My launch J360 just red ringed

[Bebpo]

Happy New Years!

;_;

Good thing Cave shmups are region free from here on out!  Because I'm not replacing this :\  Guess I'm never playing Death Smiles again.
I turned on my J360 for the first time in months to give Infinite Undiscovery another shot.  Turn it off, turn it back on and red rings.  Game is so bad it killed my 360

[Third]

Death smiles

[Sho Nuff]

welcome to the party pal

[Bebpo]

I've been there before.  I'm on my 2nd US 360 (still launch model though, dunno how long it'll last!). 

So like since I couldn't open the try to get my game out with the 3 lights flashing.  I unplugged the video cable and got 4 lights flashing and the disc tray worked again and I got my game out.  Then when I plugged the video cable in again it was green and the system menu was up and fine.  Hmmmmmmm...maybe I have a few more days in this.

When it dies again if I send my J360 to US Microsoft can I get the free 3 ring fix replacement and get a shiny new US refurb?  Cause it's better than a dead J360 system and at least I can give that to my poor 360-less friends.

[iconoclast]

I wouldn't get my hopes up for Cave's future releases being region free...

GaijinPunch reported over at Cave-STG http://www.cave-stg.com/forum/index.php?topic=631.100 (post #122) after talking to Asada directly that "There is apparently far more work than flipping a flag to make a game region free. It has to be approved in every region it plays in, so there is not only money to think about, but unfortnately resources to deal w/ the same process 5 times."

[Bebpo]

Yeah I saw that but it doesn't mean they aren't doing it.  Just means they are unhappy at the extra work.  They said Futari was a test and I know it sold waaaaaaaay more than past Cave games in terms of import stores.

[bork]

I made sure to replace my 360 with the newest model available right before I left Japan.  My older one had locked up a few times, and I just decided to trade it in and get an arcade unit; wanted a system with HDMI anyway.  My problem is that most of the 360 games I own are Japanese or Asian, so I'd have to get another Japanese or an Asian unit if my current one breaks.

Although Bebpo, have you contacted MS about this?  I know that Muckson has had his Japanese 360 repaired by Microsoft here in the States.

Death smiles

Good game. 

[Don Flamenco]

welcome to the party pal

Welcome to....every party

[Bebpo]

Well since it was working I played through Death Smiles a few times to say my final goodbyes to a great shmup.  I don't really have any reason to turn the system back on again for a while so I'll just give it some time and see if it stays alive in 3 months the next time I turn it on.

Lyte, yeah if I had mainly asian versions I'd be screwed.  I didn't buy the Bayonetta 360 import for this exact reason.  The last game I imported for X360 before Futari (which was region free so it's all good) was probably Death Smiles which was like a year ago.  Been getting either PS3 version or US 360 version of most stuff since $$$-wise it's not worth replacing my j-360.  Though I'll hang on to my 24 game import 360 collection of shmups in case down the line I hack a US one to be region free and play my imports.  Could always make up some gamertag that wouldn't matter if it gets banned since it's not like I'm going for achievements on this import collection of games I've already finished.

[bork]

The thing is, when I look at my collection, most of the stuff I've purchased over the past two years, and especially all the stuff I'm always playing, are region-free anyway.  It's only been Deathsmiles and Bayonetta, the latter of which I'd simply buy again, that are region-locked.  It's really not as many games as I thought it was.

[chronovore]

I had my US-region 360 fixed by MS in Japan, I'd be stunned if they don't fix your J-360 in the USA.

Is the RRoD perma-warrantied? Or is it 3-years only?

Even if it's only 3-years, it would count from whenever your system was last replaced/fixed I'd bet.

[originalz]

You can definitely get a J360 fixed in the States, you just have to make a point of letting them know it's a Japanese unit, or they'll give you an American one since they usually just give you a random system while they repair yours.  If it's a launch 360 tho, highly unlikely it'll be under warranty and probably isn't worth paying to fix.

Anyway, let's wait until Espgaluda 2 comes out before we celebrate region free games!  The fact that they didn't want to give an answer during the cave matsuri might be a bad sign, although there's still plenty of time left before the release.

Besides, you might be able to play Cave games, but you won't play the upcoming game of the year "CHAOS;HEAD Love Chu Chu" on an American system!

[Ichirou]

Head Love

[Joe Molotov]

Sounds like your 360 just gave you a death smile.

[Purple Filth]

Sounds like your 360 just gave you a death smile.

ok i loled

sucks to hear man.

[Bebpo]

You can definitely get a J360 fixed in the States, you just have to make a point of letting them know it's a Japanese unit, or they'll give you an American one since they usually just give you a random system while they repair yours.  If it's a launch 360 tho, highly unlikely it'll be under warranty and probably isn't worth paying to fix.

I thought the red-rings are covered forever because of all the lawsuit stuff.

[iconoclast]

RRoD is only 3 years. My launch 360 died a couple months ago and they wanted to charge me $100 to repair it, so I just bought a new Arcade unit.

[Bebpo]

You can definitely get a J360 fixed in the States, you just have to make a point of letting them know it's a Japanese unit, or they'll give you an American one since they usually just give you a random system while they repair yours.  If it's a launch 360 tho, highly unlikely it'll be under warranty and probably isn't worth paying to fix.

