• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

15 years ago at GDC 2000, Bill Gates announced Xbox

G

Grief.exe

Member
Reminder to cut your clock capacitor in your Xbox.

Pankratous said:
Absolutely none of those games appeal to me.

Xbox consoles have always been packed with great OS features but never have any of the three consoles released a game that has made me actually want one.

Maybe Quantum Break will change that.
Click to expand...

Do you not like anything?
 
S

Shibalan

Member
And the hilarious conquest of Japan.

ouc0YMq.jpg
 
D

dragonyeuw

Member
Don't Laugh said:
the xbox is where most of the post-dreamcast sega 2nd parties went if i remember right
Click to expand...

Xbox seemed like the spiritual successor to dreamcast to me, not only in terms of sega support but the features seemed like a natural evolution of what the dreamcast was trying to do especially with console online play.
 
Barakov

Barakov

Member
Crazy that we've had 15 years of Xbox. Time flies. I remember playing the demo of Halo 1 and realized I had to go out buy this game right now. I had good times with that big black box. The duke has its' fair share of detractors but I loved the thing.
 
A

abadguy

Banned
BeforeU said:
15 years you all. Great accomplishment by Microsoft. Xbox is a huge brand now.
Click to expand...

To think when it was first announced it i thought the Xbox would go the way of the 3DO. Probably wouldn't have even thought of buying one had it not been for Sega.
 
I

Inuhanyou

Believes Dragon Quest is a franchise managed by Sony
I remember seeing that XBOX prototype on Good Morning America as a kid thinking that was the coolest looking thing ever(coming from Sega Sony and Nintendo normal looking consoles).

The final design obviously was different, but i had tons of fun with the unit. Jade empire, halo, dead or alive, ninja gaiden, jet set radio future, blinx the cat, breakdown, otogi..and waiting endlessly for that game with the little girl and the hammer that i don't think ever came out :( it looked cool, does anyone remember that game? I remember it looking absolute insane at the time
 
V

Vilix

Unconfirmed Member
And today we've got microtransactions and releases of incomplete games.

Thanks, Obama Bill Gates.
 
A

AmyS

Member
Late 90s rumors about a Microsoft console / XBox.

Microsoft reportedly working on game console
Apr 27, 1998 Paul Thurrott | Windows IT Pro

Microsoft Corporation reportedly intends to allow its next-generation WebTV device to compete with the Nintendo 64 and Sony Playstation game consoles. The story is rather complicated, but it goes something like this: A few years ago, a company called 3DO was working its own next-generation game console, which was dubbed the M2. The M2 contained three key technologies which were pretty impressive for their day: DVD playback, MPEG3 decoding, and a new chipset called MX. When it became clear that 3DO was going to have to exit the hardware market for financial reasons, it sold the M2 technology to Samsung, which created a division called CagEnt that had two years to make money with it.

CagEnt's MX chipset from the M2 technology utilized two PowerPC 602 microprocessors at the time: the same CPU that powers Apple Macintosh computers. In late 1997, Nintendo visited CagEnt in search of a new 3D chipset since its relationship with Silicon Graphics had fallen apart and sales of the Nintendo 64 were slower than expected. In early 1998, Nintendo officially terminated its relationship with ailing Silicon Graphics and offered to buy CagEnt outright.

While details of the sale continued, Nintendo worked with CagEnt to wrap its MX chipset around a MiPS processor, as the company's consoles use NEC MiPS CPUs, not PowerPC. The plan was for the new MX-based machine, complete with hardware 3D, DVD-ROM, and cartridge capabilities to be ready in time for Christmas 1999. Unfortunately for Nintendo, talks with Samsung broke down within a few months.

That's where Microsoft stepped in.

In Early April, the company bought CagEnt through its WebTV division, acquiring all of the assets of CagEnt and its key personnel. Microsoft's plan is to use the MX technology as the core of its next WebTV device, which will clearly be used for more than Email and Web browsing. In fact, Microsoft has quietly been gaining the knowledge it needs to compete in the game console market through its parternship with Sega and it's likely that a Microsoft-backed, Windows CE-based WebTV device could even be co-created with that company.

