The Xbox 360 is a video game console produced by Microsoft, developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS. Its Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download arcade games and content such as game demos, trailers, TV shows, music videos, or rented movies. The Xbox 360 is the successor to the Xbox, and competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of gaming systems.
The Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. It is the first console to provide near-simultaneous launch across the three major regions, and to provide wireless controller support at launch. The console sold out completely at release (with the exception of Japan) and, as of June 30, 2007, sold 11.6 million units worldwide.[3] It is available in three versions as listed below.
Contents [hide]
1 Overview
1.1 Development
1.2 Launch
1.3 Retail configurations
1.3.1 Xbox 360 Core
1.3.2 Xbox 360 Premium
1.3.3 Xbox 360 Elite
1.3.4 Special editions
2 Xbox LIVE
2.1 Xbox LIVE Marketplace
2.2 Xbox LIVE Arcade
2.3 Xbox Video Marketplace
3 Software
3.1 Dashboard
3.2 Microsoft XNA
3.3 Backward compatibility
3.4 Game library
4 Hardware and accessories
4.1 Hardware
4.2 Accessories
5 Technical problems
6 Sales
7 Homebrew development
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links
Overview
Development
Known during development as Xenon, Xbox 2, Xbox Next or NextBox, the Xbox 360 was conceived in early 2003.[5] In February 2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed by Microsoft VP J Allard.[5] That month, Microsoft held an event for 400 developers in Bellevue, Washington, to recruit support for the system.[5] Also that month, Peter Moore, former president of Sega of America, joined Microsoft. On August 12, 2003, ATI signed on to produce the graphic processing unit for the new console, a deal which was publicly announced two days later.[6] The following month, IBM signed on to develop the triple-core CPU for the console.[5] Before the launch of the Xbox 360, several alpha development kits were spotted using Apple's Power Mac G5 hardware. Microsoft chose to use these systems for their PowerPC architecture, which is similar to that of the Xenon CPU used in the system. However, the framerates suffered running the Xbox 360 games on the G5. A rough estimate placed the G5 at about one-third as powerful as the 360, and not powerful enough to properly run the Xbox 360 titles on display at full speed.[7] On October 24, 2005, Microsoft shut down Xbox Live for a day to upgrade it for the Xbox 360.[8]
Launch
Main article: Xbox 360 launch
The promotional campaign for Xbox 360 began on March 14, 2005, with the opening of an alternate reality game called OurColony. Throughout March and April it offered challenges to its community, rewarding solutions with cropped pictures of the console and game screenshots. The end of OurColony came on May 12, 2005, with the release of a video where J Allard of Microsoft showed off the Xbox 360 console. The official unveiling of the Xbox 360 occurred the same day on MTV in a program called MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed. In October 2005, a similar alternate reality game was created, Hex168, to promote the system before launch.
The Xbox 360 was released on November 22, 2005, in the United States and Canada; December 2, 2005, in Europe and December 10, 2005, in Japan. It was later launched in Mexico, Colombia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, India, Brazil, Poland, and Czech Republic. Microsoft has additionally announced official launches in: Hungary, Slovakia,[9] and the Philippines.[10] In its first year on the market, the system launched in 36 countries, more countries than any console has launched in a single year.[11] Due to its early launch, the Xbox 360 has a one-year lead on both of its competitors, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.
Retail configurations
Microsoft's retail strategy attempts to capture consumer surplus by providing several configurations of the system in different price ranges. The Xbox 360 is available in three variants; the 'Xbox 360 Core', the 'Xbox 360' and the 'Xbox 360 Elite'. At launch, the Xbox 360's mainstream package was priced at US$399 and the Core System was priced at US$299. The Elite package was not launched with the rest of the platform.
BusinessWeek magazine compiled a report that estimates the total cost of components in the standard bundle at US$525 at launch,[12] excluding manufacturing costs, meaning that Microsoft initially lost money on every Xbox 360 system sold. The strategy of selling a console at a loss or near-loss is common in the console games industry, as console makers expect to make up the loss through game licensing. Since Microsoft owns the intellectual property rights to the hardware used in the Xbox 360, they can easily switch to new fabrication processes or change suppliers in the future to reduce costs. Thanks to streamlined processes and ample component supplies, a report from iSuppli released on November 16, 2006, estimates the total cost of components in the pro bundle is US$323.30.[13] This flexibility stands in contrast to the situation Microsoft faced with the original Xbox, where manufacturing costs were never reduced below the break-even point.[14] Microsoft is predicting that with the Xbox 360, a greater market share, yearly revenue through their Xbox Live service, and falling hardware costs will eventually make system sales profitable.[15]
All three can support all optional accessories like the Wireless Racing Wheel, Universal Media Remote, Xbox Live Vision, Xbox 360 Wireless Headset and HD DVD Player.
All configurations include one year warranties: although consoles purchased in Canada and the United States before December 21, 2006 originally had 90 day warranties (which were upgraded to one year), they were later retroactively extended to match the one year policies in newer regions.[16] However any unit that exhibits "General Hardware Failure" 3 red light condition will be covered for 3 years from date of purchase. It should be noted that the 3 year warranty only covers this issue, all other issues are limited to the standard 1 year warranty.
Each version of the console is supplied with different video cables. The Core system comes with composite cables, while the Pro includes a hybrid composite and component cable with optional optical out. The Elite also has an HDMI cable along with a short audio cable which features left, right, and toslink audio out, in addition to the aforementioned cables.
