The Microsoft Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console first released on November 15, 2001 in North America, then released on February 22, 2002 in Japan, and on March 14, 2002 in Europe. The Xbox was Microsoft's first independent venture into the video game console arena, after having developed the operating system and development tools for the MSX, and having collaborated with Sega in porting Windows CE to the Sega Dreamcast console. Notable launch titles for the console include Combat Evolved, Amped, Dead or Alive 3 and Munch's Oddysee.

History

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Development

The Xbox was initially developed within Microsoft by a small team which included Seamus Blackley, a game developer and high energy physicist. The rumors of a video game console being developed by Microsoft first emerged at the end of 1999 following interviews of Bill Gates. Gates said that a gaming/multimedia device was essential for multimedia convergence in the new times of digital entertainment. On March 10, 2000 the "X-box Project" was officially confirmed by Microsoft with a press release. "Microsoft unveils Plans for X-Box Videogame System Designed for Future-Generation Game Experiences", Xbox.com, March 10, 2000. Retrieved March 10, 2000.

Some see the Xbox as a way to capitalize on the growing video game market, noting that the PC market growth was stagnating after the dot-com bust. According to the book Smartbomb, by Heather Chaplin and Aaron Ruby, the remarkable success of the upstart Sony PlayStation worried Microsoft in late 1990s. The growing video game market seemed to threaten the PC market which Microsoft had dominated and relied upon for most of its revenues. As well, a venture into the gaming console market would also diversify Microsoft's product line, which up to that time had been heavily concentrated into software.

Xbox presented a standardized alternative to the near-endless variety of end-user configurations on the PC. The Xbox even brought high-end gaming technology to the mainstream, sporting a top of the line GeForce 3 equivalent graphics processor, a built-in Ethernet adapter, and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound in hardware.

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Open Question: Xbox 360 keeps freezing while playing games? and more...:     Open Question: Xbox 360 .. http://bit.ly/239OgR
thesecretofdian (diana) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:42:08 -0000
Open Question: Xbox 360 keeps freezing while playing games? and more...:     Open Question: Xbox 360 .. http://bit.ly/239OgR
Und jetzt, als Abschluss des Abends, noch eine ordentliche Dröhnung Xbox...
DemonDiego (Leon) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:42:08 -0000
Und jetzt, als Abschluss des Abends, noch eine ordentliche Dröhnung Xbox...
iPhone App Store Exceeds 100,000 Available Programs http://www.twitterlive.net/11Y475 #games #playstation #xbox
gamernsw (James T.) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:42:04 -0000
iPhone App Store Exceeds 100,000 Available Programs http://www.twitterlive.net/11Y475 #games #playstation #xbox
RT @CheapTweet Wow,Walmart is selling the Xbox 360 4 cheap this weekend. It's $199,but u also get a $100 WM gift card http://chpt.me/2hr2mhk
SharkGoddess (SharkGoddess ) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:41:52 -0000
RT @CheapTweet Wow,Walmart is selling the Xbox 360 4 cheap this weekend. It's $199,but u also get a $100 WM gift card http://chpt.me/2hr2mhk
Console Wars: The Effect Of Price Cuts On The Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3: CrunchGear (blog) ... (on a specs basis) .. http://bit.ly/3LyyFw
unlockwii (Unlock Wii) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:41:52 -0000
Console Wars: The Effect Of Price Cuts On The Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3: CrunchGear (blog) ... (on a specs basis) .. http://bit.ly/3LyyFw
Damn! Just caught wind of rumors claiming they're banning Xbox LIVE users playing MW2 this early... *disconnects from Wi-Fi* :o(
ChrisReg (Creasy!) Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:41:31 -0000
Damn! Just caught wind of rumors claiming they're banning Xbox LIVE users playing MW2 this early... *disconnects from Wi-Fi* :o(

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