Microsoft fires game tester who revealed Xbox 360 defects information

A short while ago, you may well remember reading an article by Dean Takahashi of VentureBeat in which he revealed loads of insider information regarding the Xbox 360 defects. Some of the information included that MS knew all about the defects from the start of production but didn't want to delay the launch and initially 68 percent of Xbox 360's were defective. Now Microsoft has gone and FIRED contract worker Robert Delware who revealed insider information which contributed to the Xbox 360 defect exposure story by Takahashi. MS out rightly told Delaware that he has been fired due to the article and he is now expecting civil charges but he doesn't seem worried, commenting "I don't regret it, I'll fight it, if they want to come after me, bring it on."

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Robert Delaware was the only named Microsoft worker (a contract employee) who talked — without permission — to VentureBeat for our story last week on the Xbox 360 defects.

Microsoft had him fired on Wednesday. Delaware worked as a game tester at Microsoft but was employed by the temp agency Excell Data. He reported directly to a Microsoft manager, who told him he was being let go because of the VentureBeat article.

Delaware, a 29-year-old Seattle resident, expects to face civil charges from his former employer VMC (which tests games for Microsoft) and Microsoft as well. He will likely have to hire a lawyer. Microsoft spokesman David Dennis said the company does not talk about personnel issues.

“I don’t regret it,” he said in a phone call on Thursday. “I’ll fight it. If they want to come after me, bring it on.”

Delaware bravely decided to come forward and talk on the record for our story about the many problems associated with the launch of the Xbox 360. He talked to me about how he learned about problems with the hardware while working as a game tester for VMC. He worked there from 2005 to the fall of 2007. He left to join a start-up, Whrrl, and then returned to the game testing job at Excell, working for Microsoft, this summer. During his time at VMC, he saw how Xbox Live updates embedded in retail games could turn working consoles into worthless hulks. I found his remarks to be refreshing and candid.
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