Microsoft is moving to the 65 nanometer manufacturing process (from the current 90 nm) later this year,[17][18] for both the CPU and GPU, though only the CPU will receive a die shrink in the next coming revision[19]. This would reduce the amount of heat the console produces, meaning it can run quieter and cooler than current models.
Features Xbox 360 Elite Xbox 360 Xbox 360 Core
Exterior finish Matte black + chrome Matte white + chrome Matte white
Detachable hard drive 120 GB 20 GB None
Controller Wireless, 2.4 GHz Wireless, 2.4 GHz Wired, 3 m breakaway cord
Ethernet cable Yes Yes No
Xbox 360 Headset Yes Yes, excluding Oceania, Mexico No
Xbox Media Remote No Launch (all regions), Oceania, Mexico No
HDMI (v1.2) Out Port Yes Yes[20] (From August 2007) No
Component cables[1] Yes Yes No
Composite cables[1] Yes Yes Yes
TOSLINK output port[1] Yes Yes No
Stereo RCA cables[1] Yes Yes Yes
Separate TOSLINK and RCA out cable[8] Yes No No
Xbox Live Silver Yes Yes Yes
Month of Xbox LIVE Gold Yes Yes No
Xbox 360 Core
The Xbox 360 Core is the entry level Xbox 360. It was not originally available in Japan, but was later released on November 2, 2006.[21] In Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico[22] a Media Remote was included as a substitution for the Xbox Live headset in the Xbox 360 Package. The same remote was included for a limited time at launch in the standard white-box package.[23] The Core system comes bundled with composite video cables, capable of only SDTV resolutions. The Core may output HD signals up to 1080p when connected to separately sold Component or VGA cables. It may also use a separately sold 20 or 120 GB hard drive. Best Buy has announced that they will discontinue selling the Core package.[24]
Xbox 360 Premium
The Xbox 360, available at launch, includes all the features of the Xbox 360 Core. The Xbox 360 Premium also includes a detachable 20 GB Hard Disc Drive to store Xbox Live Arcade games, game demos, Xbox LIVE Marketplace TV and Movies, provide compatibility with Xbox games and store game data. The included hard drive comes preloaded with game demos, video clips and a free Live Arcade game, Hexic HD. (These items cannot be recovered if the user chooses to delete them from the drive.) The Xbox 360 Premium also includes a Wireless Xbox 360 Controller, Xbox 360 headset, while some regions feature an Xbox Media Remote or pre-paid 12 month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold[citation needed]. In July 2007, this version of the Xbox 360 began appearing with the Zephyr motherboard (the motherboard used in the Elite) which features HDMI output and an improved GPU heatsink.[25] The console's packaging displays the HDMI logo to reflect this addition.[26]
Xbox 360 Elite
The Xbox 360 Elite is the third and most expensive variation of the console. It is unique in that it includes a 120GB hard drive, and a matte black finish. The Elite retail package also includes an HDMI cable and a black controller and headset to match the system's black finish.[27] Other matte black accessories are also available. On March 27, 2007, Microsoft confirmed that the Elite would be released in the United States on April 29, 2007[28] and in Canada on May 4, 2007 permanently and not a 'limited edition' version as originally speculated. The initial release price was US$479.99[29], C$549.99.[30] and £300.00 The Elite was released in Europe on August 24, 2007, and Australia on August 30.
The Xbox 360 Elite is based on the Zephyr motherboard, which features a HDMI port and a improved GPU heat sink. As of July 2007, Xbox 360 premium consoles are being produced with Zephyr motherboards as well.
Some critics have noted the decision to use the HDMI 1.2a specification instead of the newer 1.3.[31] Microsoft has stated that they are not trying to sell the Xbox 360 Elite to existing users, but to those who have yet to enter the Xbox 360 gaming market; ergo everything on Xbox Live Marketplace will still be optimized for the 20GB Xbox 360 Premium's hard drive.[32]
The Elite's CPU and GPU is still based on the old 90 nm manufacturing process instead of the new 65 nm chips, which is why the Elite shares the same technical difficulties as older Xbox 360 consoles, including but not limited to the hardware failure and high noise levels.
Not including an HD DVD drive internally, the Xbox 360 Elite is in-line with Microsoft's long-stated position in the HD format war. The optional HD DVD drive is not necessary for HD Movie content for Xbox 360 owners as Xbox Live Marketplace provides for on-demand, internet-enabled, direct downloadable HD movies. Observers have noted that would be contrary to Microsoft's long-stated position to not choose sides as it would be a crippling move should the format Microsoft chose ultimately lose the format war.[33]
Special editions
Edition Description Image
Retail
Halo 3 At the E3 2007 press conference, Microsoft announced the Halo Special Edition of the console released September 16. It sports a Halo theme (on the console, wired headset, and wireless controller). The console includes a 20 GB hard drive along with the standard cabling of the Pro package as well as an HDMI port.[34] It is priced at $399.99USD and £279.99GBP (the original price of the Xbox 360 Premium in the United Kingdom).[35]
Promotional
The Simpsons Movie To promote The Simpsons Movie, Microsoft created a specially-designed, yellow Xbox 360 console.[36] This configuration is based on the Xbox 360 standard package, with the only difference being the color of the Xbox 360 console and wireless controller. The console was to be given out to winner of drawings taking place between July 18, 2007 and July 27, 2007, in which a name was randomly drawn each day in the "10 days and 10 chances to win" sweepstakes.[37] This edition is limited, as only a number of consoles were produced.