All this puts Nintendo in a bind, of course, and the company will be unable to create a new console in time for Christmas 1999 now. Its current plan is for the next device to reach stores in late 2000 instead, though its unclear who they will be able to partner with to make such a goal.
Click to expand...

http://windowsitpro.com/windows-server/microsoft-reportedly-working-game-console
Microsoft's X-Box: Fight for the future?

Summary: As rumors fly about a Microsoft game console, one thing's clear: It has the team to make it.

By Robert Lemos | September 27, 1999

This month's reports that Microsoft is working on a game console to rival Sony's PlayStation 2 came as little surprise to at least one industry executive.
"I guarantee you that if there's a group that knows how to build a video game machine, it's the one inside (Microsoft subsidiary) WebTV," said Hugh Martin, former CEO of 3DO Systems Inc., which challenged the established video game industry more than five years ago.

Martin, now CEO at Optical Networks Inc., should know. You see, those WebTV engineers used to work for him at 3DO.

If WebTV does produce the rumored console, it will mark the end of a long trek for those engineers.

Long journey
When Martin was at 3DO, it was a hot startup, bringing a 32-bit game console to market almost two years before Sony produced the PlayStation. But in 1996, 3DO faced the truth: It had lost the war, selling only a million units. It scrapped its plans for a 64-bit next-generation device, known as the M2, and sold its hardware division to Samsung, a Korean consumer electronics manufacturer.

Samsung had its new company, now called CagEnt, poised to excel in the PC graphics market, scoring deals with arcade machine maker Konami and semiconductor manufacturer Cirrus Logic. By spring 1997, however, both deals had crumbled and an ailing Samsung was looking to sell CagEnt.

After a near-miss with Nintendo, Samsung sold the group to WebTV, which was by then a Microsoft subsidiary. The engineers, and almost all of the advanced graphics technology -- moved with the company. "Those guys are still there," said Martin. "They are inside WebTV in Palo Alto (Calif.)."

WebTV is open about why they bought CagEnt.

"(CagEnt) had both the intellectual property and people that we were interested in," said Alan Yates, director of marketing at WebTV Networks. While he would not confirm the existence of the X-Box project, Yates admitted, "You will see future versions of WebTV that will use the video capabilities that we acquired, as well as the 3-D capabilities."

Yates added that, while the technology was there to make an X-Box device, "our strategy right now is very, very clear: to provide additional functionality for TV."

That may change, and quickly, analysts said. With Sony using the PlayStation 2 as a "Trojan horse" to become the center of home entertainment, Microsoft should be looking at games as well.

"For Microsoft to get plugged into (the gaming console market) would not be a big stretch for them," said Jae Kim, analyst with entertainment technology watcher Paul Kagan Associates. "At the very least, it would provide another gateway into the living room."

Game developers think so, too.

"Can you see 200 million connections to the Internet and Microsoft not being a part of it?" asked one gaming industry source on condition of anonymity.

What about Dreamcast?
Still, some analysts doubted the reports, questioning why Microsoft would pursue a new game machine when its partner, Sega, has created a successful one already.

"Dreamcast meets all the goals they would set for such a device," said Peter Glaskowsky, graphics guru at chip technology researcher MicroDesign Resources Inc.

And Sega stresses that the working relationship with Microsoft could not be better. "Microsoft has been extremely supportive," said Charles Bellfield, director of marketing for Sega of America Inc.

Bellfield could not confirm the rumors of the mysterious game device. "I am sure that Microsoft is developing a whole range of products that will never see the light of day."
Click to expand...

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-x-box-fight-for-the-future/
 
bustin98

bustin98

Member
I was 26 years old.

I waited a couple of years until I got one though. My money was hot for GCN and Rogue Squadron.

