The Xbox 360 has faced technical problems since it’s been on the market. From the “Red Ring of Death” to simple game freezes, its had a rough life-span.

Unfortunately, a new problem has developed, known as the “Open Tray” error.

The error is that the Xbox system does not read the disc when it is inserted and a message appears saying “open tray.” The game never starts and will at times cause the Xbox to freeze.

This problem did not surface until the new model of Xbox came out in 2010. Dubbed the “Xbox 360 S,” it came with a slimmer look and a new motherboard configuration. The new hardware inside was said, by Microsoft, to be faster and more reliable than what was in the original Xbox.

Everything seemed good until the middle of last year when some gamers started posting on video game forums that their Xboxes were not reading discs.

The cause was from burned-out and faulty disc readers. Frankly, this should not happen especially when claiming this new system is better than the old.

There are other problems such as the tray for the disc getting stuck or scratching the disc while playing a game. However, these problems do not seem related to the disc reader, but add on to a growing list of new issues.

Microsoft is known for its computer ware. To have continued problems like this is unacceptable. Hardware issues are expected from newcomers, not veteran companies.

Microsoft will fix these problems, but if it’s after the one-year warranty, then gamers have to pay for the fix.

This requires sending the console to be fixed, which takes two to four weeks. It also costs $50 – $150 depending on how severe the problem is.

Fellow hardware and gaming giant Sony has only a few problems with the PlayStation 3.

The only one even close to the Xbox is a similar issue called the “Yellow Light of Death. A yellow light begins to flash indicating a disc read error.

The fix is also similar with having to send in the console to get fixed. What Sony does different however, is give better warranty options. With a protection plan, PlayStation owners not only get coverage for repairs, but direct access to specialists for any problem.

Xbox gamers do not get this luxury of being able to communicate with a specialist at any time for a problem. The best possibility is getting a text conversation with a “specialist,” however, they always lead to the same conclusion: send the console in for a diagnostic.

After the first wave hit, Microsoft should have taken the time to put out a better system with limited problems.

Unfortunately, Microsoft only created new problems to plague gamers. Instead of adding to the experience, it just added to the frustration. It was like a back-handed compliment that only leaves one confused.

Hopefully, whenever the Xbox 360’s successor is released, Microsoft will learn from the mistakes and create a better console.

Nathan Mendelowitz can be reached at [email protected]