Xbox LIVE
Main article: Xbox Live
When the Xbox 360 initially launched, Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox LIVE went through a major upgrade, adding a basic non-subscription service, Silver, to its already established premium subscription-based service. Xbox LIVE Silver is free of charge and allows users to create a user profile, join on message boards, as well as access Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace and talk to other members.[38] An Xbox LIVE Silver account does not generally support multiplayer gaming; however, some games that feature their own subscription service can be played with a Silver account. Xbox LIVE supports voice communication along with video communication, a feature possible with the Xbox Live Vision; an add-on USB web camera designed specifically for the Xbox 360.[39]
Xbox LIVE Gold has the same features as Silver, plus integrated online game playing capabilities outside the third-party subscriptions previously mentioned. Microsoft has allowed for previous Xbox LIVE subscribers to maintain their profile information, friends list, and games history when they make the transition to Xbox LIVE Gold. To transfer an Xbox LIVE account to the new system, users need to link a Windows Live ID to their gamertag on Xbox.com.[40] When users go to add an Xbox LIVE enabled profile to their console, they need to provide the console with their passport account information and the last four digits of their credit card number, which is used for verification purposes and billing. An Xbox LIVE Gold account has an annual cost of US$49.99, C$59.99, GB£39.99, or €59.99. As of July 11, 2007, Xbox LIVE has over 7 million subscribers.[41]
Xbox LIVE Marketplace
Main article: Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox LIVE Marketplace is a virtual market designed for the console that allows Xbox LIVE users to download purchased or promotional content. The service offers movie and game trailers, game demos, Xbox LIVE Arcade games, gamer tag images and Xbox 360 Dashboard themes as well as in-game content (items, costumes, levels etc). These features are available to both silver and gold members on Xbox Live. A hard drive or memory unit is needed to store products purchased from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.[42] In order to download priced content, users are required to purchase Microsoft Points for use as scrip.[43] Some products are free to download. Users are able to view items available to download on the service through a PC via the Xbox Live Pipeline website.[44] An estimated seventy percent of Xbox LIVE users download items from Marketplace.[45]
Xbox LIVE Arcade
Main article: Xbox LIVE Arcade
Xbox LIVE Arcade is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute arcade video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners. In addition to classic arcade games such as Ms. Pac-Man, the service offers some new original games like Assault Heroes. In addition it features games from other consoles, such as the PlayStation's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and PC games such as Zuma. The service was first launched on November 3, 2004,[46] and offers games for about US$5 to $15. Items are purchased using Microsoft Points, a scrip used to reduce credit card transaction charges. On November 22, 2005, Xbox LIVE Arcade was re-launched with the release of the Xbox 360, in which new games and features were offered. The games are generally aimed toward more casual gamers; examples of the more popular titles are Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Street Fighter II' Hyper Fighting, and UNO.[47]
Xbox Video Marketplace
Main article: Xbox Video Marketplace
On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced Xbox LIVE Video, an exclusive video store accessible through the console. Launched in the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360 launch, the service allows users in the United States to download high-definition and standard-definition television shows and movies through Xbox LIVE onto an Xbox 360 console for viewing. At launch the service offered 800 hours of standard footage, and 200 hours of high definition. With the exception of short clips, content is not currently available for streaming, and must be downloaded. Microsoft has also announced that its Microsoft TV service will add IPTV functionality to the console, giving users the ability to stream 2 simultaneous HD and 2 simultaneous SD channels.[48] Movies are available for rental. They expire in 14 days after download or at the end of the first 24 hours after the movie has begun playing, whichever comes first. Television episodes can be purchased to own, and are transferable to an unlimited number of consoles. Downloaded files use 5.1 surround audio and are encoded using VC-1 for video at 720p, with a bitrate of 6.8 Mbit/s.[49] Content is offered from MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Turner Broadcasting, CBS for television; and Warner Bros., Paramount, and Disney for movies along with others.[50]
After the Spring 2007 update, the following video codecs will also be supported:
H.264 video support: Up to 15 Mbit/s, Baseline, Main, and High (up to level 4.1) Profiles with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.
MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 8 Mbit/s, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.
During Microsoft Press Conference at E3 2007 on July 10, 2007 it was announced that Xbox LIVE users in Europe and Canada would be able to use the exclusive video store that is a major hit in the United States by the end of 2007.
Software
Dashboard
The Xbox 360 dashboard. Showing the original four blades
The Xbox 360 GuideMicrosoft tasked AKQA with creating the graphical user interface or GUI. The console's GUI is the Xbox 360 Dashboard; a tabbed interface that features five "Blades" (formerly only four blades). It can be launched automatically when the console boots up without a disc, or when the disc tray is ejected. However, the user may choose to launch a game automatically if a disc is inserted. A simplified version of it can also be accessed at any time via the Xbox Guide button on the gamepad. This simplified version shows the user's gamercard, Xbox LIVE messages and friends list. It also allows for personal and music settings, in addition to voice or video chats.
The Base Kernel Version of the dashboard is 2.0.1888. The first major update, version, 2.0.2857, was released on June 6, 2006.[51] This version gave users the option to resume DVD playback from where it was last stopped as well as the option to boot to either a disc or the dashboard. New slideshow options were added for Photo Viewing, which can save folder layout between sessions. Xbox Live Marketplace was reorganized and users can now have concurrent downloads, allowing multiple downloads as background tasks.
