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- This article is about the 2001 console. For the "Xbox" brand and series of consoles, see Xbox (brand). For other uses, see Xbox.
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The Xbox (retroactively known as the Original Xbox) is the first video game console by Microsoft, and the first installment in the Xbox series of consoles. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, followed by Australia, Europe, and Japan in 2002.[1] It is part of the sixth-generation console, competing with Sony's PlayStation 2 and Nintendo's GameCube. It was also the first major console produced by an American company since the release of the Atari Jaguar in 1993.
The console was announced in March 2000.[2]
History[]
Creation and development[]
In 1998, four engineers from the DirectX team at Microsoft – Kevin Bachus, Seamus Blackley, Ted Hase and team leader Otto Berkes – disassembled some Dell laptop computers to construct a prototype Microsoft Windows based video game console. The team hoped to create a console to compete with Sony's then-upcoming PlayStation 2, which was luring game developers away from the Windows platform. The team approached Ed Fries, the leader of Microsoft’s game publishing business at the time, and pitched their “DirectX Box” console based on the DirectX graphics technology developed by Berkes’ team. Fries decided to support the team’s idea of creating a Windows DirectX based console.
During development, the original DirectX box name was shortened to Xbox. Microsoft's marketing department did not like the Xbox name, and suggested many alternatives. During focus testing, the Xbox name was left on the list of possible names to demonstrate how unpopular the Xbox name would be with consumers. However, consumer testing revealed that Xbox was preferred by far over the other suggested names and “Xbox” became the official name of the product.
The Xbox was Microsoft's first video game console after collaborating with Sega to port Windows CE to the Sega Dreamcast. Microsoft repeatedly delayed the console, which was first mentioned publicly in late 1999 during interviews with then-Microsoft CEO Bill Gates. Gates stated that a gaming/multimedia device was essential for multimedia convergence in the new times.
Bill Gates unveiling the Xbox at GDC 2000.
When Bill Gates unveiled the Xbox at the Game Developers Conference in 2000, audiences were impressed by the console's technology. At the time of Gates' announcement, Sega's Dreamcast sales were diminishing and Sony's PlayStation 2 was just going on sale in Japan.
Concentrating on making a big splash in Japan, Microsoft delayed its European launch, though Europe later proved to be the more receptive market.
Some of Microsoft's plans proved effective. In preparation for its launch, Microsoft acquired Bungie and used Halo: Combat Evolved as a launch title. At the time, GoldenEye 007 for Nintendo 64 had been one of the few hit FPS games to appear on a console, some of other ones being Perfect Dark and Medal of Honor. Halo: Combat Evolved proved a good application to drive the Xbox's sales. In 2002, Microsoft made the second place slot in consoles sold in North America.
Initial announcement and content acquisitions[]
Formal announcement and release[]
Promotion[]
Discontinuation and successors[]
The Xbox's successor, the Xbox 360, was officially announced on May 12, 2005 on MTV. It was the first next generation system to be announced. It was released in North America on Noveber 22, 2005. Nvidia ceased production of the Xbox's GPU in August 2005, marking the end of brand-new Xbox production.[3] The last game for the Xbox in Japan was The King of Fighters Neowave, released in March 2006; the last Xbox game in Europe was Xiaolin Showdown, released in June 2007; and the last game in North America was Madden NFL 09, released in August 2008. Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009.[4] Support for Xbox Live on the console ended on April 15, 2010.[5]
The Xbox 360 supports a limited number of the Xbox's game library if the player has an official Xbox 360 Hard Drive. Xbox games were added up until November 2007. Xbox game saves cannot be transferred to Xbox 360, and the ability to play Xbox games through Xbox Live has been discontinued since April 15, 2010. It is still possible to play Xbox games with System Link functionality online via both the original console and the Xbox 360 with tunneling software such as XLink Kai.
Services[]
One November 15, 2002, Microsoft launched Xbox Live, its fee-based online gaming service. It enabled its subscribers to download new content and connect with other players through a broadband connection. Xbox Live support for the original Xbox games were discontinued on April 14, 2010.
Hardware[]
The appearance of the Xbox is much what like what the name suggests. The console itself is a black 320 × 100 × 260 mm (12.5 × 4 × 10.5 in) box with a X shape going across it with a green circle in the middle with the logo inside of it. On the front of the console there are 4 controller ports in total, 2 being on each side of the power button. In the middle of the controller ports is the On/Off and eject disc button.
