Launched on November 22nd, 2005, the Xbox 360 arrived at the height of popularity of the original Xbox. This new Xbox would incorporate IBM's specialty made Xenon processor. Consisting of three independent processing cores, the Xenon processor promised to produce the most powerful console to date and one that could outlast the ever-improving graphical programming found in today's games. Just ponder for a moment about the graphics in game in 2006 and compare them to say Halo 4 today. This processor has been able to handle anything thrown at it throughout the years. In terms of graphics, the Xbox 360 boasts enhanced graphics constructed by ATI and brought Microsoft's gaming console into the High Definition era. The user interface was also updated and aptly dubbed the "Xbox 360 Dashboard." Xbox Live saw some upgrades with the addition of the Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace. Added emphasis on streaming video and music was brought to the 360 as well, bringing the console up to date in the new age of downloadable music. The improvements implemented by Microsoft from the Xbox to the Xbox 360 were vast and changed how people used consoles forever.
When sizing up the Xbox 360 to the Playstation 3, both consoles boasted comparable specifications. For example, the technology used to create their separate processing units stems from the root IBM processor (both the Xenon and Playstation's Cell were stripped down versions of IBM's 970 PowerPC). The only major difference between the two consoles, in the eyes of the consumer, was the Blu-Ray player incorporated on the Playstation 3. The Xbox 360 supported high definition but has never been able to read Blu-Ray discs, a serious miscalculation in the eyes of some by Microsoft.
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| The Dreaded Red Ring of Death |
Microsoft had a serious problem on their hands. They knew this setback could push many players over to Sony's Playsation 3. Fortunately for Microsoft, Sony and their Playstation 3 were busy failing as well. Launching their PS3 at nearly $500, Sony had effectively miscalculated the demand price of their own product. While many loyal gamers bought the PS3, the average consumer was more drawn to the cheaper Xbox 360. Looking back on how Microsoft took advantage of Sony's setbacks, Robbie Bach, ex-president of entertainment and devices at Microsoft stated this about Sony's failures: "The transition to PlayStation 3 was really, really bad. And really hard. They mismanaged their partners, they mismanaged their cost structure. They made their next platform so complicated that developers couldn’t develop for it.” Take that for what its worth but he does make some good points. Sony's Playstation 3 was/is much more difficult to make games on than the Xbox 360. Development for the 360, like the original Xbox, mirrors many of the techniques used to create programming on computers. Sony's system is not as user friendly and ultimately caused the Playstation 3 to release with three times less games available than the new Xbox. Sony's botched release of the Playstation 3 indirectly saved the Xbox 360 from the public backlash against its myriad of technical problems.
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| Left to Right : My original Xbox 360, Xbox 360 Elite and Limited Edition Halo 4 Xbox 360 S |
The newest Xbox 360, the Xbox 360 S, (pictured to the far right) underwent cosmetic and some hardware changes. The console was glossier, smaller and most importantly vented properly. Microsoft added larger fans and a more breathable construction in order rid the 360 S of any possible overheating issues. Since the Xbox 360 S's release, I haven't heard of too many red rings appearing on consoles (not positive if that's even still a feature). In addition to these changes, Microsoft introduced the world to Kinect (pictured to the left). This motion sensor device aimed to introduce the Xbox 360 into the gaming community created by the Nintendo Wii. Introduced on November 19th, 2006, the Nintendo Wii discovered a whole new market within the gaming community. Focusing on casual gamers, even those who had never played a video game, the Nintendo Wii used enhanced motion sensor technology to play games. The ever popular Wii Sports, which came standard with any Wii console, became a household sensation. Now a person could stand in their living room and play virtual golf or tennis just by swinging a controller. Programs such as Wii Fit expanded the scope of gaming consoles as they became a viable option for aerobic exercise and training. Per the number of consoles in households, the Nintendo Wii leads by a strong margin of 22.4 million consoles, making it the most popular console of this generation.
Microsoft's Kinect seeks to penetrate the market ripped open by the Nintendo Wii. Utilizing a person's motion without a controller, the Kinect integrates an even greater amount of movement into the gaming sphere. In addition to movement, the Kinect also allows voice activated commands to open apps and games on the Xbox 360. While sales of the Kinect and the Xbox 360 S have gone up over time, the Kinect was not a game changer in terms of the number of consoles sold each year. The creation of the Kinect represents a dedication on Microsoft's part to the casual console owner, a fact that disturbs many hardcore gamers. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft intends to build off the Kinect sensor with the release of the Xbox One.
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| Sales throughout each consoles lifespan |
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| Console sales as of 5/31/2013 |
This is Part Two of a three part article on the history of Microsoft's console and how the Xbox One will shape the future of gaming and entertainment. Stay tuned for the final article reviewing everything we know about the Xbox One soon. More transmissions from Station 1621 will be coming today as well!
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