Xbox 360 Scratched Discs

If you have an Xbox 360, you might want to listen to this because your $60 games might be at risk. I was in a local Gamestop yesterday and overheard the following:

One lady came into the store, very flustered that the new Guitar Hero 3 game she bought for her kids' Christmas present was scratched.

The store clerk politely explained the following:

• The Xbox 360 is very sensitive to any outside vibrations. If it's on the floor, the system can be shaken by something as simple as someone quietly walking by it or sitting down on the couch to hard.
• These vibrations can cause the Xbox 360 to scratch the disc and cause it to play incorrectly.
• To avoid such disturbances to your system and games, keep the Xbox 360 on an isolated table or stand.

The Gamestop clerk also replaced this lady's copy of Guitar Hero 3, so if you have had these issues, they may do the same for you.

This has apparently been a problem since 2005, and in July 2007, a lawsuit was filed against Microsoft for selling defective systems that lead to scratching the discs.

Oy, another Xbox 360 warning to tack on after the Red Ring of Death.