I've noticed a lot of naysayers about the Original XBox, so I decided we need an Original Xbox appreciation thread!
A little history behind the Xbox:It was Microsoft's first home console, released nearly 19 years ago in November 2001. It was called the XBox due to it relying on Microsoft's Direct X technology (originally it was going to be named the Direct Xbox.)
It was the powerhouse of it's generation, being the most powerful console on the market until the launch of it's own successor in 2005, the XBox 360. It was also the first console to have a hard drive built into it at launch, as well as the first to have a high-speed ethernet port built into it at launch (granted, the Dreamcast did have a slower 56k modem built into it before). And it enjoyed early success at the online market with the launch of the original XBox Live service; Halo 2 being a big part of that success.
The console has also been dubbed the "Dreamcast 2" by some Sega fans. This is due to having a good amount of Sega exclusives on it at the time such as Shenmue 2, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Outrun 2, Toe Jam & Earl III, Crazy Taxi 3, House of the Dead III, and others. In addition to that, the original Xbox controller was inspired by the design of the Dreamcast controller.
Xbox Live service launched in summer of 2002 with Halo 2 being the "must-have" online game to play, ensuring it's success. Halo 2 also happens to be the Original XBox's highest selling game.
The Original Xbox quickly saw games dry up for it as the XBox 360 launched in late 2005. It was officially discontinued in 2009 when Microsoft ended warranty-support for the console. The Original Xbox Live servers were shutdown in 2010, ending Xbox Live support for the console.
Original Xbox Pros:-Most powerful console of that generation.
-Often the best multiplatform version of games.
-720p HD support right out of the box.
-Best online support of that generation, including a high-speed ethernet port built-in.
-Hard drive built-in expands the console's capabilities.
-Easily replaceable parts.
-4 Controller Ports for on couch multiplayer.
-Built for LAN-parties with multiple consoles.
-DVD and CD playback functionality
-Easy to soft-mod.
-Controllers for both big hands and small hands.
-Solid built hardware
-Strong First-Person Shooter library.
-Strong Western-RPG library.
-Solid Exclusive library (see below)
-Many of it's games are backwards compatible on XBox 360, and some even on the Xbox One.
Original Xbox Cons:-Big and bulky.
-Lacking in JRPG titles.
-Lacking in shoot-em up titles.
-Some third-parties supported the PS2 more.
-A distinct lack of Resident Evil.
-Support for the console (as in game releases) was dropped like a rock when the 360 hit (vs the PS2 which was supported for years after the PS3 launch).
Some Great True Exclusives on the Console:-Conker Live & Reloaded
-Dead or Alive 3
-Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes
-Jet Set Radio Future
-MechAssault 1 & 2
-Panzer Dragoon: Orta
-Project Gotham Racing 1 & 2
-Sega GT 2002
-Steel Battalion
-Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x
-WWE Raw 1 & 2
Some Great Console Exclusives on the System:-Advent Rising
-Arx Fatalis
-Brute Force
-Crazy Taxi 3
-Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
-Fable
-Halo 1 & 2
-Jade Empire
-Ninja Gaiden
-Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath
-Shenmue II (in the U.S.)
-Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse
Some facts about the console you might not know:-You can rip CDs and play them straight from your hard drive.
-The ambient noises you hear in the background while the system is running it's OS are actual NASA recordings. They wanted to give it an otherworldly feel, like it was something from out of this world.
-The parts inside are easily replaced, like a PC board. If you need to repair it, it's as simple as ordering the parts on eBay, and swapping them out.
-Because of those easily replaceable parts, you can upgrade your hard drive.
-There is a full-on Mech simulator on the console complete with fully operational Mech controls that come with the game. Steel Battalion.
-The Xbox was originally supposed to be backwards compatible with the Dreamcast in it's earlier development stages after some talks with Sega. This was due to the fact that the Dreamcast was based on Windows technology. But the idea was later scrapped.
-The Xbox can play DVDs. I know, many XBox users are going, "Duh." But when you talk to people online, you will often hear from them that the PS2 won that generation in a large part due to having a DVD-player built-in, as if the XBox couldn't do that either.
Feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, favorite games, or favorite moments from the Original Xbox.
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