The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and was developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS. The integrated Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download content such as arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, and movies. The Xbox 360 is the successor to the Xbox, and competes with the PlayStation 3 by Sony and the Wii by Nintendo as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.
The competition between Playstation3 and Xbox360 is more heated, however. Though they have only been out for about a year, it looks like the Xbox360 is just barely ahead of the Playstation3 in appeal to gamers, but the brand new Xtreme Xbox is catching up.
There are 4 things that Microsoft advertises on the site of the developed Xbox 360:
• Over 500 games: You can choose from an ever-expanding library of exciting titles. There's something for everyone in every genre: sports, action, adventure, racing, and more.
• Incredible exclusives: Halo 2, Full Spectrum Warrior, Dead or Alive, DOOM 3, and Fable, just to name a few.
• Blockbuster sensations: Franchise hits include Grand Theft Auto III, Need for Speed Underground, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, and now EA Sports titles like Madden NFL 2005, NCAA Football 2005, and FIFA Soccer 2005.
• The ultimate high-speed gaming arena: Through Xbox LIVE, compete with gamers across the globe, download new content, and chat strategy with friends and teammates.
The console sold out completely at release (with the exception of Japan) and, as of February 22, 2008. 18 million units have been sold worldwide according to Microsoft. The Xbox 360 comes in three different versions, the "Arcade" console, the "Premium" console, and the "Elite" console, each having its own selection of included and available accessories. Another version of the Xbox 360, called the "Core" which was available from launch, has since been discontinued for retail and replaced with the "Arcade".
On the day of the Xbox 360's release, Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox Live was shut down for 24 hours and went through a major upgrade, adding a basic non-subscription service, Silver, to its already established premium subscription-based service (which was renamed Gold). Xbox Live Silver is free of charge and is included with all SKUs of the console. It allows users to create a user profile, join on message boards, and access Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace and talk to other members. A Live Silver account does not generally support multiplayer gaming; however, some games that have rather limited online functions already, (such as Viva Pinata) or games that feature their own subscription service (eg. EA Sports games) can be played with a Silver account.
On a few occasions, Microsoft has produced special editions of the console, usually to coincide with the release of a major product. These special editions are typically custom-colored Xbox 360 models, and are produced in limited numbers.
Check out xtreme-xbox.com for more information on Xbox 360 and Xtreme Xbox.
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