Controllers[]
During development Xbox co-creator Seamus Blackley drew some prototype controllers that looked similar to the Dreamcast controller. They were then shared to Xbox fans and the rest of the world. Blackley also stated that Microsoft never decided which controller would be the final decision for the Xbox. The development team eventually decided to go with a large chunky design, now better known as The Duke.
Software[]
Operating system[]
Games[]
One of the first games released for the Xbox was Halo: Combat Evolved. Halo: Combat Evolved was the first game in the Halo series. Launching in November 2001, Halo: CE went on to become the one of the original Xbox's best selling games and creating many more sequels for future Xbox platforms.
Over the course of the original Xbox's life, there were around 1000 game released for it, with the last being Xiaolin Showdown in Europe which was released in June of 2007 and Madden NFL 09 in North America which was released in August 2008.
Halo 2[]
Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack
Halo 2 was launched in 2004, because of its campaign and online features the Xbox was winning the online gaming wars. Halo 2 became so popular it became the best selling Xbox game of all time.
Halo 2 was one of the first Xbox games to have DLC. The "Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack" was released on July 5, 2005, for $19.99, which included new maps and weapons for players.
During the still on going console wars (PlayStation vs Nintendo vs Xbox), Halo 2 on its own was beating the PlayStation 2's online library all the way up until 2010. Once the Xbox 360 was launched, Halo 2 was soon made available on the Xbox 360 via Backwards Compatibility.
On April 17, 2010, Halo 2 and all of its servers shut down for good, as well as the Xbox 360 severs. The PC version was also shut down in early 2014 due to a lack of players. However, by using XLink Kai, it is still possible to play Halo 2 online on the original Xbox.
Sales[]
Controllers and accessories[]
The Dakota Pad prototype.
The Dakota Pad was the prototype controller. It had the green Xbox logo from top of the Xbox console in the middle of it. But was eventually replaced by The Duke controller. However when the Xbox launched the Xbox with The Duke a lot of people struggled with The Duke. The Duke was eventually replaced by Controller S. The Controller S prototype was the same but, just like the Dakota Pad it had the green Xbox logo in the middle of it.
Microsoft also released the Special Edition Launch Team Xbox. This Xbox was made in 2001. There were roughly 1000 of these special editions made. This Special Edition Xbox was green and instead of the Xbox logo being in the center of the console there is a black circle with writing inside it saying "Great Work!" which was then followed by Bill Gates Signature. The controller for this console was a green Duke which was only available with the Special Edition Launch Team Xbox.
When Gamestop would sell you the Xbox, Gamestop had their own controllers for the original Xbox. There was the Controller S version (which had a small Gamestop logo instead of the original Xbox logo in the middle). It also had 2 small black buttons in between the thumpers and next to the D-Pad. A Back button and Start button. The D-Pad for this controller was poorly designed. Not many of these sold when they first came out.
Limited Editions[]
Over the Xbox's life there were many limited edition variations made of the consoles both by Microsoft and other companies. These limited edition models all varied in the way they look compared to the regular Xbox. Mountain Dew and Microsoft teamed up to make the Limited Edition Mountain Dew Xbox. A crystal colored Xbox was also released to mark the console's 2 year anniversary.
Gallery[]
Prototypes[]
.png "Xboxproto1 (1).png (730 KB)")
Concept Designs[]
Videos[]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ "Xbox Arrives in New York Tonight at Toys "R" Us Times Square". Microsoft (November 14, 2001). Archived from the original on June 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Microsoft announces X-BOX". Xbox.com (April 7, 2000). Archived from the original on April 7, 2000.
- ↑ Nuttall, Chris (May 13, 2005). "Nvidia ends shipments of chips for Xbox". Financial Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016.
- ↑ de Matos, Xav (February 27, 2009). "PSA: Microsoft ends original Xbox support on March 2". Engadget. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
- ↑ Pereira, Chris (February 5, 2010). "Xbox Live to Cut Off Original Xbox Support on April 15". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015.
External links[]
- The Dakota Pad on YouTube
- Original Xbox Prototype on YouTube
- Dreamcast Xbox controller prototype on GameSpot
- http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6Zc_u1lY_aQ/T3m4yshlEnI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/_JdpzdwajfQ/s1600/LE-001-Launch.jpg
- http://press1for.co.uk/xbox-customer-service-number/
- https://www.consolevariations.com/microsoft/microsoft-xbox/microsoft-xbox-console-variations/