Dashboard version 2.0.4532.0 was released on October 31, 2006.[52] It allows the Xbox 360 to output video at 1080p and installs support for Zune and the external HD DVD drive attachment. WMV files can be streamed from a computer through the use of Windows Media Connect, connected USB device or a CD. Windows Media Player 11 was added as a supported streaming program. Macintosh users can stream audio and video using Connect360. Xbox LIVE Arcade can now be set to automatically download trial versions of any newly released titles. Cosmetic changes to the dashboard were also made.
Dashboard revision 2.0.4548 was released on November 30, 2006.[53] It improved performance on wired headsets when used with a wireless controller and fixes video output issues on VGA connections.
The next Dashboard revision is 2.0.4552, released on January 9, 2007. It fixes a buffer overflow that would have allowed non-signed code (such as the Linux operating system) to run on the Xbox 360, with direct hardware access. As with all updates, this one is mandatory if the user signs into Xbox LIVE; this update also ships with games released after that date.[54]
The latest dashboard update, revision 2.0.5759, was made available on May 9, 2007.[55] A fifth blade was added for the Marketplace (which was also given a more consistent interface), and the Dashboard also includes Windows Live Messenger integration. The update also makes the "Achievement Unlocked" message more specific, as it will detail the achievement unlocked and how many points it was worth. It also added support for MPEG 4 based videos though several containers. It also added a low-power background download function that would put the player's console in a low power mode if he/she turns it off with downloads going (will turn off the fans) and will fully power the system off once downloads are complete. Two new languages, Russian and Polish were added as well, an option to boot straight into Media Center Extender mode (as well as changing the MC logo to the Vista version),and an option to automatically download all free Xbox Live Arcade games, and added "Reference Levels" to the video support.
See also: Xbox 360 system software
Microsoft XNA
Main article: Microsoft XNA
Microsoft XNA is a set of tools and technologies that includes XNA Studio, which provides versions of key production tools such as asset management, defect tracking, project automation and work lists. These tools are designed to work together to automate common development tasks and present interfaces tailored to the different functions within the team. John Carmack stated at QuakeCon 2005 that the Xbox 360 has "the best development environment I've seen on a console".[56] Microsoft XNA also includes other components such as the XNA Framework and XNA Build.
Anyone can develop a game using XNA Game Studio Express, an IDE for homebrew developers, which was initially released in beta form on August 30, 2006. A second, near feature complete beta version was released on November 1, 2006.[57] The final feature complete version, 1.0, was released on December 11, 2006.[58] For a US$99/GB£65 yearly subscription fee users can join a "creators club" which lets them transport code onto their 360 and share their content with others. In the UK, there is also a 4 month subscription to the "creators club" which costs £30 GBP.
Backward compatibility
Main article: List of Xbox games compatible with Xbox 360
Backward compatibility is achieved through software emulation of the original Xbox. Emulated games offer graphical enhancements because they are rendered in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p HD resolution with anti-aliasing enabled rather than the Xbox standard of 480p[52] (anti-aliasing is also applied when the output resolution is 480p.) Some games also benefit from an improvement in the rendered draw distance, possibly due to the system's greater memory bandwidth. However there are also games that do not perform well in emulation; these often exhibit a lower framerate on the Xbox 360,[59] as well as various sound bugs and occasional gameplay glitches. A hard drive and the downloading of an emulation profile is needed in order to play original Xbox games. Updated emulation profiles are automatically obtained through Xbox LIVE, or alternatively they can be burned to a CD with files downloaded from Xbox.com, or by ordering a free update disc from Microsoft. The full list of backward-compatible games is maintained at Xbox.com.
The current U.S. list includes 394 games as of the July 12, 2007, update; fewer titles are backward compatible in European and Japanese markets, with 295 and 101 titles, respectively. Microsoft has stated that they intend to release more emulation profiles as they become available, with a goal of making the entire Xbox library playable on the Xbox 360. They have since made multiple statements indicating that this may never be complete, and the rate of updates to the backwards compatibility list is in line with this stated attitude.[60]
Game library
Main article: List of Xbox 360 games
The Xbox 360 launched with a number of games. The console's best selling game for 2005, Call of Duty 2, sold over a million copies.[61] Only five other games sold this amount in the console's first year in the market: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter,[62] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,[63] Dead or Alive 4,[64] Saints Row[65] and Gears of War.[66] Gears of War is currently the 360's best selling game with over 3 million copies sold. First-party developer Rare had two games at launch: Perfect Dark Zero, which was Rare's first major commercial success after their acquisition by Microsoft; and was believed by some to be the console's flagship launch title; and Kameo: Elements of Power. Only six games were initially offered in Japan, and eagerly anticipated titles like Dead or Alive 4 and Enchanted Arms were not released until several weeks after launch. Games more suitable to the region are planned or have since been released, such as Chromehounds, Ninety-Nine Nights, and Phantasy Star Universe. Microsoft-backed Mistwalker has since released Blue Dragon in the region, and currently has two other Japanese-style games in development, Lost Odyssey and Cry On. On October 19, 2006, over 10,000 pre-orders of a limited-edition Blue Dragon bundle sold out in Japan on the first day. The pack, priced at JP¥29,800 includes the Xbox 360 core system with a copy of Blue Dragon, along with a table calendar, Blue Dragon faceplate, and five miniature character figures. At the Lepzig game convention in 2007, Microsoft revealed details of PGR4, Rock Band, Tom Clancy's EndWar, Dark Sector, FIFA 08, Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare and Tony Hawk's Proving Ground.
