| In 2001, Microsoft made its first foray into the console gaming world when it released the original Xbox system. Unlike the consoles that came before it, Microsoft chose to build the system around standard PC hardware rather than choosing a proprietary design. This PC-hybrid design included a Pentium III processor, NVIDIA-developed graphics processor, and a hard disc drive. From the beginning, Microsoft faced scrutiny with its new console. Critics and gamers felt that the console was way too large for a home gaming system and so were its controllers. People eventually grew used to its size (which was no larger than a typical VCR) and Microsoft Xbox eliminated controller complaints by introducing the Type-S controller, which was a more streamlined version of the one included with the system. Ultimately it's up to games to sell a system, though, no matter how well designed a console and its peripherals are. Microsoft faced challenges right from the get-go with a lackluster launch, aside from one title that became an instant hit: Halo: Combat Evolved. This became the console's "killer game"--a title that's so appealing that it actually motivates gamers to purchase the console. A number of acclaimed games were released for the Xbox system over the next few years, including three Splinter Cell games and ports of titles from the PS2's incredibly popular Grand Theft Auto series. The console was considered enough of a success for Microsoft that it developed the follow-up to the original Microsoft Xbox, the Xbox 360. This system is sure to build upon all of the strengths of the original system and improve on its areas of weakness as well. Take the power and flexibility of a dedicated computer-gaming system and combine it with the easy-to-use, instant-on format of a high-end console system and what do you get? Well, if you also add in DVD playback ability and broadband Internet connectivity, you get Xbox.The advanced components inside Xbox make it the undisputed powerhouse among current game consoles. A 733 MHz Intel main processor and 233 MHz graphics processor from industry leader nVidia deliver photorealistic graphics in real time. A cavernous hard drive stores saved games and characters, making flimsy memory sticks obsolete. The built-in Ethernet port enables super-fast multiplayer online gaming over a broadband Internet connection. Four game-controller ports allow you and three of your buddies to play at the same time, or you can use them for other peripherals such as gamepads, light guns, voice-activated headsets, and who knows what else? |
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