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| − | {{Infobox | + | {{Infobox VG system |
|name = Xbox | |name = Xbox | ||
| − | |logo = [[File: | + | |logo = [[File:Xbox original logo black.png|frameless|upright=1.13|Xbox logo]] |
|image = [[File:Xbox-console.jpg|frameless|upright=1.15|Xbox console with "Controller S"]] | |image = [[File:Xbox-console.jpg|frameless|upright=1.15|Xbox console with "Controller S"]] | ||
|caption = Xbox console with "Controller S" | |caption = Xbox console with "Controller S" | ||
|developer = [[Microsoft]] | |developer = [[Microsoft]] | ||
| − | |manufacturer = [[Flextronics]] | + | |manufacturer = [[Flextronics]]<ref name=Wired2011>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Jeffrey M.|title=The Making of the Xbox|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.11/flex.html|work=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|accessdate=April 17, 2013|date=November 2011}}</ref> |
|family = [[Xbox]] | |family = [[Xbox]] | ||
|type = [[Home video game console]] | |type = [[Home video game console]] | ||
|os = Custom | |os = Custom | ||
|generation = [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|Sixth generation]] | |generation = [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|Sixth generation]] | ||
| − | |releasedate = NA | + | |releasedate = {{Video game release|NA|November 15, 2001<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130612000737/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2001/nov01/11-14midnightmadnesspr.aspx|title=Xbox Arrives in New York Tonight at Toys "R" Us Times Square|date=2013-06-12|access-date=2018-11-20}}</ref>|JP|February 22, 2002|AU|March 14, 2002|EU|March 14, 2002}} |
|lifespan = 2001–2009 | |lifespan = 2001–2009 | ||
| − | |discontinued = JP | + | |discontinued = {{Video game release|JP|June 4, 2006|EU|March 11, 2007|NA|March 2, 2009}} |
|GPU = 233 MHz nVidia [[NV2A]] | |GPU = 233 MHz nVidia [[NV2A]] | ||
|media = [[DVD]], [[CD]], [[digital distribution]] | |media = [[DVD]], [[CD]], [[digital distribution]] | ||
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|CPU = Custom 733 MHz [[Intel Pentium III]] "[[Coppermine (microprocessor)|Coppermine-based]]" processor | |CPU = Custom 733 MHz [[Intel Pentium III]] "[[Coppermine (microprocessor)|Coppermine-based]]" processor | ||
|RAM = 64 MB of [[DDR SDRAM]] @ 200 MHz | |RAM = 64 MB of [[DDR SDRAM]] @ 200 MHz | ||
| − | |units sold = 24+ million <small>(as of May 10, 2006)</small> | + | |units sold = 24+ million <small>(as of May 10, 2006)</small><ref name="gamers_catch">{{cite web |url=http://www.xbox.com/zh-SG/community/news/2006/20060510.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621155352/http://www.xbox.com/zh-SG/community/news/2006/20060510.htm |archivedate=June 21, 2008 |title=Gamers Catch Their Breath as Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Reinvent Next-Generation Gaming |accessdate=March 30, 2009 |date=May 10, 2006|publisher=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> |
|units shipped = | |units shipped = | ||
| − | |top game = ''[[Halo 2]]'', 8.46 million <small>(as of November 2008)</small> | + | |top game = ''[[Halo 2]]'', 8.46 million <small>(as of November 2008)</small><ref>{{cite web | url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/09/technology/e3_microsoft/index.htm | publisher=CNN | accessdate=July 16, 2008 | first=Chris|last= Morris | title=Grand Theft Auto, Halo 3 headed to Xbox 360 | date=May 9, 2006}}</ref><ref name="halo2sales"/> |
|successor=[[Xbox 360]] | |successor=[[Xbox 360]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | =Introduction= | + | ==Introduction== |
The '''Xbox''' is a [[home video game console]] and the first installment in the [[Xbox]] series of consoles manufactured by [[Microsoft]]. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, followed by Australia, Europe and Japan in 2002. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market. It is a [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|sixth generation console]], and competed with Sony's [[PlayStation 2]] and Nintendo's [[GameCube]]. It was also the first console produced by an American company since the [[Atari Jaguar]] ceased production in 1996. | The '''Xbox''' is a [[home video game console]] and the first installment in the [[Xbox]] series of consoles manufactured by [[Microsoft]]. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, followed by Australia, Europe and Japan in 2002. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market. It is a [[Sixth generation of video game consoles|sixth generation console]], and competed with Sony's [[PlayStation 2]] and Nintendo's [[GameCube]]. It was also the first console produced by an American company since the [[Atari Jaguar]] ceased production in 1996. | ||
