History of video games/Platforms/Xbox

History thumb|Microsoft Building 17 in 2005, part of the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington. Development thumb| Xbox logotype. Internal Affairs Development of the original Xbox was started in February 1998 as the DirectX box by a four person team at Microsoft.Gurwin Gabe The history of the Xbox https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/the-history-of-the-xbox/ www.digitaltrends.com 14 November 2020The Story Behind the Xbox https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-story-behind-the-xbox PCMAG 14 November 2020 enGameSpy.com - Article https://web.archive.org/web/20060621151644/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/january04/xboxtimeline/index2.shtml web.archive.org 27 November 2020 21 June 2006 The announcement that the PlayStation 2 would attempt to double as a personal computer which could run an optional Linux based operating system was a potentially galvanizing factor for Microsoft to pursue game console development. Though this stance would soften over the following decade, at the time Microsoft leadership considered Linux based operating systems a serious and significant threat to Microsoft's place in the market.Lea Graham MS' Ballmer: Linux is communism https://www.theregister.com/2000/07/31/ms_ballmer_linux_is_communism/ 4 March 2021 www.theregister.com enTung Liam Ballmer: I may have called Linux a cancer but now I love it https://www.zdnet.com/article/ballmer-i-may-have-called-linux-a-cancer-but-now-i-love-it/ 4 March 2021 ZDNet en Though ultimately relatively few users of the PlayStation 2 would attempt to do this, it would be a crucial factor that lead Microsoft to enter the market. Development teams for the console were very competitive with one another, and some working on the console called the project the "Coffin Box" as they assumed it would fail. There was significant friction between other divisions of Microsoft and the Xbox team at the time, and the Xbox team would work outside the primary Microsoft Campus. Though internal politics nearly sunk the console, Steve Ballmer, the newly appointed CEO of Microsoft, would save the project from being shuttered.Foley Mary Jo Microsoft's Xbox: What's Ballmer got to do with it? https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-xbox-whats-ballmer-got-to-do-with-it/ 4 March 2021 ZDNet en This would prove to be something of a trend, as Ballmer would spend significant political capital as CEO to save the next two following Xbox consoles from being shuttered or otherwise ruined by internal decisions.Gralla Preston Steve Balmer's farewell message to Microsoft shareholders: Save Bing and Xbox https://www.computerworld.com/article/2475507/steve-balmer-s-farewell-message-to-microsoft-shareholders--save-bing-and-xbox.html 4 March 2021 Computerworld 19 November 2013 enFormer Microsoft Executive Says Steve Ballmer Saved Xbox Brand During Xbox 360 RRoD Saga - MSPoweruser https://mspoweruser.com/former-microsoft-executive-says-steve-ballmer-saved-xbox-brand-during-xbox-360-rrod-saga/ 4 March 2021 Because other colors designers markers were commonly borrowed, the logo was sketched with a green marker, leading to the green color identity of the console.The origin story of the Xbox's green branding https://www.destructoid.com/the-origin-story-of-the-xboxs-green-branding/ 3 November 2021 Destructoid 7 July 2015 en-CAXbox Creator Reveals Origin of Why Xbox Branding is Green - Podcast Unlocked - IGN https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/07/xbox-creator-reveals-origin-of-why-xbox-branding-is-green-podcast-unlocked 3 November 2021 enWhy was the Xbox logo green? Coworkers took every other color marker the artist had https://www.technobuffalo.com/why-was-the-xbox-logo-green-coworkers-took-every-other-color-marker-the-artist-had 3 November 2021 TechnoBuffalo 9 July 2015 Promotion and Partnerships Launching a major new console successfully required significant investments and partnerships, which the software giant Microsoft was able to muster. A budget of $500 million dollars was set up to promote the Xbox.The Future of Console Gaming http://www.gamezero.com/team-0/articles/features/future_gaming_2000/part_4_page_2.html www.gamezero.com 21 November 2020 Microsoft acquired Bungie in 2000 for $30 million dollars, including projects in development such as Oni and future system seller Halo.Ho Jennifer Microsoft acquires Bungie https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-acquires-bungie/ 25 October 2020 ZDNet en Isao Okawa, the chairman of Sega, petitioned Bill Gates to add Dreamcast compatibility to the Xbox as Sega prepared to leave the hardware business, though this functionality was ultimately not added.Xbox Almost Played Dreamcast Games The Escapist https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/97494-Xbox-Almost-Played-Dreamcast-Games v1.escapistmagazine.com 15 November 2020 en Still, Sega and Microsoft became strong partners, with Sega agreeing to produce several games as Xbox exclusives.Sega And Microsoft Announce New Partnership https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/91801/Sega_And_Microsoft_Announce_New_Partnership.php 7 January 2021 www.gamasutra.com