Xbox 360
Manufacturer	Microsoft
Product family	Xbox
Type	Video game console
Generation	Seventh generation era
First available	November 22, 2005 (details)
CPU	3. A console manufacturer is a company that manufactures and distributes Video game consoles It is also known as a first-party Video game publisher. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Video games were introduced as a commercial entertainment medium in 1971, becoming the basis for an important entertainment industry in the late 1970s/early 1980s in the United In the History of video games, the seventh generation, which is also the current generation primarily focuses on the consoles released since by Nintendo, Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Xbox 360 launch marks the release of the first high-profile seventh generation Video game console. 2 GHz PPC Tri-Core Xenon
GPU	500 MHz ATI Xenos
Media	DVD, DVD-DL, CD, Add-On: HD DVD (discontinued)
System storage	20 or 120 GB hard drive, 64, 256 or 512 MB memory cards
Controller input	4 maximum (wired or wireless or combination of either)
Connectivity	3 × USB 2.0, IR port, 100 Mbit Ethernet
Online service	Xbox Live
Units sold	Worldwide: 19 million (as of April 25, 2008)[1] (details)
Best-selling game	Halo 3, 8. PowerPC is a RISC Instruction set architecture created by the 1991 Apple – IBM – Motorola alliance known as AIM Xenon is a CPU that is used in the Xbox 360 game console The processor internally codenamed "Waternoose" by IBM and "XCPU" DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is DVD (also known as " Digital Versatile Disc " or " Digital Video Disc " - see Etymology)is A Compact Disc (also known as a CD) is an Optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio not insert the publicly disclosed HD DVD key into this article for the time being A hard disk drive ( HDD) commonly referred to as a hard drive, hard disk, or fixed disk drive, is a Non-volatile storage device A memory card or flash memory card is a solid-state electronic Flash memory Data storage device used with Digital Infrared ( IR) radiation is Electromagnetic radiation whose Wavelength is longer than that of Visible light, but shorter than that of Ethernet is a family of frame -based Computer networking technologies for Local area networks (LANs Xbox Live (trademarked as Xbox LIVE) is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation This is a list of Video game consoles and Handheld game consoles that have sold or shipped at least one million units Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common This is a list of Video games that have sold or shipped at least one million copies including the top ten best-selling franchises. Halo 3 is a First-person shooter Video game developed by Bungie exclusively for the Xbox 360. 1 million (as of January 3, 2008)[2]
Backward compatibility	465 original Xbox games (requires hard drive and the latest update)
Predecessor	Xbox

The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and was developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common In Technology, especially Computing (irrespective of platform a product is said to be backward compatible when it is able to take the place of an older product A list of Xbox games that are compatible with the Xbox 360 stands at the heart of this article The Xbox 360 Game console, developed by Microsoft, features a number of first-party and third-party accessories The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer International Business Machines Corporation abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue", is a multinational Computer Technology Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS Traditional Chinese: 矽統科技) is a company that manufactures among other things motherboard chipsets The integrated Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download content such as arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, and movies. Xbox Live (trademarked as Xbox LIVE) is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation Online games are games played over some form of computer network. 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 Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. is a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato Tokyo, Japan, and one of the world's largest Media conglomerates with is a Multinational corporation headquartered in Kyoto Japan founded on In the History of video games, the seventh generation, which is also the current generation primarily focuses on the consoles released since by Nintendo,

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 (E3). MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The E3 Media and Business Summit, formerly known as Electronic Entertainment Expo and commonly known as E3, is an annual Trade show for the computer The console sold out completely at release (with the exception of Japan) and, as of February 22, 2008. The Xbox 360 launch marks the release of the first high-profile seventh generation Video game console. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[3][4][5], 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".