E3 2006 was the first large-scale show after the console's launch and the first trailer for Halo 3, the sequel to the original Xbox's best selling game, was shown there. Fable 2, a sequel to the Xbox's best-selling RPG, was also shown, along with Alan Wake, Mass Effect and Too Human. Bill Gates spoke of plans to integrate several Microsoft services into one entity with Live Anywhere. This service will allow multiplayer games and communication possible between Xbox 360 and the Windows Vista operating system for the PC. Shadowrun was the first game announced to be compatible with Live Anywhere. Several games originally released on PC have also been released on the Xbox 360, such as F.E.A.R. and Quake 4. Grand Theft Auto IV was shown and will be the first title in the series to be released for the Xbox 360 the same day as its PlayStation 3 counterpart. At X06, Microsoft announced new titles, along with information on future releases. Splinter Cell: Conviction, set to release after Splinter Cell: Double Agent, was announced to be exclusive to the Xbox 360, as were BioShock and Banjo-Kazooie 3. At the event, Halo Wars was also announced, along with an untitled Halo project. Microsoft is publishing sequels to some of its more successful franchises on the original Xbox, such as Forza Motorsport 2, Project Gotham Racing 3 & 4, and Fuzion Frenzy 2. In addition to sequels, they have published original games based on new IPs such as Viva Piñata and Gears of War.
Hardware and accessories
Hardware
Main article: Xbox 360 hardware
The main unit of the Xbox 360 itself has slight concavity on both of its longer sides in matte white or black. It features a port on the top (when vertical, left side when horizontal) to which a custom-housed hard drive unit can be attached in sizes of either 20, or 120 GB. Inside, the Xbox 360 uses the triple-core IBM designed Xenon as its CPU. While graphics processing is handled by the ATI Xenos which has 10 MB of embedded eDRAM, its main memory pool is 512 MB in size.
Accessories
Main article: Xbox 360 accessories
Many accessories are available for the console including both wired and wireless controllers, wireless steering wheel, headsets, an HD DVD player, two sizes of memory cards, two sizes of hard drives and more, all of which are styled to match the console.
Technical problems
An Xbox 360 showing the "Red Ring Of Death", an unrecoverable hardware failure.Main article: Xbox 360 technical problems
The Xbox 360 can be subject to a number of possible technical problems. Since the console's release in 2005, the console has gained a reputation in the press, with articles portraying poor reliability and high failure rates.[67][68][69][70]
According to the German computer magazine c't the main reason for the problems is that the wrong type of lead free solder was used, a type that when exposed to elevated temperatures for a long time becomes brittle and can develop hair-line cracks that are almost irreparable. Also, according to the same c't article, Microsoft has reserved enough money (more than one billion dollars) for this problem to spend $100 on every existing Xbox 360 to fix them, or enough to replace every third Xbox 360 ever made. They also revealed that representatives of the three largest Xbox 360 resellers in the world, (EB Games, Gamestop and Best Buy) told c't that the failure rate of the Xbox 360 is between 30 and 33%, and that the largest repair shop in Britain, Micromart, stopped repairing Xbox 360s because they were unable to fully repair the defective systems and because the Xbox 360 has a "fatal design flaw". Because of the nature of the problem they could only repair them provisionally, resulting in the situation that many of the "repaired" systems failed again after a few weeks. At that time Micromart received 2500 defective consoles per day, from Britain alone.[71]
Like many modern electronics, the Xbox 360 is equipped to communicate its operational status to its users. This status is normally shown via array of green lights on the Xbox 360's ring of light. In the case of an undesirable state, the machine provides indication to the user through one of several means. It may display an error message for most minor errors, or a Screen of Death in the instance of an unrecoverable software failure. Rebooting the system relieves most errors, and the console will boot up fully functional. However, in the case of a hardware failure, the ring of light display on the front of the console itself changes from green to red, a case known as the "Red Ring Of Death".[72] The number of sectors illuminated informs the user what category the error falls into. On September 29, 2006, Microsoft released a statement saying that they will waive the cost for repairs on all Xbox 360 consoles made before January 1, 2006, and refund any fees already paid.[73] However, as of January 1, 2007, Microsoft has discontinued the policy to fix the pre-2006 consoles for free. On December 21, 2006 the warranty for all consoles purchased in Canada and the United States was extended from 90 days to one year.[16]
On April 14, 2007, the Dutch TV program Kassa, as a reaction to over a thousand customers complaining that their Xbox 360s had scratched their game discs, broadcast a program in which they discussed an investigation they had launched. The test indicated that some Xbox 360s, equipped with Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) DVD players, scratch DVDs spontaneously, even when the Xbox 360 is placed on a stable surface, rendering the DVDs unplayable. A technician from Kassa earlier had found the main reason for the problem. The affected drives do not have the usual four protective pads around the laser disks lens, to prevented the lens from contacting, (and thus scratching) the disk. Some other technicians independently also found out that the drives do not have the protective rubber pieces inside the body of the drive that prevent the disc from tipping and hitting the laser head. Though in the Original Xbox, and commercial versions of these drives, these disc protection measures were found."[74] A reseller (BOL.com) that was sued by one of the gamers that took part in the Kassa program, attended the broadcast and provided replacement equipment to the user. Additionally, they informed Kassa "that they had contacted the 1% of users who reported the problem with the offer of replacing all their game discs and consoles." Microsoft itself, however, refused to take part in the program, although the day before the program broadcasted they sent Kassa a formal letter in which they told them the customers can contact them whereupon they will "examine the console and make appropriate repairs if necessary in order to restore the console to full working order. and also wrote that “…it is possible that scratches may originate from frequent use."[75][74][76][77]
In the beginning of June 2007, the European Commission started an investigation into these scratching problems.[78]
On July 26, 2007 several law firms announced they are investigating a class action suit concerning the scratched disks.[79]
After many complaints about "general failure errors" Microsoft announced changes to their warranty coverage on July 5, 2007. This increased the standard one year manufacturer's warranty to three years, specifically covering general hardware failures indicated by the three red lights. It is also retroactive to any previously purchased systems; original launch consoles are covered until November 2008. Additionally, any customers who have previously paid for repairs for general hardware failures will be reimbursed in full.[80][81] It has also been reported that Microsoft will spend over $1 billion repairing Xbox 360s.[82] In addition, Peter Moore stated in his open letter that "to address this issue, and as part of our ongoing work, we have already made certain improvements to the console," indicating future systems received some design improvements.