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Xbox's successor, the [[Xbox 360]], was launched in November 2005. The Xbox was soon discontinued beginning with Microsoft's worst-performing market, Japan, in 2005. Other countries would follow suit in 2006. The last Xbox game in Europe was ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]'' released in June 2007, and the last game in North America was ''[[Madden NFL 09]]'' released in August 2008. Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009. Support for Xbox Live on the console ended on April 15, 2010. | Xbox's successor, the [[Xbox 360]], was launched in November 2005. The Xbox was soon discontinued beginning with Microsoft's worst-performing market, Japan, in 2005. Other countries would follow suit in 2006. The last Xbox game in Europe was ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]'' released in June 2007, and the last game in North America was ''[[Madden NFL 09]]'' released in August 2008. Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009. Support for Xbox Live on the console ended on April 15, 2010. | ||
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==Hardware == | ==Hardware == | ||
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[[File:Xbox-Remote-wReceiver.jpg|thumb|right|A separately-sold remote was required for DVD movie playback on the Xbox.]] | [[File:Xbox-Remote-wReceiver.jpg|thumb|right|A separately-sold remote was required for DVD movie playback on the Xbox.]] | ||
| − | The Xbox was the first video game console to feature a built-in [[hard disk drive]], used primarily for storing game saves and content downloaded from Xbox Live. This eliminated the need for separate [[memory card]]s (although some older consoles, such as the [[Amiga CD32]], used internal flash memory, and others, like the [[TurboGrafx-CD]], [[Mega-CD|Sega CD]], and [[Sega Saturn]], had featured built-in battery backup memory prior to 2001). An Xbox user could [[Ripping|rip]] music from [[Red Book (audio CD standard)|standard audio CDs]] to the hard drive, and these songs were used for the custom soundtracks in some games. | + | The Xbox was the first video game console to feature a built-in [[hard disk drive]], used primarily for storing game saves and content downloaded from Xbox Live. This eliminated the need for separate [[memory card]]s (although some older consoles, such as the [[Amiga CD32]], used internal flash memory, and others, like the [[TurboGrafx-CD]], [[Mega-CD|Sega CD]], and [[Sega Saturn]], had featured built-in battery backup memory prior to 2001). An Xbox user could [[Ripping|rip]] music from [[Red Book (audio CD standard)|standard audio CDs]] to the hard drive, and these songs were used for the custom soundtracks in some games.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909942 |title = Xbox: Description of custom soundtracks |accessdate = January 13, 2008 |date = April 25, 2007 |publisher = Microsoft Knowledge Base}}</ref> |
| − | The Xbox was the first gaming product to feature Dolby Interactive Content-Encoding Technology, which allows real-time Dolby Digital encoding in game consoles. Previous game consoles could only use Dolby Digital 5.1 during non-interactive "cut scene" playback. | + | The Xbox was the first gaming product to feature Dolby Interactive Content-Encoding Technology, which allows real-time Dolby Digital encoding in game consoles. Previous game consoles could only use Dolby Digital 5.1 during non-interactive "cut scene" playback.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/press_releases/841_co.pr.0104.xbox.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219162524/http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/press_releases/841_co.pr.0104.xbox.pdf |archivedate=February 19, 2006 |title=The Xbox Video Game System from Microsoft to Feature Groundbreaking Dolby Interactive Content-Encoding Technology |date=April 18, 2001 |publisher=[[Dolby Laboratories]] |accessdate=July 3, 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref> |
The Xbox is based on commodity PC hardware and is much larger and heavier than its contemporaries. This is largely due to a bulky tray-loading [[DVD|DVD-ROM]] drive and the standard-size 3.5 inch hard drive. The Xbox has also pioneered safety features, such as breakaway cables for the controllers to prevent the console from being pulled from the surface upon which it rests. | The Xbox is based on commodity PC hardware and is much larger and heavier than its contemporaries. This is largely due to a bulky tray-loading [[DVD|DVD-ROM]] drive and the standard-size 3.5 inch hard drive. The Xbox has also pioneered safety features, such as breakaway cables for the controllers to prevent the console from being pulled from the surface upon which it rests. | ||