Anyway, let's wait until Espgaluda 2 comes out before we celebrate region free games!  The fact that they didn't want to give an answer during the cave matsuri might be a bad sign, although there's still plenty of time left before the release.

If Espgaluda 2 isn't region free I'm going to have to repair or get a new J360 since it's still cheaper than an arcade machine of it.  Espgaluda is my favorite shmup of all time so Esp2 is my favorite of recent years.  I'm a huge fan of the slow-motion mechanic since I'm only ok at shmups and it makes things far easier to manage.  Plus I love the art and music (Esp1 has my favorite music of a Cave shmup). 

I think it's still worth it to pay $100-130 to get it fixed than buy a new one.  Getting an arcade unit shipped from Japan is gonna cost like $300.  Plus there is a chance it could get damaged in the shipping and you have to send it in right away anyhow.

[bork]

You said you have a launch model 360, right?

Get a new arcade unit.  It's not worth bothering getting it fixed.  Maybe just wait until the next time you to go to Japan?

Also out of curiosity, did you play your system for long periods of time without taking breaks and/or install games?

[Bebpo]

I'm not going to Japan for a while with these exchange rates! 

I mean, what's wrong with just getting my launch unit repaired for $100?  It gets a new warranty for a while right?

Also out of curiosity, did you play your system for long periods of time without taking breaks and/or install games?

Nope.  Barely play my J360 at all.  Few hours here and there.  Installed all my games once install was available.
Hadn't used the system in about 3 months, then turned it on for one 60 min gaming session and turn it off.  Next day I turn it on and it's red ringed.

I play my US X360 #2 a good amount more and it's still doing ok.  It's still a launch model but I got it a year after launch because I had a Best Buy replacement plan and just changed it out when my day1 system red ringed.

[Bebpo]

I checked NCSX and it's $320 + $30-50 shipping for a 19800yen arcade unit 
Unfortunately flying to Japan and buying one and coming back will still cost more.

[bork]

I'm not going to Japan for a while with these exchange rates! 

I mean, what's wrong with just getting my launch unit repaired for $100?  It gets a new warranty for a while right?

You're still going to have an older unit though, right?  Just seems like the same problem would end up happening again.  I dunno; that was why I ditched my 2006 (IIRC) 360, which I had purchased when my launch model system RRoD'd (this was right before they started repairing systems for free) and got a 2008 model system right before I left Japan.  I got like 10,000 yen for it and then went to another store and picked up a 19,800 yen arcade unit.  It seemed worth it for the quieter drive and HDMI.

[Bebpo]

Yeah, if I was in your position I'd do the same. ~$100 for a new unit is a good deal!
But as you see above I'm not in that position and it's pretty freaking expensive.

Anyhow I plan to not turn my J360 on again (since it was working when I turned it off) until Esp2 in Feb.  If I'm lucky it'll survive that game before dying again.  If it does I'm good for another 6 months probably and maybe I'll find a cheaper way to get a new J360 in the meantime.


PS.  Why'd you change your name.  Changing names sucks.

[bork]

Yeah, if I was in your position I'd do the same. ~$100 for a new unit is a good deal!
But as you see above I'm not in that position and it's pretty freaking expensive.

Anyhow I plan to not turn my J360 on again (since it was working when I turned it off) until Esp2 in Feb.  If I'm lucky it'll survive that game before dying again.  If it does I'm good for another 6 months probably and maybe I'll find a cheaper way to get a new J360 in the meantime.


PS.  Why'd you change your name.  Changing names sucks.

Been wanting to change it for a while; new decade = new name.  This is the name I use on SA.  If you want a name change, just ask!   

[Rman]

PS.  Why'd you change your name. 

It's an EB thing.  MAF kinda pioneered it back in the day.  It was so confusing at first and he would change it pretty randomly too.  

I never knew you post in SA, Lyte.  Which subforum?

[bork]

I lurk there.  I think I have like one post. 

[originalz]

If Espgaluda 2 isn't region free I'm going to have to repair or get a new J360 since it's still cheaper than an arcade machine of it.  Espgaluda is my favorite shmup of all time so Esp2 is my favorite of recent years.  I'm a huge fan of the slow-motion mechanic since I'm only ok at shmups and it makes things far easier to manage.  Plus I love the art and music (Esp1 has my favorite music of a Cave shmup). 

Huh, have you ever played Galuda2?  It's a very, very hard game.  I guess when you use the slowdown it's easier to get around, but it doesn't make up for the game's brutal difficulty.  It's much harder than the first one, but still a brilliant game!

[Bebpo]

Yeah I played the first 2-3 levels a few times in the arcade last time I was in Japan.  Loved it just as much as the original.  I'm not surprised it gets much harder later on, Cave games over the last few years seem to be getting increasingly more difficult IMO.  Death Smiles was really nice that it let you pick your difficulty (rank) per stage.

[originalz]

They've slowly been making their games more accessible.  Their newer games either have selectable difficulty (DS, Futari) or some options to make it easier to survive (DFK's autobomb).  They went too far with Deathsmiles 2 by making the game too easy with no way to make it more difficult, making for a dull (and very short) game, along with having a flawed scoring system.

DFK Black Label looks like it'll be insane though, that's how you make a game to appeal to your hardcore fanbase!