Xbox 360 News and Tips

The 3RL Problem and the Xbox 360

The dreaded 3RL. This is, without a doubt, the biggest factor that is working against the Microsoft Xbox 360.

The three red lights (morosely labeled as the three red lights of death by some gamers) is an error code that points to a general hardware failure of the Xbox 360. It renders the console unplayable, and Microsoft has asked Xbox 360 owners to send over their 3RL'd units so that they can be replaced by new ones. Also, Microsoft has extended the warranty of Xbox 360 consoles to 3 years. These are considered as a direct admission of the problem that, according to Microsoft, affects 16% of the units sold though outside accounts say that 3RL affects close to 60% of Xbox 360 consoles within the first 2 years of ownership.

So, the question for any prospective buyer is this: is the Xbox 360 worth the purchase given the fact that there is a high likelihood that it will succumb to the 3RL which will render it useless?

The answer is yes.

Take a look at 5 reasons why the Xbox 360 will rock your world despite widespread fears of 3RL:

1. The warranty has you covered. As mentioned earlier, Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and has since extended the Xbox 360's warranty to 3 years -- a very long time in gaming. The greatest complaint about the Xbox 360 is that gamers can't seem to play with peace of mind, as the unit may flash those 3 red lights at any time. Well, it may be inconvenient, yes, but unless your Xbox 360's warranty has been voided (as is the case with modding to play illegal copies of games), you can send it back and Microsoft will give you a brand new console in just a couple of weeks.

2. A very deep game library. Having a one year head start over the Sony Playstation 3, the Xbox 360 has amassed a game library that's pretty hard to beat. It currently outnumbers Playstation 3 titles almost on a ratio of 3:1.

3. Home to amazing exclusives. Only on the Xbox 360 will you be able to play hardcore games like Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST, Fable II, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Gears of War 2, Star Ocean: Til The End of Time, and Halo Wars, among others.

4. Xbox Live. The Xbox 360's online mechanics is powered by Xbox Live, the best online connectivity for any console to date. The Playstation Network is ages behind the Xbox 360 when it comes to infrastructure. The Xbox Live provides a smooth and comprehensive multiplayer experience for Xbox 360 owners who own games that can be played online.

5. Achievements. The Xbox 360 pioneered the use of achievements: vanity rewards that players can unlock with the games they play. Achievements have changed the face of video games, so much so that MMORPG giant, the World of Warcraft, has directly copied the implementation of such achievements in their own game. Even the Sony Playstation 3 has implemented its own set of rewards (called Trophies) for the system, albeit years after the Xbox 360's fantastic innovation.

Furthermore, with the release of newer Xbox 360s using the Jasper chipset, Microsoft is confident that the occurrence of 3RL errors will be minimized, if not totally eliminated.