die.

PinstripeBert @ Feb 20th 2008 9:52AM

"There are no 100% RROD proof consoles out there yet"

Yeah there are. It's called a PS3.

Master Ninja @ Feb 20th 2008 2:20PM

The PS3 doesn't die, it has Seizures! My PS3 has frozen twice since I got it, but I just turn it off and turn it back on. The Wii is immortal though...

DjDATZ @ Feb 19th 2008 4:05PM

Just LOL. Saw this before courtesy of Engadget.

*shakes head at MS*

Bravo6 @ Feb 19th 2008 4:06PM

HAHA! Hey, I think I recognize that one!

Etchasketchist @ Feb 19th 2008 4:07PM

When I went to Target to buy my copy of Halo 3 I remember the display model 360 had red-ringed. I told the sales douche he might want to swap it out but he was a creepy 17 year old Nintendo fanboy who wouldn't shut up about his awesome DS. Now I shop online.

DjDATZ @ Feb 19th 2008 4:17PM

Yea, the only display 360 at my local Futureshop (FutureShop = BestBuy) was red-ringing when I came into the store...I told one of the reps and he shurged saying "I know."

Doom3killer @ Feb 19th 2008 4:34PM

same at circuit city

nerrrrrrd @ Feb 19th 2008 5:23PM

my best buy had it too! woot!

David W. @ Feb 19th 2008 9:27PM

That's because the retail workers don't take care of the demo units, each company Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, who come in about once every other month to take care of the demo units.

RudyHuxtable @ Feb 19th 2008 4:12PM

I'm not sure why, but that one sure looks a lot like the one I recently returned that RRoD'd. Coincidence?!

Mikezula @ Feb 19th 2008 4:14PM

It's a conspiracy!

Mikezula @ Feb 19th 2008 4:13PM

That's can't be good. Though it CAN be funny.

RudyHuxtable @ Feb 19th 2008 4:16PM

You're right, it CAN be funny! I demand that you all hear me chortle.

Adam @ Feb 19th 2008 4:16PM

Nothing new how can anyone be suprised by this.They are using refurbs as demo units and there sealed in death chambers that would have made houdini shit his pants.

Triforceowner @ Feb 19th 2008 4:21PM

LOL They're sealed in death chambers.

burgerbat @ Feb 19th 2008 7:29PM

"death chambers that would have made houdini shit his pants" Brilliant.

xenocidic @ Feb 19th 2008 8:29PM

dylan @ Feb 19th 2008 4:17PM

also don't store it upright, that seems to be the key in stopping the RROD...

DjDATZ @ Feb 19th 2008 4:21PM

There is NO key. Mine has always been lying down and I've had 2 red-rings like that. RRoD is pretty much completely RANDOM. Only thing you can pretty much guarantee with the RROD is that there is a 99% chance that you WILL get hit. lol

dylan @ Feb 19th 2008 7:41PM

All I know is my xbox is on its side and has had no problems, I put my Wii standing up and it fried.

stinger503 @ Feb 19th 2008 4:27PM

Embarassing to Microsoft? This is nothing, anyone remember when Bill Gates got the blue screen of death during a presentation? Or when he was on tv with conan o'brian and the Media Center (maybe) wouldn't work with his remote? That's embarassing.

saylorsgang @ Feb 19th 2008 4:23PM

Fool-proof way to not get RROD, don't turn it on.

DeadPlasmaCell @ Feb 19th 2008 4:24PM

Like I said on another forum, it's not really surprising.. It's just like 95% of the PS3's I see frozen at nearly every store I've been to. Small enclosures = Bad

John Maroli @ Feb 19th 2008 7:41PM

PS3's official failure rate is 0.02. Thats 1 in 500.

DeadPlasmaCell @ Feb 19th 2008 7:59PM

@ John

I'm not sayin they have a bad failure rate or anything, hell I've had Zero issue with my PS3.. my Wii & 360 on the other hand, different story. I'm just sayin every time I go somewhere where there is a PS3 on display it's frozen almost every time I see it. Not because of hardware failure but probably because of the crappy enclosure they're put in.

CL34N3R @ Feb 19th 2008 8:30PM

.02 would be one in 5000, not 500.

darth balls @ Feb 19th 2008 9:39PM

pretty sure you moved the decimal 2 places on that one, so it is 2 percent which is 1 out of 50, nice try though guys. 16 percent is still bad but it is already about half of what it was said to be before so it is improving.

i must say this pic is hilarious, i'm surprised MS dont have about 10 secret service like security guards standing in front of the thing. it's almost like no one cares. at least turn the thing off.