Overview

Development

Known during development as Xenon, Xbox 2, Xbox FS,^[6] Xbox Next, or NextBox, the Xbox 360 was conceived in early 2003. ^[7] In February 2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed by Microsoft vice president J Allard. In Computing, a platform describes some sort of Hardware architecture or Software framework (including Application frameworks, that allows J Allard (his legal name formerly James Allard) (born January 12 1969 in Glens Falls New York) is "Chief Experience Officer" and ^[7] That month, Microsoft held an event for 400 developers in Bellevue, Washington, to recruit support for the system. Bellevue ( "BELL-view") is a rapidly growing city in King County, Washington, U ^[7] Also that month, Peter Moore, former president of Sega of America, joined Microsoft. Peter Moore (born 1955 in Liverpool, England) is best known for his position as Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft 's Interactive Entertainment Business is a multinational Video game Software and Hardware development company and a former Home computer 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. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[8] The following month, IBM agreed to develop the triple-core CPU for the console. A multi-core processor (or chip-level multiprocessor, CMP) combines two or more independent cores into a single package composed of a single Integrated ^[7] Before the launch of the Xbox 360, several alpha development kits were spotted using Apple's Power Mac G5 hardware. Apple Inc, ( formerly Apple Computer Inc, is an American Multinational corporation with a focus on designing and manufacturing Consumer electronics The Power Mac G5 is Apple 's marketing name for models of the Power Macintosh which contain the PowerPC G5 CPU. This was due to the system's PowerPC 970 processor running the same PowerPC architecture that the Xbox 360 would eventually run under IBM's Xenon processor. The PowerPC 970, PowerPC 970FX, PowerPC 970GX, and PowerPC 970MP, are 64-bit Power Architecture processors from IBM PowerPC is a RISC Instruction set architecture created by the 1991 Apple – IBM – Motorola alliance known as AIM Xenon is a CPU that is used in the Xbox 360 game console The processor internally codenamed "Waternoose" by IBM and "XCPU"

The Xbox 360 has suffered from above average technical issues^[9], which has resulted in Microsoft extending the warranty to three years for "general hardware failures". The Xbox 360 Video game console is subject to a number of technical problems that can render it unusable ^[10]

Launch

Main article: Xbox 360 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. The Xbox 360 launch marks the release of the first high-profile seventh generation Video game console. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. It was later launched in Malaysia, Mexico, Colombia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, India, Brazil, Poland, Czech Republic, and Russia. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Singapore Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland The Czech Republic ( ˈt͡ʃɛskaː ˈrɛpuˌblɪka short form in Česko ˈt͡ʃɛskɔ also called Czechia, Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Microsoft has additionally announced official launches in: Hungary, Slovakia,^[11] and the Philippines. Hungary (Magyarország 'mɔɟɔrorsaːg) officially in English the Republic of Hungary ( Magyar Köztársaság, literally Magyar (Hungarian Republic Slovakia (long form Slovak Republic; Slovak:, long form, is a Landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over five million The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP ^[12] In its first year on the market, the system launched in 36 countries, more countries than any console has launched in a single year. ^[13] Due to its early launch, the Xbox 360 had a one-year lead on both of its competitors, Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii.

Retail configurations

The Xbox 360 is available in three standard variants; the "Xbox 360 Arcade", the "Xbox 360 Premium", and the "Xbox 360 Elite". ^[14] A discontinued SKU, the "Xbox 360 Core", was replaced by the "Xbox 360 Arcade" in October 2007. ^[15]

At launch, the Xbox 360 was available in two configurations: the "Xbox 360 Premium" package, priced at US$399, and the "Xbox 360 Core", priced at US$299. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The original shipment of the Premium version included a cut-down version of the Media Remote, but this was removed from later shipments. The Elite package was launched later at US$479, and the "Xbox 360 Arcade" replaced the "Xbox 360 Core" in October 2007 at US$279.

• The Xbox 360 Core^[16] was an entry level Xbox 360 priced at US$279. 99. The "Core" is no longer being sold, being replaced by the Xbox 360 Arcade. ^[14] It was not originally available in Japan, but was later released on November 2, 2006. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[17] The Core system came bundled with composite video cables, capable of only SDTV resolutions, but newer models with lot number 0728 or greater have an HDMI 1. 2 output. The Core may output HD signals up to 1080p when connected to separately sold HDMI, Component, or VGA cables. It may also utilize a separately sold 20 or 120 GB hard drive. Unlike all other SKUs, it shipped with a wired version of the Xbox 360 controller, instead of the wireless version found in other SKUs.