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Several internal hardware revisions have been made in an ongoing battle to discourage [[modding]] (hackers continually updated [[modchip]] designs in an attempt to defeat them), to cut manufacturing costs, and to make the DVD-ROM drive more reliable (some of the early units' drives gave Disc Reading Errors due to the unreliable Thomson DVD-ROM drives used). Later generation units that used the Thomson TGM-600 DVD-ROM drives and the Philips VAD6011 DVD-ROM drives were still vulnerable to failure that rendered the consoles either unable to read newer discs or caused them to halt the console with an error code usually indicating a [[Programmed input/output|PIO]]/[[Direct memory access|DMA]] identification failure, respectively. These units were not covered under the extended warranty. | Several internal hardware revisions have been made in an ongoing battle to discourage [[modding]] (hackers continually updated [[modchip]] designs in an attempt to defeat them), to cut manufacturing costs, and to make the DVD-ROM drive more reliable (some of the early units' drives gave Disc Reading Errors due to the unreliable Thomson DVD-ROM drives used). Later generation units that used the Thomson TGM-600 DVD-ROM drives and the Philips VAD6011 DVD-ROM drives were still vulnerable to failure that rendered the consoles either unable to read newer discs or caused them to halt the console with an error code usually indicating a [[Programmed input/output|PIO]]/[[Direct memory access|DMA]] identification failure, respectively. These units were not covered under the extended warranty. | ||
| − | In 2002 Microsoft and [[Nvidia]] entered arbitration over a dispute on the pricing of Nvidia's chips for the Xbox. Nvidia's filing with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] indicated that Microsoft was seeking a $13 million discount on shipments for NVIDIA's fiscal year 2002. Microsoft alleged violations of the agreement the two companies entered, sought reduced chipset pricing, and sought to ensure that Nvidia fulfill Microsoft's chipset orders without limits on quantity. The matter was privately settled on February 6, 2003. | + | In 2002 Microsoft and [[Nvidia]] entered arbitration over a dispute on the pricing of Nvidia's chips for the Xbox.<ref name="eetimes-chip-dispute">{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4094562/Microsoft-takes-Nvidia-to-arbitration-over-pricing-of-Xbox-processors|title= Microsoft takes Nvidia to arbitration over pricing of Xbox processors|accessdate=June 29, 2006|date=April 29, 2002|publisher=[[EE Times]]}}</ref> Nvidia's filing with the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]] indicated that Microsoft was seeking a $13 million discount on shipments for NVIDIA's fiscal year 2002. Microsoft alleged violations of the agreement the two companies entered, sought reduced chipset pricing, and sought to ensure that Nvidia fulfill Microsoft's chipset orders without limits on quantity. The matter was privately settled on February 6, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4090108/Microsoft-and-Nvidia-settle-Xbox-chip-pricing-dispute|title=Microsoft and Nvidia settle Xbox chip pricing dispute|accessdate=June 29, 2006|date=February 6, 2003|publisher=[[EE Times]]}}</ref> |
| − | The Xbox includes a standard AV cable which provides [[composite video]] and [[monaural]] or [[stereophonic sound|stereo audio]] to TVs equipped with [[RCA connector|RCA]] inputs. European Xboxes also included an RCA jack to [[SCART]] converter block as well as the standard AV cable. | + | The Xbox includes a standard AV cable which provides [[composite video]] and [[monaural]] or [[stereophonic sound|stereo audio]] to TVs equipped with [[RCA connector|RCA]] inputs. European Xboxes also included an RCA jack to [[SCART]] converter block as well as the standard AV cable.{{clear}} |