en Microsoft also attempted to partner with Nintendo, who's American offices were also based in the Seattle metropolitan area, but these talks did not go far.Farokhmanesh Megan Nintendo once laughed Xbox execs out of the room over a Microsoft acquisition offer https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/6/22217027/nintendo-xbox-microsoft-acquisition 7 January 2021 The Verge 6 January 2021 en Additional partnerships attempted included Midway and Square.Xbox: The Oral History of an American Video Game Empire https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-01-06/xbox-the-oral-history-of-an-american-video-game-empire 7 January 2021 Bloomberg.com 6 January 2021 en An interesting partnership was attempted to acquire the Bleem! Emulator, which would have given the Xbox the ability to play PlayStation 1 games through software emulation, though this deal fell through.Hosie Ewen The history of bleem! https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-12-11-the-history-of-bleem 13 January 2021 Eurogamer 11 December 2017 en Early publications speculated that AMD would likely supply the Xbox CPU, before Intel was announced as the supplier.Microsoft va défier Sony sur les consoles de jeu https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/2000/03/11/microsoft-va-d-eacute-fier-sony-sur-les-consoles-de-jeu_46036_1819218.html 22 September 2021 Le Monde.fr 11 March 2000 frMicrosoft introduces console gaming system - Mar. 10, 2000 https://money.cnn.com/2000/03/10/technology/xbox/ 22 September 2021 money.cnn.com Prototype Development The prototype Xbox hardware was vastly different from the production console, and is notable for its bold futuristic design which was unlike any console seen before it. The prototype demonstrated at GDC 2000 was actually shaped like an X with a silver colored metallic milled aluminum.Yin-Poole Wesley The original Xbox prototype is alive and kicking https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-07-01-the-original-xbox-prototype-is-alive-and-kicking 7 January 2021 Eurogamer 1 July 2018 enGood Owen S. Whatever happened to the Xbox’s original prototype? https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/1/17523100/original-xbox-prototype-aluminum-x-gdc-2000 7 January 2021 Polygon 1 July 2018 en Mainly due to the expense of the case, each of these functioning prototypes cost $18,000 USD to manufacture. Prototype Xbox controllers included a screen, similar to the Sega Dreamcast but distinct in its own way.Original Xbox Controller Prototypes Look Like Dreamcast Tears https://kotaku.com/original-xbox-controller-prototypes-look-like-dreamcast-1782784916 27 October 2020 Kotaku en-us Not all the futuristic touches of the prototype Xbox units were discarded on production. The unique dashboard of the original Xbox used public domain sounds from the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon as background noise.Fun Fact https://twitter.com/majornelson/status/490926865477951489 Twitter 25 October 2020 enFun Fact https://twitter.com/majornelson/status/490926923132850177 Twitter 25 October 2020 en Launch thumb|The Duke controller, an infamously large controller for an infamously large console. The Microsoft Xbox was released on November 15th, 2001 at a cost of $299.Microsoft launches Xbox - Nov. 15, 2001 https://money.cnn.com/2001/11/15/technology/xbox/ 28 October 2020 money.cnn.comVideo game:Microsoft Xbox Beyond Good and Evil - Microsoft https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/video-game-microsoft-xbox-beyond-good-and-evil-microsoft/WwGo2J3wZ34clw Google Arts & Culture 15 November 2020 en Over a million Xbox consoles sold in the first three weeks on the market in North America, though the system struggled in Japan and Europe. The Xbox Live online gaming service was launched nearly a year later in November of 2002.Video game:Xbox Shrek - Microsoft https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/video-game-xbox-shrek-microsoft/QwHaRy-I19TJGA?hl=en Google Arts & Culture 15 November 2020 en By 2003 the Xbox was struggling so much in the Japanese market that it was being outsold by the previous generation PlayStation 1.Japan Charts: GameCube outsells PS2 as key RPG title rolls out https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/japan-charts-gamecube-outsells-ps2-as-key-rpg-title-rolls-out 19 February 2021 GamesIndustry.biz en Legacy The Xbox was followed by the Xbox 360, which was first released in late 2005. At launch the Xbox 360 supported limited backwards compatibility with original Xbox games via software emulation.212 Xbox titles to work on Xbox 360 at launch https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news141105xboxback 27 July 2021 Eurogamer 14 November 2005 en The Xbox was discontinued in 2009, having sold 24 million consoles. Shortly afterwards, on April 15, 2010 support for Xbox Live on the original Xbox ended.Microsoft to kill Xbox Live support for original Xbox games on April 15 https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/05/microsoft-to-kill-xbox-live-support-for-original-xbox-games-on-april-15/ TechCrunch 20 January 2021 The last multiplayer game of Halo 2 on the original Xbox Live service actually ended some