I am a loyal Microsoft customer. While I may not like all of their products, I was exited about the Xbox 360 back when I was 14 and worked long hours all summer long for 450 dollars, just enough to buy my own. As soon as I had the money, I rushed to the store and bought my Xbox 360, Kameo, and Oblivion.
I was overjoyed. I had never owned a console before, and I became a die-hard Xbox fan. I withstood red-rings of death, bugs, countless updates, and even the jeers of my anti-microsoft friends. When the Wii came out with its motion controls, I stuck with Xbox. When the PS3 showed up with better graphics and a blu-ray player, I stuck with Xbox. I bought over 40 games for the Xbox, and most recently a Kinect. I trusted Microsoft.
However, my trust was betrayed today.
Today, when I tried to get onto Xbox Live, I had to download a new update. An update that my Xbox refused to allow. I immediately called Tech Support and told them of my problem. 45 minutes and three operators later, I was told that my Xbox was too old to play the new games, and that I would have to buy a new one to access Xbox Live.
I was speechless. I tried negotiating. No, she said, Microsoft won't refurbish your Xbox so you can play the new game. No, she said, not even if you pay them too. No, she said, you can't access Xbox Live anymore. Ever. Not even to redeem the DLC that you paid for.
"How could they have done this to me?" I thought. I've been loyal to their company for over 5 years now. I never once tried to hack the system, or get games illegally. I bought games new whenever I had the chance, and I bought a lot of games. I'd spent hundreds of hours using their products, keeping it in good condition. I'd supported them when the Xbox 360 was just coming out. People like me MADE the Xbox.
And now, we were being cast aside. Forced to buy the same product again, because ours was too old, too crude. Not up to the task. Well you know what? I'm keeping my Xbox. I'm going to play the games I bought, fair and square, and someday, maybe after I've worked all summer long, I'll go out and buy a new console.
But it still won't make it any less unjust, or any less painful.
C
I was overjoyed. I had never owned a console before, and I became a die-hard Xbox fan. I withstood red-rings of death, bugs, countless updates, and even the jeers of my anti-microsoft friends. When the Wii came out with its motion controls, I stuck with Xbox. When the PS3 showed up with better graphics and a blu-ray player, I stuck with Xbox. I bought over 40 games for the Xbox, and most recently a Kinect. I trusted Microsoft.
However, my trust was betrayed today.
Today, when I tried to get onto Xbox Live, I had to download a new update. An update that my Xbox refused to allow. I immediately called Tech Support and told them of my problem. 45 minutes and three operators later, I was told that my Xbox was too old to play the new games, and that I would have to buy a new one to access Xbox Live.
I was speechless. I tried negotiating. No, she said, Microsoft won't refurbish your Xbox so you can play the new game. No, she said, not even if you pay them too. No, she said, you can't access Xbox Live anymore. Ever. Not even to redeem the DLC that you paid for.
"How could they have done this to me?" I thought. I've been loyal to their company for over 5 years now. I never once tried to hack the system, or get games illegally. I bought games new whenever I had the chance, and I bought a lot of games. I'd spent hundreds of hours using their products, keeping it in good condition. I'd supported them when the Xbox 360 was just coming out. People like me MADE the Xbox.
And now, we were being cast aside. Forced to buy the same product again, because ours was too old, too crude. Not up to the task. Well you know what? I'm keeping my Xbox. I'm going to play the games I bought, fair and square, and someday, maybe after I've worked all summer long, I'll go out and buy a new console.
But it still won't make it any less unjust, or any less painful.
C