An 8 MB removable [[Solid-state drive|solid state]] [[memory card]] can be plugged into the controllers, onto which game saves can either be copied from the hard drive when in the Xbox dashboard's memory manager or saved during a game. Most Xbox game saves can be copied to the memory unit and moved to another console but some Xbox saves are digitally signed. It is also possible to save an Xbox Live account on a memory unit, to simplify its use on more than one Xbox. | An 8 MB removable [[Solid-state drive|solid state]] [[memory card]] can be plugged into the controllers, onto which game saves can either be copied from the hard drive when in the Xbox dashboard's memory manager or saved during a game. Most Xbox game saves can be copied to the memory unit and moved to another console but some Xbox saves are digitally signed. It is also possible to save an Xbox Live account on a memory unit, to simplify its use on more than one Xbox. | ||
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===Controllers=== | ===Controllers=== | ||
| − | + | {{Main article|Xbox Controller}} | |
[[File:Xbox-Duke-Controller.jpg|thumb|left|Original Xbox controller]] | [[File:Xbox-Duke-Controller.jpg|thumb|left|Original Xbox controller]] | ||
[[File:Xbox-s-controller.jpg|thumb|right|Xbox controller S]] | [[File:Xbox-s-controller.jpg|thumb|right|Xbox controller S]] | ||
| − | The Xbox controller features two [[analog stick]]s, a pressure-sensitive directional pad, two analog triggers, a Back button, a Start button, two accessory slots and six 8-bit analog action buttons (A/Green, B/Red, X/Blue, Y/Yellow, and Black and White buttons). The standard Xbox controller (also nicknamed the "Fatty" and later, the "Duke") was originally the controller bundled with Xbox systems for all territories except Japan. The controller has been criticized for being bulky compared to other video game controllers; it was awarded "Blunder of the Year" by ''[[Game Informer]]'' in 2001, a Guinness World Record for the biggest controller in [[Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]] 2008, and was ranked the second-worst video game controller ever by [[IGN]] editor Craig Harris. | + | The Xbox controller features two [[analog stick]]s, a pressure-sensitive directional pad, two analog triggers, a Back button, a Start button, two accessory slots and six 8-bit analog action buttons (A/Green, B/Red, X/Blue, Y/Yellow, and Black and White buttons).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://euc.jp/periphs/xbox-controller.en.html |title = Inside Xbox 360 Controller}}</ref> The standard Xbox controller (also nicknamed the "Fatty"<ref name="nickname">{{cite web|title=Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Tour |url=http://gear.ign.com/articles/613/613588p1.html |publisher=IGN |accessdate=July 2, 2011 |date=May 13, 2005 |quote=the original "Fatty" Xbox controller didn't have a specific public name}}</ref> and later, the "Duke"<ref name="nickname2">{{cite web |title=Xbox's original beast of a controller making a comeback? |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20071383-1/xboxs-original-beast-of-a-controller-making-a-comeback/ |publisher=CNET |accessdate=October 16, 2011 |date=June 15, 2005 |quote=Anyone who purchased the original Xbox during its launch window quickly came to know its behemoth of a controller, now nicknamed "Duke."}}</ref>) was originally the controller bundled with Xbox systems for all territories except Japan. The controller has been criticized for being bulky compared to other video game controllers; it was awarded "Blunder of the Year" by ''[[Game Informer]]'' in 2001,<ref>Games of 2001. ''[[Game Informer]]'' (January 2002, pg. 48).</ref> a Guinness World Record for the biggest controller in [[Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition]] 2008, and was ranked the second-worst video game controller ever by [[IGN]] editor Craig Harris.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Tuesday: Worst Game Controllers |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060303093919/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/690/690449p1.html |publisher=IGN |accessdate=August 7, 2009 |date=February 21, 2006}}</ref> |
| − | The "Controller S" (codenamed "Akebono"), a smaller, lighter Xbox controller, was originally the standard Xbox controller only in Japan, designed for users with smaller hands. The "Controller S" was later released in other territories by popular demand and by 2002 replaced the standard controller in the Xbox's retail package, with the larger original controller remaining available as an accessory. | + | The "Controller S" (codenamed "Akebono"), a smaller, lighter Xbox controller, was originally the standard Xbox controller only in Japan,<ref>Ninja Beach Party. ''[[Official Xbox Magazine]]'' (October 2002, issue 11, pg. 44).</ref> designed for users with smaller hands.