Xbox 360 Arcade

• The Xbox 360 Arcade,^[18] priced at US$279. 99,^[19] is the replacement for the "Xbox 360 Core". ^[20] It was publicly revealed (though it was available in stores far earlier)^[18] by Microsoft's president of Entertainment Devices division Robbie Bach to the Financial Times on October 18, 2007,^[19] and officially announced on October 22, 2007. The Financial Times ( FT) is a British international business Newspaper. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[15] It includes a wireless controller, 256 MB memory unit, composite AV cable, HDMI 1. 2 output, and 5 Xbox Live Arcade titles. ^[21] The consoles, identified by packaging labeled "Go Play!", are bundled with Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship Edition, and Uno on a single disk, which also includes a "Welcome Video" and several game trailers/demos. Boom Boom Rocket is a downloadable video game for Xbox 360 's Xbox Live Arcade service Feeding Frenzy is an arcade-style aquatic game written by Sprout Games and published by PopCap Games. Luxor 2 is an action-oriented casual Puzzle game developed by MumboJumbo. Pac-Man Championship Edition ( Pac-Man CE) is the latest Pac-Man game developed by original Pac-Man creator ^[22]

• The Xbox 360, commonly called the Premium or Pro, priced at US$349. 99, includes all the features of the Xbox 360 Core and includes a hybrid composite and component cable with optional optical out instead of a composite cable. This article is about analog component video for the processing of color components in digital video see Digital video, Chroma subsampling and YCbCr TOSLINK or Optical Cable is a standardized Optical fiber connection system The Xbox 360 also includes a detachable 20 GB Hard Disc Drive to store downloaded content, provide compatibility with original Xbox games, and store game data. The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. The included hard drive comes with game demos, video clips and a free Live Arcade game, Hexic HD. Hexic is a type of Puzzle game where one tries to rotate hexagonal tiles to create certain patterns In July 2007, this version of the Xbox 360 began appearing with the Zephyr motherboard (the motherboard used in the Elite) which features HDMI 1. 2 output and an improved GPU heatsink. Although the Premium package does include an HDMI 1. 2 output, it does not come with HDMI 1. 2 cables. ^[23][24] Starting at the end of September, the newest systems were shipped with the new "Falcon" motherboard. This motherboard includes the new 65-nm CPUs, making them quieter and cooler than the older systems. ^[25] Holiday 2007 consoles, with packaging labeled "Go Big", were bundled with Ultimate Alliance and Forza Motorsport 2. Marvel Ultimate Alliance is an Action role-playing game released in 2006 Forza Motorsport 2 is a Racing simulator Video game developed by Turn 10 Studios, and the sequel to the original Forza Motorsport ^[26] This bundle has since then been discontinued. ^[14]

• The Xbox 360 Elite is the fourth and most expensive variation of the console. It is priced at US$449. 99 and includes a 120GB hard drive and a matte black finish. List of optical topics Gloss is an Optical property which is based on the interaction of light with physical characteristics of a surface Black is the Color of objects that do not emit or Reflect Light in any part of the Visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of The Elite retail package also includes an HDMI 1.2 cable and a controller and headset that match the system's black finish. The High-Definition Multimedia Interface ( HDMI) is a compact audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed digital streams ^[27] The initial release price was US$479. 99,^[28] C$549. 99,^[28] £299. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency 99, and AU$729. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas 95. The Elite was released in Europe on August 24, 2007, and Australia on August 30, 2007. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Events 1363 - Beginning date of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the forces of two Chinese rebel leaders— Chen Youliang and Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Holiday 2007 consoles, with packaging labeled "Go Big", were bundled with Ultimate Alliance and Forza Motorsport 2. Marvel Ultimate Alliance is an Action role-playing game released in 2006 Forza Motorsport 2 is a Racing simulator Video game developed by Turn 10 Studios, and the sequel to the original Forza Motorsport ^[26] This bundle has since then been discontinued. ^[14] Early Elite models shipped using the Zephyr motherboard, though newer models now use the Falcon 65nm chipset instead. These Elites (and other Xbox 360 models using the Falcon) can be identified from earlier versions by a re-designed power connector and a power supply that runs at 175w. The motherboard layout is also different.

Comparison of features

Information in the table below is based on the latest specifications. Older packaging may not include all items listed.