Sales
Quarter Units Shipped
Q4 2005 1.5 million units[83]
Q1 2006 1.7 million units[84]
Q2 2006 1.8 million units[85]
Q3 2006 0.9 million units[2]
Q4 2006 4.4 million units
Q1 2007 0.5 million units[2]
Q2 2007 0.8 million units
Cumulative Totals
to Q2 2007 11.6 million units[86]
The Xbox 360 began production only 69 days before launch.[87] As a result, Microsoft was not able to supply enough systems to meet initial consumer demand in Europe or North America.[88] Many potential customers were not able to purchase a console at launch. This lack of availability caused Xbox 360 bundles to sell on eBay at inflated prices; some auctions exceeded US$6,000. Forty thousand units appeared on eBay during the initial week of release; this was 10% of the total supply.[89] By year's end, Microsoft had shipped 1.5 million units; including 900,000 in North America, 500,000 in Europe, and 100,000 in Japan.[90]
At E3 in May 2006, Bill Gates announced that Microsoft would have a head start of 10 million units by the time Sony and Nintendo enter the market.[91] Microsoft later specified that goal and estimated shipments of 10 million units by the end of 2006,[92] a target it passed by 400,000 units.[citation needed] As of May 18, 2007, 5.4 million consoles have been sold to consumers in North America,[citation needed] and as of July 18, 2007, 420,000 units in Japan.[citation needed] Although the console is a success in the United States and Europe it continues to struggle in Japan, placing third in the market.
During an earnings call in January 2007, Microsoft's CFO downgraded estimated Xbox 360 sales for the first half of 2007.[citation needed] Cumulative sales from the system's launch until June 30, 2007 were predicted to reach 12 million units, down from 13 to 15 million units estimated earlier. Microsoft later announced they shipped 11.6 million units cumulative to June 30 2007.[86]
Region Units sold
North America 5,400,000 as of May 18, 2007[citation needed]
Japan 420,000 as of July 18, 2007[citation needed]
However, despite these sales figures, Microsoft's gaming division is losing money. Up to 2005, the Xbox gaming division had lost over $4 billion dollars.[93] However, Microsoft expects the console will start making money in 2008.[94] The losses are due to the market strategy of selling consoles below cost in order to obtain market saturation and turn a profit on software and peripherals that have a much higher profit margin.[95][96] Also notable is that Microsoft expects it needs to spend one billion dollars for repairs or replacements of bricked Xbox 360s.[82]
Homebrew development
Main article: Free60
Free60 is the successor to the Xbox Linux Project that put Linux, BSD, or Darwin on the new Xbox 360. The dashboard released on January 9, 2007 (version 2.0.4552) might hinder installation of current sold units.
Notes
^ a b c d On included video cable. The Elite and Pro versions come with the Component HD AV cable, and the Core version comes with the Composite AV Cable.
^ The Elite comes with a separate AV dongle for users using HDMI exclusively for video and who need audio from separate cables.
References
v • d • eSelected home game consoles
First generation
Magnavox Odyssey • Pong • Coleco Telstar
Second generation
Fairchild Channel F • Atari 2600 • Interton VC 4000 • Odyssey² • Intellivision • Arcadia 2001 • Atari 5200 • ColecoVision • Vectrex • SG-1000
Third generation
NES • Master System • Atari 7800
Fourth Generation
TurboGrafx-16 • Sega Mega Drive/Genesis • Neo Geo • Super Nintendo
Fifth generation
3DO • Amiga CD32 • Jaguar • Saturn • PlayStation • Nintendo 64 • Virtual Boy
Sixth generation
Dreamcast • PlayStation 2 • GameCube • Xbox
Seventh generation
PlayStation 3 • Wii • Xbox 360
^ Microsoft Misses Target by 400k. Retrieved on 2007-07-19
^ a b c QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q. Microsoft (2006-04-26). Retrieved on 2006-04-26.
^ a b Tom Ivan (2007-09-20). Microsoft: 11.6 Million Xbox 360s Sold. Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
^ December NPD data is in (2007-01-11). Retrieved on 2007-09-128.
