Xbox Live gamers frustrated by more service interruptions
January 25, 2008
XBOX Live gamers have reported being unable to download a free game offered as compensation for network service interruptions – due to more service interruptions.
Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, which allows Xbox gamers to play against each other and download content over the internet, suffered ongoing problems over the holiday period.
This week Microsoft released a free downloadable copy of the game Undertow to Xbox Live users as compensation for the interruptions. But when gamers went to download it, they found that the service was out again.
“Can’t retrieve information from Xbox Live. Please try again later,” read a screenshot posted to the Opposable Thumbs blog on technology website Ars Technica.
Gamers posting on the blog reported a range of experiences. Some had no difficulty downloading the game, while others said they had received the error message several times.
The Xbox Live service requires a subscription to use. In Australia subscriptions cost about $100 per year.
After widespread interruptions to the service in December, three gamers in Texas launched a class action against Microsoft on behalf of Xbox Live users worldwide.
“In December 2007, Xbox Live crashed and prevented plaintiffs around the world from accessing online play for several weeks,” the gamers claimed in a document filed by Texas lawyer Jason A Gibson.
“Xbox Live continues to deny subscribers access and has even issued apologies for their failure to correct server problems.”
The gamers – Shannon Smith, Keith Kay and Orlando Perez – claimed Xbox Live’s 8 million users had suffered damages in excess of $US5 million and accused Microsoft of breach of contract, breach of warranty and negligent misrepresentation.
IT lawyer Erhan Karabardak said it was unlikely a similar action could be launched against Microsoft by Xbox Live users in Australia, but that they would potentially be included in any outcome of the US case.
Microsoft has not yet responded to the suit.
Local Xbox lounges, where gamers can rent time on an Xbox 360 console and play online or locally with their friends, said they had noticed the outages but were not seriously affected.
Staff at Game On in Sydney said the disruptions had been “minor inconveniences” and the company had not suffered a downturn in customers over the holiday period.
Callan Black, director of Players Lounge in Sydney, said customers and staff had experienced “massive problems” with the Xbox Live service in December but had weathered the storm without significant losses.
“Most customers settled for playing offline or locally-networked games to replace the crippled (Xbox) Live servers, but not happily and we had to refund a few customers,” he said.
“We did not suffer any significant losses or noticeable drop in customers, it was more just a nuisance that is still being remembered and joked about with many a religious pun due to its timing.
Comments