So I’m playing Splinter Cell tonight, kickin’ it Live with the iCush chair I am trying to review, and all of a sudden my screen goes into this bright green/red flickering haze, followed quickly by a “No Signal Found” message from my TV.

Uh oh.

So I adjust the component cables, unplug everything, even strap on the Nyko intercooler - nothing. I hear the sound great, but there’s nothing to see on the screen.

This is the same 360 I sat out in the rain and waited for 11 hours on launch day, mind you, so it’s got a special place in my heart.

After 10 minutes of futzing around, I called the Xbox 360 support number (open from 9 AM to 1 AM - not bad!) and after just a couple of minutes I got an actual person. He very nicely walked me through a few steps to no avail. He got the serial number, mentioned that “this is a first shipment, huh?”, and after we tried a few things he told me that he’d get it repaired for me for free - even no cost shipping! All I have to do is wait 2-3 days for the box to show up, call UPS for them to get it, and Microsoft will fix it for me. He said it sounds like the video card has failed, and who am I to say he’s wrong.

Who knows how long I’ll be without it? I sure don’t. The fact that they’re fixing for nothing is a little heartwarming, since they really don’t have to.

Thank goodness I bought my backup 360 when I couldn’t get my PS3 preorder, so I should not be suffering much (except dragging the one good one up and down the stairs for a few weeks when I want to exercise).

I’ll let you know how this eventually works out.

- Rich