time later, as a group of players known as the Noble 14 continued to game on as one by one their connections were slowly severed.The Last Man to Play Halo 2 on Xbox Live https://kotaku.com/the-last-man-to-play-halo-2-on-xbox-live-5535672 20 January 2021 Kotaku en-us Nearly a month later, on May 10th, 2010 just before 11PM in the Pacific Time Zone, the final member of Noble 14 was removed from the game.Terdiman Daniel Last Halo 2 player finally leaves Xbox Live https://www.cnet.com/news/last-halo-2-player-finally-leaves-xbox-live/ CNET 20 January 2021 en The Kodi Media Player was originally created as the unofficial Xbox Media Center (XBMC) for the Xbox in 2004.A short history of Kodi https://ting.com/blog/a-short-history-of-kodi/ Ting.com 14 November 2020 en 24 March 2016How the Original XBOX started a Media Player revolution - The Story of KODI MVG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AXjqus1r40 14 November 2020 By the late 2010's Kodi was a significant media player in its own right, and its popularity attracted significant media attention.What Is Kodi? https://www.pcmag.com/news/what-is-kodi 20 January 2021 PCMAG enKamen Matt What is Kodi and is it legal? A beginner's guide to the home media server https://www.wired.co.uk/article/kodi-how-to-beginners-guide 20 January 2021 Wired UK 3 May 2017How to manage your media with Kodi https://opensource.com/article/19/1/manage-your-media-kodi 20 January 2021 Opensource.com en In 2018, Kodi would see an official release on the newer Xbox One console.How to get started with Kodi on Xbox One https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-kodi-xbox-one 20 January 2021 Windows Central 30 January 2018How to install and set up Kodi on Xbox One https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-install-kodi-on-xbox-one 20 January 2021 TechRadar en Technology When looking at specifications alone the original Xbox is deceptively similar to a standard PC of the time. Yet in practice the Xbox has notable architectural differences from a standard PC, especially in regards to software.The Current State of Original Xbox Emulation on the PC MVG - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiWH4TcFCAY www.youtube.com 7 January 2021 thumb|A Pentium-III CPU from an original Xbox. The original Xbox uses a modified Intel Pentium III CPU clocked at 733 megahertz.Xbox Architecture A Practical Analysis https://www.copetti.org/projects/consoles/xbox/ Rodrigo's Stuff 8 November 2020 en 26 June 2020 An Xbox NVIDIA GeForce 3 derived GPU clocked at 250 megahertz is integrated into the northbridge.Xbox System Info http://www.vgmuseum.com/systems/xbox/ www.vgmuseum.com 17 November 2020 The Xbox has 64 mebibytes of shared RAM. As a result of it's compute resources, the original Xbox was quite powerful for its time and was capable of 20 gigaflops of performance.Console GPU Power Compared: Ranking Systems By FLOPS https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/console-gpu-power-compared-ranking-systems-by-flop/2900-1334/#16 GameSpot 4 November 2020 The internal IDE hard drive of the original Xbox held 8 gigabytes of data.A Brief and Abbreviated History of Gaming Storage – Techbytes https://blogs.umass.edu/Techbytes/2014/02/10/history-of-gaming-storage/ 18 October 2020 No major console before the Xbox had such a massive included storage drive, and following consoles would often follow by including large internal storage as standard. The Xbox also had an IDE interface DVD drive. Xbox Controllers connect over USB 1.1 with a unique physical connector. The Xbox has a built in 100 megabit ethernet port for high speed networking. This was not a standard feature this generation, and gave the Xbox an edge when rolling out online services. Notable Games 2001 thumb|The 2001 Launch Team Edition Console, signed by Bill Gate Halo: Combat Evolved Fuzion Frenzy Shrek Shrek for the original Xbox is notable for it's use of deferred lighting,Indie Game Jam 2 / Ebi Flip (PC) 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224623/http://www.electricsheepgames.com/games3 web.archive.org 27 July 2021 2 December 2013 being among the first games to do so. Read more about the video game Shrek on Wikipedia. 2002 Jet Set Radio Future Blinx: The Time Sweeper Panzer Dragoon Orta MechAssault Steel Battalion Shin Megami Tensei: Nine Whacked! Party game. Read more about Whacked! on Wikipedia. ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth Read more about ToeJam & Earl III: Mission to Earth on Wikipedia. Gunvalkyrie A game that had initially been planned to launch on the Dreamcast. Read more about Gunvalkyrie on Wikipedia. 2003 Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge Grabbed by the Ghoulies 2004 thumb|Xbox display at Minho Campus Party 2004. Halo 2 Fable Ninja Gaiden Blinx 2: Masters of Time and Space MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf Metal Wolf Chaos 2005 Conker: Live & Reloaded Psychonauts Forza Motorsport Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse 2006 Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Gallery Consoles Controllers and Accessories Console Internals External Resources Xbox (console) Xbox Video Game Console Library - Xbox page. References 2 100% __NOTOC__