NorfolkNChance

Yes, it has finally happened to me and just they way I expected it to.

Thanks to some manufacturing issue, my Xbox 360 has finally went to the console resting place somewhere in the sky. On the eve of Halo 3: ODST launch, and on my birthday I decided to have a little warm up with Halo 3 in advance of the midnight ODST launch. I tried to boot my machine up and then it was no more.

How did I feel? Utterly lost, angry, upset. Then I remembered it was only a games console, life could be worse - I already expected my 360 to die when Gears 2 was about to launch.

So like any good customer I phoned up Xbox support where I eventually got through the automated racist system (doesn't understand Scottish) to get to a support agent - who sounded thoroughly pissed off - to be told I purchased the system in August 2006... wait a minute it is September 2009... 1 month over the 3 year warranty. Talk about timing!

Well there is the Sales of Goods Act where I can go back to the retailer and ask for a replacement disputing the known manufacturing error and expectancy of most electronic appliances to last about 6 years. If only I had went to a large well known retailer, not some no-longer-in-existance retailer. Which leaves me with a dead Xbox 360 and shit out of luck.

I'm a fan of Bungie/Halo and Epic/Gears, so I will be getting a replacement - currently my eyes are focussed on the Modern Warfare 2 console bundle: MW2 skinned Elite, 250GB HDD, 2 controllers, 1 headset and basic MW2 game all for £250 and a new 3 year warranty.

Who said a Xbox 360 is cheaper to own than a PS3...

This game is so addicitve I just can't put it down, I played it for 2 hours straight from first start and it feels amazing.

The just one more try element of riding a trials motorbike is plain to see, with cunning track design and opportunities to fluke your way over an obstacle. A very clever bit of game design allows you to instantly reset to a previous checkpoint or restart the entire level (if you're mad).

So far I've got myself onto the Hard trials and they are brutal, it's taking even longer to get through each obstacle - patience and skill needed in abundance.

On a side note, I do find myself humming the Kick Start theme tune in my head as I pilot along, especially when I have to slow down for a tricky bit.

Time to hit the sack, and I'll probably dream sweet dreams of obstacle navigation on my 250cc.