<ref>{{cite web|author=Christopher Buecheler [email protected] |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/hardware/march02/xboxcontrollers/ |title=GameSpy.com - Hardware: Xbox Controller S |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=June 24, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624085615/http://archive.gamespy.com/hardware/march02/xboxcontrollers/ |archivedate = June 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamer20.com/features/150/4 |title=Xbox Retrospective: All-Time Top Xbox News |publisher=Gamer 2.0 |accessdate=November 11, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503155438/http://www.gamer20.com/features/150/4 |archivedate=May 3, 2010 }}</ref> The "Controller S" was later released in other territories by popular demand and by 2002 replaced the standard controller in the Xbox's retail package, with the larger original controller remaining available as an accessory. |
==Software== | ==Software== | ||
===Operating system=== | ===Operating system=== | ||
| − | The Xbox runs a custom [[operating system]] which is based on the Windows architecture [[kernel (computing)|kernel]]. It exposes [[Application programming interface|API]]s similar to APIs found in [[Microsoft Windows]], such as [[Direct3D]] 8.1. The system software may have been partially based on the Windows NT kernel, but it has modified log files. | + | The Xbox runs a custom [[operating system]] which is based on the Windows architecture [[kernel (computing)|kernel]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trinder |first1=Garry |title=The Xbox Operating System |url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/xboxteam/2006/02/17/the-xbox-operating-system/ |website=Xbox Engineering |publisher=MSDN |accessdate=31 October 2018}}</ref>. It exposes [[Application programming interface|API]]s similar to APIs found in [[Microsoft Windows]], such as [[Direct3D]] 8.1. The system software may have been partially based on the Windows NT kernel, but it has modified log files.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archive/2006/02/17/534421.aspx|title=The Xbox Operating System|work=Xbox Team Blog|accessdate=July 3, 2008}}</ref> |
The [[user interface]] for the Xbox is called the Xbox Dashboard. It features a [[media player (application software)|media player]] that can be used to play music CDs, rip CDs to the Xbox's built-in [[hard drive]] and play music that has been ripped to the hard drive; it also lets users manage game saves, music, and downloaded content from Xbox Live, and lets Live users sign in and manage their account. The dashboard is only available when the user is not watching a movie or playing a game. It uses many shades of green and black for the user interface, to be consistent with the physical Xbox color scheme. When the Xbox was released in 2001, the Live service was not online yet so the dashboard's Live feature was unusable. | The [[user interface]] for the Xbox is called the Xbox Dashboard. It features a [[media player (application software)|media player]] that can be used to play music CDs, rip CDs to the Xbox's built-in [[hard drive]] and play music that has been ripped to the hard drive; it also lets users manage game saves, music, and downloaded content from Xbox Live, and lets Live users sign in and manage their account. The dashboard is only available when the user is not watching a movie or playing a game. It uses many shades of green and black for the user interface, to be consistent with the physical Xbox color scheme. When the Xbox was released in 2001, the Live service was not online yet so the dashboard's Live feature was unusable. | ||
| − | Xbox Live was released in 2002, but in order to access it, users had to buy the Xbox Live starter kit containing a [[headset (audio)|headset]], a subscription, and supplemental. While the Xbox was still being supported by Microsoft, the Xbox Dashboard was updated via Live several times to reduce cheating and add features. | + | Xbox Live was released in 2002, but in order to access it, users had to buy the Xbox Live starter kit containing a [[headset (audio)|headset]], a subscription, and supplemental.{{clarify|date=August 2013}} While the Xbox was still being supported by Microsoft, the Xbox Dashboard was updated via Live several times to reduce cheating and add features. |
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| − | + | ==Modding== | |
| − | + | {{Main article|Xbox modding}} | |
| − | [[ | + | The popularity of the Xbox, as well as (in the United States) its comparatively short 90-day warranty, inspired efforts to circumvent the built-in hardware and software security mechanisms, a practice informally known as [[modding]]. |