Christopher @ Feb 19th 2008 4:36PM

"The Red Ring of Death", oh noes!.

DiddlyKong @ Feb 19th 2008 4:40PM

What is the Red Ring of Death?

Magic Whiskey @ Feb 19th 2008 4:42PM

When your 360 dies.

Magic Whiskey @ Feb 19th 2008 4:41PM

The moral to the story really should be a good one; odds are if you have this, or have had this happen to you, you didn't cause it.

I agree with some of you guys too.. never display your console vertically. I've had one brick up on me and it was positioned vertically.

Now, I sit mine horizontally with two empty DVD cases underneath, allowing a better airflow. It doesn't hurt.

xboxlivesucks @ Feb 19th 2008 4:58PM

your an idiot.

Magic Whiskey @ Feb 19th 2008 5:41PM

Read the following comment to see me burned...ooh...

Psymon0666 @ Feb 19th 2008 5:14PM

um has anyone else noticed that it's only showing 3 Red lights...a 3 Quarter ring
and not 4 red lights...a FULL ring
which means that the power supply was probably not fully connected. I got the same red lights yesterday twice,when the power in my house Blinked due to the Storm outside. so I just reset my system and it was fine.
no death.... more like a cardiac arrest.

that X-box in the Video right there was just shotty Techman work.

matt @ Feb 19th 2008 5:25PM

uh 3 red lights is death, from 3 o'clock to 12 o'clock... not 4 quadrants

Amber @ Feb 19th 2008 5:26PM

Wrong.

3 rings = RRoD
4 rings = mistaken power

Don't believe me? Use the google to search "red ring of death" and you'll see the 3 rings are RRoD. And go to your xbox, unplug the power, and note what pattern you see there.

Ashraam @ Feb 19th 2008 5:27PM

Actually, the RRoD is only 3 flashing lights. If I'm not mistaken, 4 red lights means the AV cables aren't attached properly.

There are cases where the 3 red lights can be caused by a problem with the power supply. I'd guess that's what caused yours to show up.

Thursdae @ Feb 19th 2008 5:40PM

3 Lights is RRoD
4 Lights is usually just some kind of small error. IE- AV Cables loose, Power Cable loose, Hard Drive issue.

gsgill07 @ Feb 19th 2008 5:39PM

yeah, my friend pulled the plug of another one of my friend's 360. He got the RRoD, but he just restarted it and it was fine.

mcwattersm @ Feb 19th 2008 6:08PM

I'm going to repeat the exact same thing for the 5th time just encase you didn't understand it...

maverick_saturn_626 @ Feb 19th 2008 5:17PM

Oh dear oh dear, maybe they are advertising :)

I really think the red rings should be made into a game.

maverick_saturn_626 @ Feb 19th 2008 5:18PM

Speaking of which, Bungie was thinking of a new IP, maybe I should suggest it to them :)

pkpk523 @ Feb 19th 2008 5:50PM

That's friggin' hilarious!
Still, it is saying something that I have already turned my 360 in twice for the good old RRoD within 7 months yet play it more than my Wii or PS3. Would I buy another Microsoft game console ever? No. But I'm gonna enjoy my 360 for as long as they'll keep replacing them on MS's dime.

George Arauz @ Feb 19th 2008 5:57PM

Oh no lol.. damnit.. not good

SharpBlade @ Feb 19th 2008 6:00PM

Ugh! Sometimes I wonder if MS really even cares about their console business. They seem to do everything they can to counter any type of growth for the business. I know that's a bit mellow-dramatic but dang MS that is real embarrassing and a nice reminder to stay away from your console.

quesadia @ Feb 19th 2008 7:26PM

HAHA LOL its sooo funny when yours is broken for the forth time and you are waiting for it for 2 weeks.

burgerbat @ Feb 19th 2008 7:34PM

I really think it has jack-shit to do with the orientation of your Xbox. I'm lucky, in that I have a near-launch Xbox that has been sitting vertically all it's live-long life. What does matter, however, is how much air is getting to it. Mine has at least 6 inches of free space on any side. I don't see how cramming DVD cases under your Xbox helps it at all, but I guess everybody is an expert at something, huh Magic Whiskey? Fucktard...