My favorite title is Black. Halo was fun but I can't go back to it after all the advancements Halo has made. Black is difficult too, but it's worth it. Chronicles of Riddick is my number two. Fusion Frenzy is also an excellent party game to have in a mix of gaming with non-gamers.
 
L

lazygecko

Member
Xbox feels like the more modern Master System. Technically superior to its contemporaries, but not really enough third party support, though it has some remarkable gems. A stepping stone to something bigger.

Microsoft's efforts to get Japanese developer support as some kind of make-or-break deal feels kind of wasted in retrospect, given how much the market suddenly changed with the 360.
 
A

abadguy

Banned
Skel1ingt0n said:
Easily the coolest prototype console ever.

It's funny, I'm a huge Nintendo fan at heart, and I like both the PlayStation 3 and PS4 better than their direct competition. I'm an OSX guy. I have an iPhone.

But the more and more I think about it, I really do think the original Xbox may just be my favorite console of all time.

Built-in highspeed internet
Built-in hard drive
720p and 1080i games in 2001/2002
Amazing controller

Halo
Halo 2
KOTOR & KOTOR 2
PGR and PGR2
The Dreamcast sequels
2K
Otogi
Panzer Dragoon
Riddick
Ninja Gaiden
Jade Empire
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

... just so many amazing memories. And LAN play was a blast.
Click to expand...
To add to that list:
Phantom Dust
Crimson Skies
Phantom Crash
Wreckless( fuck the haters it was good and graphically amazing at the time)
Gunvalkyrie
Deathrow
Fable
Good times....
 
2

2SeeKU

Member
Original Xbox is still my favourite console. My hype was REAL to come home from school camp and play Halo CE for the first time. I remember there was a huge build up to its release.
 
B

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Majine said:
The first Xbox was so cool. Dark, edgy and aggressive. The logo!

XBox_Logo.png
Click to expand...
I HATED the original Xbox branding. So xtreme and green. It looked like it fell out of a Mountain Dew commercial from 1993.

Sadly it probably did its trick building the "bro gamer" demographic. Meatheads flocked to it. I guess that's why they put branding like that on energy drinks and car amps.

I didn't warm up to their branding until 360 when they started to go for a little bit of techno-chic class.
 
indigo-cyclops

indigo-cyclops

Member
I have a lot of fond memories playing the original Xbox with my younger bro. Lots of Splinter Cell, Hitman, etc..

And of course the Halo LAN parties with high school friends.
 
I

Inuhanyou

Believes Dragon Quest is a franchise managed by Sony
bustin98 said:
I was 26 years old.

I waited a couple of years until I got one though. My money was hot for GCN and Rogue Squadron.

My favorite title is Black. Halo was fun but I can't go back to it after all the advancements Halo has made. Black is difficult too, but it's worth it. Chronicles of Riddick is my number two. Fusion Frenzy is also an excellent party game to have in a mix of gaming with non-gamers.
Click to expand...

I really liked black too but my experience is on PS2 with that game not Xbox. A shame stuart black had to be such a one hit wonder after all. Abandoning 3 major projects in the middle of development leave the dev to fend for itself without a director, what a guy
 
T

Terbinator

Member
BocoDragon said:
I HATED the original Xbox branding. So xtreme and green. It looked like it fell out of a Mountain Dew commercial from 1993.

Sadly it probably did its trick building the "bro gamer" demographic. Meatheads flocked to it. I guess that's why they put branding like that on energy drinks and car amps.

I didn't warm up to their branding until 360 when they started to go for a little bit of techno-chic class.
Click to expand...

Could you possibly be more wrong? The branding is 90s gamer through and through; there's actually very little bro about it. The PS2 was the defacto "bro-console" (unarguable given the explosion and so-so exclustivity of GTA3/VC and chipped consoles) and subtly the PS3 due to the insane fanbase Sony had.

In this thread alone people have highlighted just how many gems there was on the box and Live back in the day was a relatively exclusive club of well behaved, credit-card waving, mannered people.
 
N

No Love

Banned
I remember this fondly. That X prototype console is one of the greatest consoles ever made. Gorgeous.

