Call us crazy, but usually we think of crazy cults and extreme churches who drink some kind of magical koolade when we think of mass suicides. According to unconfirmed reports though, 300 Chinese workers at an Xbox 360 factory threatened mass suicide. Yes, just like everything else these days, the Xbox is actually manufactured in China.
Apparently the Chinese just don’t handle payment and other often union related disputes the way the rest of us do. According to reports, employees threatened to throw themselves off the roof of the factory, recorded in Record China and Want China Times.
Employees officially requested a raise on January 2, and frankly, maybe they deserved a raise. However, employees were told to quit with compensation or keep their jobs and just settle for no raise. Most ended up quitting and did not actually get the promised compensation, which ruffled some serious feathers, even among the Chinese, who generally seem to put up with a lot from their government. Maybe that’s just the breaking point.
Microsoft did not officially confirm or deny any of this, and the official spokesperson refused to confirm whether or not this particular location even manufactured Xboxes at all. They generally do not list products by manufacturing location.
A Microsoft representative has been quoted as saying,
”Microsoft takes working conditions in the factories that manufacture its products very seriously, and we are currently investigating this issue. We have a stringent Vendor Code of Conduct that spells out our expectations, and we monitor working conditions closely on an ongoing basis and address issues as they emerge. Microsoft is committed to the fair treatment and safety of workers employed by our vendors, and to ensuring conformance with Microsoft policy.”
Foxconn Technology Group is currently the world’s largest electronics manufacturer and has built products for Apple, Dell, and HP among others. This is the company that actually produces the iPhone. As far as records go, 17 Foxconn workers have committed suicide in the past 5 years alone. We wouldn’t consider those numbers to be great. Sources say:
”Workers always have excessive and forced overtime in order to gain a higher wage. Workers are exposed to dust from construction site and shop floor without adequate protection. Even worse, they are threatened by potential harm of occupational diseases in various departments. Additionally, military-styled management is still in practice, characterized by ‘military training’ for new workers.”
Is this the kind of company and the kind of standards Microsoft, Apple, and other technology based companies expect?
Shows like To Catch a Predator use the computer to track down dangerous pedophiles who give all sorts of story. I even saw one who tried to say that he came all the way to the house with beer and condoms in hand to “warn” the girl of the dangers of inviting strangers to her home…..some of that stuff is amazing. However, as of June 2009, Massachusetts state troopers have found a new way to track down and prosecute criminals. Cops still use technology, but one state trooper in particular used an Xbox to gather evidence of sexual crimes! 
If you don’t play the Xbox 360, you obviously won’t know, and you probably won’t be reading this blog. However, for the rest of us, there are always games that are especially popular, spreading themselves around the circuit at lightning speed. Sometimes, it’s big games and new editions we have seen before, and sometimes these games come from out of nowhere. However, whatever the circumstances, here are the top 5 for 2011.
Rumors and “news” about the new Xbox 720 that is supposedly coming out soon can literally come from anywhere, any source it seems. Regardless, we seem to soak these rumors up like one big sponge, clinging onto the hope for something bigger and better in the near future. However, there is news from a few different sources that might be interesting and maybe even informative to people who are serious about Xbox news and the up and coming innovations.
Apparently, Microsoft has serious reason for concern when it comes to Xbox Live. Microsoft has just rolled out its first most likely of many conditions required to update your Xbox 360 Live edition. Yes, it has new voice and gesture controls, but you may have to sign a new contract with an updated terms of service. 
As the market progresses, rumor has it that the newest Xbox 360 to be introduced will come with a lip reading Kinect for an even greater user experience. Whether it will be coming in the next few months, the next year, or a few years from now, we can’t be sure. However, the rumors keep rolling in for a radically different model.
This year’s black Friday is said to be a dream for the gamer. Games are cheaper than ever before, and better yet, the Xbox 360 is now going to be cut down to $150 just for black Friday. Microsoft has let it leak, and you can get it during the big shopping spree. I can guarantee that everybody is going to want it and it will sell out fast much like the Wii did. 
It was recently introduced that Gears of War 3 is coming to a store near you on December 13th. The new campaign is related to Blockbuster, and it stars new characters that are eerily similar to some of the old characters that we’re used to. This new game will give you more than 3 hours of gameplay in a storyline that comes before the first Gears of War. We’re backtracking a little, but we are also getting better graphics and better characters for a new type of war.
Finally, the UFC will be brought into the world of the Xbox. You can experience the energy of the Octagon like never before, controlling the players and getting all of the fight excitement in one. With pay per view events in stunning high definition and access to a library of fighter stats, weigh-ins, interviews, and more about every major UFC player, it delivers a memorable experience.