E74: The new RROD for 360?
March 22nd, 2009 BennyB
After declaring the Xbox 360’s infamous “Red Ring of Death” hardware failure fixed, Microsoft could be in for a whole new headache.
Video games blog Joystiq.com has been researching an Xbox hardware error that, it claims, appears to have been sharply increasing in prevalence since the so-called New Xbox Experience upgrade — which overhauled the console’s user interface — debuted in November 2008. The error, which manifests itself as a black screen with the code “E74,” is thought to be caused by failing video hardware. Most importantly, it isn’t covered by the extended warranty Microsoft introduced after the last round of failures, and afflicted gamers must pay over $100 for a repair.
Mainstream media source: Yahoo.com
Looks like the new RROD is here. Will 360’s hardware troubles ever end? We’ll keep you posted at SDF as this new epidemic for 360 hardware failures story developes.
MS advertising RROD?
March 19th, 2009 BennyB
Seemingly unable to stop the rampant red rings of death the 360 has suffered from since launch it looks like MS has decided to advertise it as a feature. Maybe their next commercial will feature their HD-DVD add-ons in a landfill…
PSP 2 coming soon; iPhone, DS destroyed
March 2nd, 2009 BennyB
The next iteration of Sony’s PSP handheld will feature a sliding screen, will no longer carry a UMD drive and will allow shoulder button-only games to be played when the screen is in its ‘closed’ position.
That’s according to a development source close to Sony, speaking to Eurogamer on condition of anonymity. We first broke the news of a new update to the system late last year, revealing that PSP-4000, the third incremental hardware revision of the console, is planned for release later this year.
While Sony has refused to comment so far, further rumours have emerged in the past week claiming that 4000 will represent the first major overhaul of the system, with a sliding screen added and the UMD drive removed.
Our development source today confirmed these reports, adding: “The screen is basically the same as the one in the 3000 - except it slides.” When ‘closed’, we were told, the screen won’t cover the entire face of the console, but the unit will be “significantly smaller in width” as a result.
With the console in its ‘closed’ state, most controls will be inaccessible. However, our source claims that games which use the shoulder buttons exclusively - such as LocoRoco - will be playable, as these inputs will still be accessible. It’s expected that the unit can also be used for media playback in this configuration.
Eurogamer further understands Sony is approaching developers for ideas for games that only require the shoulder buttons.
Sony said this afternoon it does not comment on rumour or speculation.
Well the DS and iPhone had a good run but it looks like, with this iteration of PSP, Sony will deal a crushing blow to both platforms. Stay tuned to SDF for further developments.
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