Special editions

On a few occasions, Microsoft has produced special editions of the console, usually to coincide with the release of a major product. Hexic is a type of Puzzle game where one tries to rotate hexagonal tiles to create certain patterns New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island These special editions are typically custom-colored Xbox 360 models, and are produced in limited numbers.

• At the E3 2007 press conference, Microsoft announced the Halo 3 Special Edition of the console, released September 16, 2007. The E3 Media and Business Summit, formerly known as Electronic Entertainment Expo and commonly known as E3, is an annual Trade show for the computer Halo 3 is a First-person shooter Video game developed by Bungie exclusively for the Xbox 360. Events 1400 - Owain Glyndŵr is declared Prince of Wales by his followers Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. It sports a Halo 3 theme on the console, wired headset, and wireless controller. Other than the unique "Spartan green and gold"^[31] color scheme, exclusive dashboard theme and downloads, and a HDMI port, its features are identical to that of the Premium system. ^[32]. It is priced at US$399. 99 and £279. 99 (the original price of the Xbox 360 Premium). ^[33]

• To promote The Simpsons Movie, Microsoft created a specially-designed, yellow Xbox 360 console. The Simpsons Movie is a 2007 American animated Comedy film based on the animated television series The Simpsons ^[34] This configuration is based on the Xbox 360 Premium package, with the only difference being the color scheme of the Xbox 360 console and wireless controller. The consoles were to be given out to winners 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. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1214 - Battle of Bouvines: In France, Philip II of France defeats John of England. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[35] This edition is limited, as 10 consoles were produced. ^[35]

Xbox 360 Compatibility with Zune

The Xbox 360 is also compatible with the Zune, which was posted on the Xbox Official Website. Zune is a brand of digital media players and services sold by Microsoft. You can play media files from the Zune to your Xbox 360 only from an Xbox 360 update available on Xbox Live or from the Xbox 360 Official Website. Xbox Live (trademarked as Xbox LIVE) is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation ^[36]

Hardware and accessories

Hardware

Main article: Xbox 360 hardware

The main unit of the Xbox 360 itself has slight double concavity in matte white or black. The hardware of the Xbox 360 includes several parts both internally in the console itself and as separate pieces of kit or accessories 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. A hard disk drive ( HDD) commonly referred to as a hard drive, hard disk, or fixed disk drive, is a Non-volatile storage device Inside, the Xbox 360 uses the triple-core IBM designed Xenon as its CPU. International Business Machines Corporation abbreviated IBM and nicknamed "Big Blue", is a multinational Computer Technology Xenon is a CPU that is used in the Xbox 360 game console The processor internally codenamed "Waternoose" by IBM and "XCPU" Graphics processing is handled by the ATI Xenos which has 10 MB of embedded eDRAM. A megabyte is a unit of Information or Computer storage equal to either 106 (1000000 Bytes or 220 (1048576 bytes depending on eDRAM stands for " embedded DRAM " a Capacitor -based Dynamic random access memory usually integrated on the same die Its main memory pool is 512 MB in size. A megabyte is a unit of Information or Computer storage equal to either 106 (1000000 Bytes or 220 (1048576 bytes depending on

Accessories

Main article: Xbox 360 accessories

Many accessories are available for the console, including both wired and wireless controllers, faceplates for customization, a wireless steering wheel for playing racing games, headsets for chatting, a webcam for video chatting, Dance Mats and Gamercize for exercise, a HD DVD player (now discontinued)^[37], three sizes of memory cards, and two sizes of hard drives (120GB and 20GB), among other items, all of which are styled to match the console. The Xbox 360 Game console, developed by Microsoft, features a number of first-party and third-party accessories Webcams ( web cameras) are small cameras (usually though not always Video cameras, whose images can be accessed using the World Wide Web, instant Dance Dance Revolution (abbreviated DDR) previously known as Dancing Stage in PAL territories until the announcement of Gamercize is an example of an Exergaming accessory connecting exercise machines such as stationary cycles and steppers to video games consoles not insert the publicly disclosed HD DVD key into this article for the time being A memory card or flash memory card is a solid-state electronic Flash memory Data storage device used with Digital A hard disk drive ( HDD) commonly referred to as a hard drive, hard disk, or fixed disk drive, is a Non-volatile storage device

