Microsoft to fix Xbox 'problems'

Wrestler The Rock helped launch the Xbox

Microsoft has promised to repair reported problems to its Xbox games console in Japan after initially saying there was nothing to fix.

The US company received more than 240 complaints that the machine scratched game CDs and DVDs in the first 10 days of release.

Earlier this week, Microsoft argued the scratches were caused by natural friction and that it would not replace or repair the machines unless there was a problem affecting playback.

In the US we had similar complaints but the complaints did not result in any kind of problem

Microsoft

However the firm now acknowledges there is a problem, but stopped short of a product recall.

Microsoft's Midori Takahashi said: "We found some unidentified scratches on CDs and DVDs. We have yet to determine the cause of the scratches."

However she also stated that the scratches did not affect game playing.

On Monday the company insisted there was nothing wrong with the Xbox, despite the complaints posted on the company's website.

Microsoft stated that: "In the US we had similar complaints but the complaints did not result in any kind of problem."

Bill Gates is hoping for big sales

However the company is well aware that the Japanese market is very tough to crack as it has a notoriously fickle gaming public.

Japan is home to Microsoft's main rivals in the games console industry, Sony and Nintendo.

The Xbox has been selling well despite its more expensive price tag.

It costs 34,800 yen (£185) - against 29,800 yen (£155) for PlayStation 2 and (£130) 24,800 yen for GameCube.

Demand

More than 124,000 consoles were sold in the country in the first three days after the 22 February launch, according to gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu.

Microsoft has not released a figure for the number of units sold.

It said it had shipped 250,000 for the Japanese launch, with more shipments expected weekly to meet demand.

Xbox, which made its debut in the US in November, will hit European stores on 14 March.