Robbie Bach personally kicked ass over Live mess on Christmas Day 2007

Robbie Bach personally got on the phone on Christmas day last year to sort out the fact Xbox Live was flattened by demand, Xbox Live product unit manager Jerry Johnson has told Eurogamer, and that he was actually passing on the heat from Steve Ballmer himself.

"I can tell you that when Robbie Bach is on the phone on Christmas Day calling people asking what the hell is going on, and that's coming down from Steve Ballmer," said Johnson.

"That's the kind of attention it got last Holiday."

Live won't fall over this Christmas, we're assured.

"Many things have changed since then, and we realised the kind of growth trajectory we were on and had to prepare for it," Johnson added.

Look at the image to this story. We took that at CES this year. Bach stood in front of that word on purpose. We know he did. He told us so mentally. Take this picture, he said. It will display the inner workings of my character for generations to come.

Man that sees Christmas Day as tier-one action point: we salute you.