^ a b c d Takahashi, Dean (2006-05-01). Chronology of Xbox History, 2003. Mercury News. Retrieved on 2006-11-02.
^ Becker, David (2003-08-14). ATI wins bid for next Xbox. CNET. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
^ Clayman, David (2005-05-17). E3 2005: 360 Running at One-Third Power. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
^ Keating, Tom (2005-10-02). Xbox Live Outage. VoIP & Gadgets Blog. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.
^ Cole, Vladimir (2006-05-09). Engadget & Joystiq's coverage of Xbox 360 E3. Engadget. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
^ Alarilla, Joey (2006-05-08). Microsoft Philippines to launch Xbox 360. INQ7. Retrieved on 2006-10-18.
^ Perry, Douglass (2006-10-17). Microsoft Spreads 360 Love. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-10-18.
^ Hesseldahl, Arik (2005-11-22). Microsoft's Red-Ink Game. BusinessWeek. McGraw-Hill. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.
^ Bangeman, Eric (2006-11-16). Making a buck on the Xbox 360. Ars Technica, LLC. Retrieved on 2006-11-19.
^ Graft, Kris (2006-10-11). How Much is Too Much?. Future Network USA. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
^ Reimer, Jeremy (2005-12-28). Xbox 360 to become profitable in fiscal year 2007. Ars Technica, LLC. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
^ a b Berardini, César (2006-12-21). Microsoft Extends Xbox 360 Warranty to One Year. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
^ Xbox 360 65 nm gpu shipping this fall. DigiTimes (2007-04-30). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
^ http://www.digitalbattle.com/2007/08/01/xbox-360-65nm-cpu-in-production/
^ [1]
^ http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48351
^ Kietzmann, Ludwig (2006-09-07). Microsoft to launch Xbox 360 Core in Japan. Weblogs, Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.
^ Mexican Xbox Retailer Official Bundle[2]
^ Surette, Tim (2006-01-31). Xbox 360 loses remote. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2006-11-22.
^ Best Buy to discontinue carrying Xbox 360 Core package. afterdawn.com (2007-08-01). Retrieved on 2007-08-02.
^ HDMI Premium Xbox 360 caught on camera. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
^ Microsoft officially adds HDMI to Xbox 360 Premium. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
^ Introducing Xbox 360 Elite. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
^ Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 elite (2007-03-23). Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
^ Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
^ Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
^ Xbox Elite is Really Just OK. gizmodo.com. Gizmodo. Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
^ Larry Hryb. The one about the Xbox 360 Elite. Major Nelson. Retrieved on 2007-04-18.
^ Chris Nutall. "Microsoft Xbox 360 deals blow to Toshiba", ft.com, Financial Times, March 28, 2007.
^ Halo 3 Special Edition Console. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
^ Microsoft Lowers Xbox 360 Price. Retrieved on 2007-08-16.
^ Win A Limited Edition Xbox 360. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
^ The Simpsons: Movie Xbox 360 Sweepstakes. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
^ Barker, Ben (2005-09-19). Xbox Live The Silver Age. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Gettys, Jim W. (2005-09-17). More than Games. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Xbox Live Account Migration to Xbox 360. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
^ Parfitt, Ben (2007-07-11). E3 2007: Xbox LIVE tops 7m members. MCV. Retrieved on 2007-07-11.
^ Gettys, Jim W. (2005-08-19). To Hard Drive or Not?. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Barker, Ben (2005-09-20). Xbox 360 Get the Points. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Berardini, César (2006-10-12). Browse Live Marketplace from your PC. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
^ Berardini, César (2006-10-18). Latest Xbox Live Facts and Stats. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-10-19.
^ Morris, Chris (2004-10-14). Xbox Live Arcade to launch Nov. 3 – Oct. 14, 2004. CNN. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Hryb, Larry (2006-12-30). Top Xbox Live Games of 2006. MajorNelson. Retrieved on 2006-12-30.
^ Rojas, Peter (2007-01-09). More details about IPTV on Xbox 360. Engadget. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.
^ Block, Ryan (2006-11-07). HDTV and HD movie downloads for your 360. Endaget. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
^ Microsoft (2006-11-06). Movies and TV on your Xbox. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.
^ Microsoft announces Xbox 360 Spring 2006 update. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
^ a b Reimer, Jeremy (2006-10-30). Microsoft prepares major update to Xbox LIVE. Ars Technica, LLC. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
^ Berardini, César (2006-11-30). New Xbox 360 Dashboard Update. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-12-25.
^ Xbox 360 Hypervisor Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ Instant Messaging Comes to Xbox 360. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
^ Chihdo, Danny (2005-09-15). Xbox 360: Feel the Power. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
^ Berardini, César (2006-11-01). Microsoft Releases XNA Game Studio Express Beta 2. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
^ Klucher, Michael (2006-12-11). XNA Game Studio Express Has Been Released!. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
^ Miller, Jonathan (2006-01-11). Backward Compatibility Playtest. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
^ Holmdahl, Todd. Q & A: Backward Compatibility. Microsoft. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Snider, Mike (2006-07-11). WWII shows no battle fatigue. USA Today. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
^ Ubisoft Entertainment Reports Revenue For Fiscal Year 2005–2006. Ubisoft (2006-04-27). Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
^ Thorsen, Tor (2006-04-10). Oblivion enjoying epic sales. GameSpot News. GameSpot. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
^ Calonne, Stéphane (2006-07-11). Dead or Alive 4 passe le million (French). JeuxFrance. Retrieved on 2006-11-22.
