It’s not a very enjoyable experience when your headset stops functioning during crucial moments of online battles. In some cases, the hardwired devices fail because of faulty connections. Some gamers, hoping for better reliability and freedom, have elected to go wireless. But these devices also have their share of problems concerning signal interference.
The Xbox 360 Wireless Headset is one such case where users have wondered whether the benefits of going wireless outweigh the problems associated with its usage. The Xbox Accessories team has been fielding complaints regarding the new wireless headset, and has released a statement acknowledging the problem. The following remarks were posted on the Microsoft Xbox and Games employee blog, Gamerscore:
"We have received feedback from some customers that they have experienced issues while using the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, including difficulty syncing the headset to the controller, reception interference and audio sensitivity when playing action-packed games like Gears of War. We are committed to providing the highest quality accessories for Xbox 360 and would like to assist in troubleshooting and resolving those issues, whether by replacing or repairing the units under warranty."
While the Microsoft team has quickly responded to these issues, it is yet another indication that quality control and proper testing still need improvement in the game industry.
Case in point: with the Xbox 360 Wireless Headset (MSRP $59.99), many Xbox 360 owners have refused to purchase the wireless headset due to the publicity surrounding these hardware issues. This is just one example where hardware that is released prematurely manages to only shake the confidence of consumers. The game industry as a whole has benefited from the tolerance of the gaming community. But, as the costs of game hardware and software skyrocket, the traditional patience of gamers may very well run short. In this age of firmware upgrades and patches, gamers may begin to demand what consumers should expect to receive–products that work properly right out of the box.
