Comment Re:For real? (Score 2) 323
More or less the first part only - another poster dug up this link, which should help:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=21464
Basically, certification checks that it works on all xboxes, has a certain level of game stability, and obeys rules about naming conventions, accessing gamer profiles, sharing of achievements, and other standards and requirements for the console. For example, load times have a maximum amount of time allowed - exceeding that time is grounds for failing certification.
Microsoft does not QA your game, send you gameplay feedback, or otherwise replace a certification department - that is the responsibility of the developer and/or publisher to front, depending on their contract and relationship.