In November 2001 Microsoft entered the gaming industry with the Xbox. It was designed to be competition for the Sega Dreamcast and Playstation 2. By the time the Xbox launched Dreamcast production had ceased.
The Xbox had a number of things going for it. It was built largely from PC components. This made production of the hardware quite easy for Microsoft. Software development was also quite easy as the same tools used for PC game development could be used on Xbox as well.
Its chief competitor, the Playstation 2, was built on custom hardware designed by Sony. As a result game design for the PS2 required specialized tools and expertise which made it harder for smaller developers to create games for it.
The Xbox had a broadband network connection built in. The PS2 didn’t launch with online services but Sony had planned to launch them through an add-on device later.
Of course, it’s biggest advantage… Halo.
Halo was THE launch game for the Xbox. Of course there were others but Halo was the game everyone was waiting for.
Halo’s developer Bungie had been showing off the game since 1999. It had planned to launch the game as a PC title. Microsoft was so enthusiastic about the game and its developer that they bought the company in 2000 and announced that Halo would be exclusive to Xbox.
There was some concern about anchoring the launch of the console with a game from a relatively unproven developer. That concern rapidly dwindled though as Halo’s launch was a smashing success. The game has spawned multiple sequels and spinoffs and is still well known even today. Even my wife who’s never picked up a controller knows who Master Chief is.
I got my Xbox in December 2001. I picked up “Halo” and “Project Gotham Racing” at the same time. Halo was immediately impressive. The soundtrack was incredible. The story was great and the game drew you in so quickly. The graphics look weak by today’s standards but in 2001 they looked stunning.
My biggest concern was playing a first person shooter on a controller. We take it for granted today with so many shooters on consoles but back then, good controls without a keyboard and mouse were a real worry.
Bungie nailed it! The controls took a little getting used to but within a few minutes of playing it felt like second nature.
Project Gotham Racing was a beautiful arcade racer. It didn’t take itself too seriously. In fact it gave you points for doing things like drifting, or going around a corner on 2 wheels. It was bright and colourful and had an amazing number of great cars to choose from.
This series lasted through 4 games on two console generations before it was discontinued. It has been replaced by the Forza Horizon series which as a very similar “look and feel” to PGR.
Something about the Xbox felt right for me. Once I got the Xbox my PS2 received very little attention. Looking back, I think I had more games for Xbox than I did for any previous console in my history.
Looking at the sales numbers today it’s clear that the PS2 was the winner of this round of the “console wars” (by a landslide actually). For me it wasn’t about the numbers though. It was about the games that I enjoyed playing and it was Xbox that ultimately won the day for me.
For the next, and likely last, entry in this series I plan to wrap things up with personal reflections on all of this. Certain things I’m hesitant to dive into… Like how much money I’ve spent.
NoShade's 