^ Kris Graft (2006-11-03). Strong Quarter for THQ. Next-Gen.biz. Retrieved on 2006-11-26.
^ Berardini, César (2006-11-21). Gears of War Hits 1 Million Units Sold. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-11-22.
^ BBC - Consumer - TV and radio - Xbox 360. BBC. Retrieved on 2007-05-03.
^ Rings of Red. GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
^ Massive Failure Rate For Xbox 360 Exposed. Smarthouse.
^ A Tale of 11 Broken Xbox 360s
^ http://www.heise.de/ct/07/16/006/ The c't with the article "Jede dritte stirbt den Hitzetod" (every third one dies of heath), on page 20.
^ Rosmarin, Rachel (2007-07-05). Microsoft's $1 Billion Red Ring of Death. Forbes.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
^ Bramwell, Tom (2006-09-22). Microsoft to refund repair fees for faulty Xbox 360s. GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ a b [3] Press information about the case from Kassa (in English), including the links to the YouTube Videos
^ (Dutch) [4] Original Kassa program, relevant parts starts at nine minutes into the program
^ [5] first part of Kassa TV program fragment, with English subtitles
^ [6] second part of Kassa TV program fragment, with English subtitles
^ (Dutch)European Commission investigating Xbox scratching problems. Retrieved on 2007-06-01.
^ [7] Website of law firms where a class action suit complaint form can be filled in
^ Open Letter from Peter Moore. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ Enhanced Warranty Major Nelson Podcast. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ a b Xbox repairs cost Microsoft $1B. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ Gruener, Wolfgang (2006-01-26). Microsoft ships 1.5 million Xbox 360 units in Q4. TGDaily. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Cantrell, Amanda (2006-04-28). Xbox Marks The Spot. CNN. Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ Fourth Quarter & fiscal Year 2006 Results. Microsoft (2006-06-20). Retrieved on 2006-09-30.
^ a b Microsoft shipped 11.6 million Xbox 360s vs 12 Million goal. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ Morris, Chris (2006-07-05). Nintendo's Wii may get early launch. CNN Money. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
^ Xbox 360 sells out within hours. BBC (2005-12-02). Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
^ Svensson, Christian (2005-12-02). 40,000 Xbox 360s Sold on eBay. Future Network USA. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
^ Microsoft FY2006 Quarter 2 report (Powerpoint). Microsoft (2006-01-26). Retrieved on 2006-11-06.
^ Bill Gates Declares 10 Million-Unit Head Start for Xbox 360.
^ Berardini, César (2006-10-27). Microsoft Confident to Meet Xbox 360 Shipping Target. TeamXbox. Retrieved on 2006-11-11.
^ Murphy, Victoria (2005-09-13). Microsoft's Midlife Crisis. Forbes.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ Bach: Xbox Business Profitable Next Year. GameDaily BIZ (2007-05-04). Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
^ Xbox 360 component cost breakdown.
^ Joystiq: Xbox 360 costs $715 to make.
External links
Microsoft Portal
Official sites
Official Xbox/Xbox 360 Website
Gamerscore Blog—Official PR and Marketing Team Blog
Xbox Development Team Blog
Xbox Live Video Offerings In HD
[hide]v • d • eMicrosoft consoles
Consoles Xbox • Xbox 360
Games Xbox Games • Xbox 360 Games (Demos) • Backward Compatible Games • Platinum Hits • Xbox Live Arcade Titles (Upcoming)
Online Services Xbox Live (Arcade • Marketplace) • Microsoft Points • Games for Windows - Live • Live Anywhere
Peripherals Xbox 360 Accessories • Xbox Live Vision • Wireless Headset • Wireless Racing Wheel
Promotional OurColony • Official Xbox Magazine • Xbox Exhibition • "X" Show • Xbox Rewards
Tools Xbox Development Kit • Microsoft XNA
Miscellaneous Microsoft Game Studios • Xbox 360 Launch • Xbox 360 Technical Problems
[hide] v • d • e Microsoft
Desktop software: Windows (Windows components) • Office • Dynamics • Visual Studio • Money • Encarta • Student • Expression • Works
Server software: Windows Server • SQL Server • IIS • Exchange • BizTalk • Commerce • ISA Server • Systems Management
Technology: Active Directory • DirectX • .NET • Windows Media • PlaysForSure
Web properties: Windows Live • Office Live • MSNBC • msnbc.com • ninemsn • MSN • Hotmail • Live Messenger • Spaces • Groups • Live ID • Ignition • CodePlex
Gaming: Microsoft Game Studios • Zone • XNA • Xbox • Xbox 360 • Xbox Live (Arcade • Marketplace) • Games for Windows (Live • Tray and Play) • Live Anywhere
Hardware: Surface • Zune • MSN TV • Natural Keyboard • Keyboard • Mouse • LifeCam • LifeChat • SideWinder • Ultra-Mobile PC • Fingerprint • Audio System • Cordless Phone • Pocket PC
Education and recognition: MCPs • MSDN • MSDNAA • MSCA • Microsoft Press • Microsoft MVP • Microsoft Student Partners
Board of directors: Ballmer • Cash • Dublon • Gates • Gilmartin • Hastings • Marquardt • Noski • Panke • Shirley
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360"
Categories: Semi-protected | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since May 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since August 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since September 2007 | 2005 introductions | Backward compatible video game consoles | Xbox 360 | Power Architecture
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