Xbox 1 was such a god damn beast. Great job Microsoft.
 
S

Seventy70

Member
2000 doesn't seem that long ago in my head, but then I see the pictures and everything seems like it's from ages ago.
 
M

Majanew

Banned
After a couple months of looking through OXM at the screens, I broke down and bought one in April 2002 with Halo and a second controller. Great times. Was a very good system. MS struck gold with Xbox 360 and lost its way around 2010 that lead to Xbox One.
 
D

DidntKnowJack

Member
At the time, I was too pissed off at Microsoft and Sega to really pay attention to any of this stuff because Shenmue 2 was a mere months away from release but was snatched from my clutches. But a few months after the launch of the Xbox, Rallisport Challenge grabbed my attention. I relented, bought the system, and eventually got my Shenmue 2. And I dodn't even end up liking it. (lol)
 
A

Anion

Member
Man, I still remember switching controllers with my dad as we played PGR. We would marvel at the graphics and talk about how epic some of the races were
2SeeKU said:
And who doesn't love the OG dashboard:

Original-Xbox-Dashboard-1.jpg
Click to expand...
I heard the dashboard sounds were actually from some NASA space recording
 
S

Sephiroth_GR_

Member
Inuhanyou said:
I remember seeing that XBOX prototype on Good Morning America as a kid thinking that was the coolest looking thing ever(coming from Sega Sony and Nintendo normal looking consoles).

The final design obviously was different, but i had tons of fun with the unit. Jade empire, halo, dead or alive, ninja gaiden, jet set radio future, blinx the cat, breakdown, otogi..and waiting endlessly for that game with the little girl and the hammer that i don't think ever came out :( it looked cool, does anyone remember that game? I remember it looking absolute insane at the time
Click to expand...

It did..???

1245147875-00.jpg
Click to expand...

71381_full.jpg
Click to expand...
71380_full.jpg
Click to expand...
 
R

Rösti

Unconfirmed Member
DidntKnowJack said:
At the time, I was too pissed off at Microsoft and Sega to really pay attention to any of this stuff because Shenmue 2 was a mere months away from release but was snatched from my clutches. But a few months after the launch of the Xbox, Rallisport Challenge grabbed my attention. I relented, bought the system, and eventually got my Shenmue 2. And I dodn't even end up liking it. (lol)
Click to expand...
RalliSport Challenge is a nice game (though the sequel is better). I got the console with that game and was supposed to also get Halo: Combat Evolved. But that was out of stock at the retailer so I got Blinx: The Time Sweeper instead.
 
S

Sophia

Member
Bought the system for Panzer Dragoon Orta, stayed for Halo and Xbox Live. And it was my go to console for multi-platform titles usually.
 
N

Nzyme32

Member
Ah I remember all that. Since I liked PC gaming, I figured I would like the Xbox. Bought it with my own pocket money on day one in the uk with Halo and DoA for £400. Then months latter they pushed the price of the console to £199 I think, and MS gave me a free controller, Project Gotham and Amped Snowboarding. And later I got Xbox live with Unreal Championship. Haha
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Baldur's Gate 3 director meant to announce the Xbox version at The Game Awards, but completely forgot
Game Dev 2
96
7K
adamsapple replied
IGN: Phil Spencer Has Now Been Head of Xbox for 10 Years; We Look Back at His First Decade
Opinion Analysis 2 3
130
9K
ZehDon replied
Phil Spencer interview - Says that their intent is for all Xbox games, including Call of Duty, to be available on Xbox Game Pass Day One
2 3
102
8K
Kenneth Haight replied
[Jez Corden] OPINION: This week's big Xbox drama showcases how little people trust Nadella's Microsoft — a legacy forged in the death of Windows Phone
2 3 4
164
14K
Rosoboy19 replied
Devolver co-founder talks about competing with live service AAA titles for players' time and why indies may have a harder time on Xbox and PlayStation
Opinion Business Game Dev
10
784
Hypereides replied
Top Bottom