At the Crossroads of the Xbox
By: Nick ArvitesAuthor's Note: I have covered the Xbox since it launched, and I have extensively played it since launch. The overall purpose of this article is to give a brief history of the Xbox brand from its inception to the Xbox 360 launch, as well as raise concerns of the upcoming system. By no means is this article meant as a tool to trash the Xbox line. Instead, it was written with the intent to get my concerns and grievances of the upcoming system into the open air.
Looking Back
When Microsoft first announced they would be getting into the video game business, many were skeptical if they would actually experience any success. As the details trickled in, many people were intrigued, if not impressed by the promises of built-in hard drives, built in network capability, and online gaming.
The biggest support to Microsoft's entrance to the console gaming world was the acquisition of developing studios. Many did not notice as Microsoft brought more developers into their portfolio of studios until they bought one: Bungie. Bungie had previously been making waves in the PC community with the development of a new first person shooter that was designated as a "Tribes killer." The name of this game was, of course, Halo: Combat Evolved. Now a Microsoft exclusive game, Halo would give the Xbox some legitimacy in the games department.
When the console design was revealed, many detractors saw it as too large. The Xbox was a larger system than the Nintendo GameCube or the Sony PlayStation 2 in every way. The system was wider and deeper than either of the competing consoles, and the controllers were criticized as being overly bulky. Many commentators speculated that the size would be a deterrent to the Japanese market and prevent the Xbox from breaking into that particular market.
When the system was released, it saw success in the North American market and every other territory outside of Japan. Halo: Combat Evolved was the sure-fire launch hit it promised to be, and the Xbox's future successes can be attributed to Halo moving systems during that first launch period. However, things were not so pretty in the Japanese market. The Xbox launch lineup was heavily criticized for not containing any titles aimed towards the Japanese market (read: Role-playing games), as well as suffering a massive amount of criticism over the controller and console size and shape. These concerns were furthered by defective units shipped to the Japanese market, essentially causing the system being stillborn in Japan.
The Xbox controller soon became an issue across the globe. While it was perfectly suited for Halo: Combat Evolved, the larger controller design failed to serve as a controller that could be used for other game styles. The Japanese market got a new, redesigned version of the controller that closely resembled the Dual-Shock controller for the PlayStation 2. The new controller, dubbed the Controller S, was soon in demand in other markets and Microsoft obliged. The larger controller soon became extinct, and almost every Xbox gamer used a Controller S or a 3rd party controller that used the same basic Controller S design.
Throughout the Xbox's first year, gamers saw a variety of titles released. However, the biggest advancement came with the Fall 2002 launch of the Xbox Live service. The Xbox Live service was different from the competitors in two ways: it required a broadband Internet connection and it required a subscription fee. These two differences, according to detractors, would ultimately cause the service to fail. Nobody, said the detractors, would pay the $50 a year to play games online, and many said Microsoft overestimated the spread of broadband Internet Service Providers. However, both counts proved to be wrong. The broadband requirement helped create a relatively low-lag environment, one that can rarely be recreated on the PC or other consoles, and gamers decided that $50 per year was reasonable for online multiplayer. The Xbox Live service brought in many games designed with the multiplayer modes in mind. Games like MechAssault and Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge and Project Gotham Racing 2 joined the standard PC online fare like Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, and Counterstrike in dominating the Xbox Live charts.
Through the next few years of the Xbox lifespan, the system experienced a period of growth and received more exclusive titles. The scarce RPG genre received the critically acclaimed Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and the oft delayed and mega-hyped Fable. The action genre received the highly anticipated Ninja Gaiden, which provided some of the most difficult gameplay ever encountered. However, one title stands out as the most anticipated, hyped, and played game: Halo 2.
When Halo 2 hit the streets in the Fall 2004, gamers bought it in droves. The opening weekend for Halo 2 put Hollywood to shame, and gamers soon jumped online, experiencing one of the best Xbox Live presentations available. In-game matchmaking, leader boards, clans and clan rankings showed exactly why Xbox Live was a rampant success. The community embraced Halo 2, and the game has remained in the number one spot on the Xbox Live charts.
The first half of 2005 was a slow release period for the Xbox library. Game releases decreased as rumors of a new system launch increased. As gamers looked towards E3, only a handful of notable games were released. As the spring progressed, the rumors of a new system were confirmed and showcased in May of 2005 at the Electronic Entertainment Exposition (E3) in Los Angeles.
Posted: 10/27/2005