A Microsoft Xbox 360 owner from Chicago has sued the world's largest software maker, saying the new video game console has a design flaw that causes it to overheat and freeze up reports Yahoo News

Robert Byers, who brought the suit, said the power supply and central processing unit in the Xbox 360 overheat, affecting heat-sensitive chips and causing the console to lock up.

Complaints of similar freezing problems began to surface as soon as the Xbox 360 went on sale November 22. Owners reported some systems crashed during both normal and online game play.

Microsoft has stated it has received isolated reports of problems, but emphasized the possible glitches represented a small fraction of units sold.

The proposed class action suit claims that in Microsoft's bid to gain share in the $25 billion global video game market, the company was so intent on releasing the Xbox 360 before competing next-generation machines from Sony and Nintendo that it sold a "defectively designed" product.