Thanks Microsoft.

I stand in line from 9 PM to get my pre-ordered legendary version of Halo 3. After having a great time talking to fellow fans of the game, picking up tips, and watching some guys play on a Hummer, I was all jazzed up to get my copy.

So the wait ends, and we get our games. Screams of joy are heard as people exit the GameStop with their copy in hand. I make it home and fire up the 360. And while I have heard about it happening to others, it happened to me.

Yup, the Red Ring of Death.

Of all the days for this effing thing to appear, why is it happening now. If I were the Average White Guy, I would have just chalked it up to the Hoy Factor, but instead, this is just one crap-@ss way to start your Halo 3 experience.

So, while the rest of the planet is talking trash, stomping brutes and finishing the fight, I’ll be collecting coins on Super Mario Bros for the Wii.

My Support Ticket Number:1045245799 – this may turn out to be a great customer service story, or nightmare. We’ll see.

UPDATE: I got my xbox back in under 2 weeks and they also gave me 1 month of Gold level Xbox Live service, but since I already have 2 accounts on Live, it doesn’t really do much for me. I will say that it was a nice gesture, but they should make it 6 months – that way I get addicted to it and will have to buy it. I know they want to keep the freeloaders away, but 1 month just isn’t long enough to get me to commit. Just my $.02

Another post suggestion. I played Metal Gear 2 for NES and thought it was a decent game. Never thought too much of it and then I kept on seeing more coverage about the upcoming Metal Gear 4, and with a great fanbase, I think this makes for a great vs battle.

So, here goes:

Master Chief:

• Various weapon skills
• Regenerating Shields
• Multiple Vehicle selection
• Lone Wolf Mentality
• Super Cool Armor

Solid Snake:

• Excellent hand to hand combat skills
• Weapon Mastery
• Communication Expert
• Stealth
• Quick thinking

So, to celebrate Halo 3’s release and Guns of the Patriots upcoming release, who comes out on top in a one-vs-one battle?

Now here’s a blast from the past. Lobo had a brief run to stardom in the 1990’s, but for some reason just seemed to fade away. What I like about this match up is that Lobo is immortal. So how would Master Chief find a way to “Finish the Fight?”

Master Chief:

• Various weapon skills
• Regenerating Shields
• Multiple Vehicle selection
• Lone Wolf Mentality
• Super Cool Armor

Lobo:

• Ability to regrow an entire new Lobo from each drop of his own spilled blood
• Banned from both Heaven and Hell, and is thus immortal
• Genius intellect
• Uses high grade weaponry and explosives
• Tracking ability that allows him to track anyone or anything across a galaxy

Is this the end of MC’s battles?