Amazing Xbox Gaming Console Facts
1. Microsoft Banned a Gamer
- A gamer was banned from using Xbox services after listing “Fort Gay” as his address.
- The situation was resolved only after the town’s mayor intervened, believing the name to be made up.
2. US Navy Submarines Adopt Xbox Controllers
- The US Navy began using Xbox gaming pads to manage their periscopes, replacing heavy and costly previous controllers.
3. Atari Jaguar (Produced by Microsoft) Falls Short
- While the Atari Jaguar is considered the first gaming console produced by an American company, Microsoft’s Xbox surpassed it in every aspect.
4. Initial Sales Figures and Losses
- When launched in the United States, Xbox sold over 1.5 million units before the year ended.
- The following year, sales reached 24 million copies, but the company reported a loss of over $4 billion due to higher production costs than sales.
5. Xbox’s International Reception
- While Xbox sold millions of units in the United States, it performed poorly in Japan due to its size and focus on American markets.
6. Strategic Launch of Xbox
- Microsoft launched Xbox at midnight, three days before Nintendo’s GameCube, to improve the product’s popularity.
7. Controllers’ Evolution
- The original Xbox controller was nicknamed “Fatty” due to its massive size and attracted criticism.
- Eventually, the original gaming pad was replaced with “Controller S,” which became popular worldwide.
8. Xbox Live: The First Online Gaming Console
- Xbox was among the first gaming consoles to feature an Ethernet port, allowing users to connect their devices to the internet.
- The introduction of Xbox Live in 2002 enabled gamers to download and play games while generating revenue for the company.
9. Storage Hard Disks and Personal Computer-like Features
- Xbox gaming consoles had storage hard disks, allowing gamers to download and store their favorite games.
- The majority of the console’s features resembled those of a personal computer, including Ethernet ports and hard disks.