Software

Dashboard

The Xbox 360 dashboard. Showing the new five blades

See also: Xbox 360 System Software

The Xbox 360's graphical user interface GUI is the Xbox 360 Dashboard; a tabbed interface that features five "Blades" (formerly four blades), and was designed by AKQA. Xbox 360 System Software (sometimes referred to incorrectly as Firmware) is updateable Software and Operating system for the Xbox 360. In Graphical user interfaces a tab is a navigational widget for switching between sets of controls or Documents. AKQA is an American Privately held company, specializing in Interactive marketing. It can be launched automatically when the console boots up without a disc, or when the disc tray is ejected. In Computing, booting ( booting up) is a bootstrapping process that starts Operating systems when the user turns on a Computer system 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, or returning to the primary Dashboard from the game.

Since the console's release, Microsoft has released several updates for the Dashboard software. These updates have included adding new features to the console, enhancing Xbox Live functionality and multimedia playback cabilities, adding compatibility for new accessories, and fixing bugs in the software. The latest Dashboard update, revision 2. 0. 6690, was made available on April 19, 2008. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

Multimedia

The Xbox 360 supports videos in .wmv-format, as well as high-definition . Windows Media Video ( WMV) is a compressed Video file format for several proprietary Codecs developed by Microsoft. High-definition television (HDTV is a Digital television Broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems (standard-definition wmv-videos, H.264, MPEG-4, and PlaysForSure WMV videos. H264 is a standard for Video compression. It is also known as MPEG-4 Part 10, or MPEG-4 AVC (for Advanced Video Coding) MPEG-4 is a collection of methods defining compression of audio and visual (AV digital data Starting in 2004 Microsoft PlaysForSure was a certification given by Microsoft to portable devices and content services which had been tested against several The Fall 2007 dashboard update added support for the playback of MPEG-4 ASP format videos. MPEG-4 Part 2 is a Video compression technology developed by MPEG. ^[38] The console can also display pictures and perform slideshows of photo collections with various transition effects, and supports audio playback, with music player controls accessible through the Xbox 360 Guide button. Users may play back their own music while playing games or using the dashboard, and can play music with an interactive visual synthesizer.

Music, photos and videos can be played from standard USB mass storage devices, Xbox 360 proprietary storage devices (such as memory cards or Xbox 360 hard drives), and servers or computers with Windows Media Center or Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher within the local-area network in streaming mode. Windows Media Center is an application designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. Windows XP is a family of 32-bit and 64-bit Operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on Personal computers including home and ^[39][40] This is possible with video files up to HD-resolution and with several codecs (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV) and container formats (WMV, MOV, TS). A codec is a device or program capable of encoding and/or decoding a Digital Data stream or signal. ^[41]

In the UK the Xbox 360 will be enabled to download and display BT Vision video content. BT Vision is a service provided in the United Kingdom supplied by BT Retail. ^[42]

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. Microsoft XNA (" X NA's N ot A cronymed" in other words XNA is not an acronym is a set of tools with a managed runtime environment provided by In Engineering, defect tracking is the process of finding defects in a product (by inspection testing, or recording feedback from customers and making new versions These tools are designed to work together to automate common development tasks and present interfaces tailored to the different functions within the team. 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. In Computing, an integrated development environment ( IDE) is a Software application that provides comprehensive facilities to Computer programmers Currently at version 2. 0^[43]. Originally XNA was released in beta form on August 30, 2006. Events 1363 - Beginning date of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the forces of two Chinese rebel leaders— Chen Youliang and Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. A second, near feature complete beta version was released on November 1, 2006. A feature complete version of a software is not yet final but contains all intended functionality of the final version A software release is the distribution whether public or private of an initial or new and upgraded version of a Computer software product Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[44] The final feature complete version, 1. 0, was released on December 11, 2006. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[45] 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 [sic] Club" which costs £30 GBP. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Backward compatibility

Main article: List of Xbox games compatible with Xbox 360

Backward compatibility on the Xbox 360 is achieved through software emulation of the original Xbox. A list of Xbox games that are compatible with the Xbox 360 stands at the heart of this article In Technology, especially Computing (irrespective of platform a product is said to be backward compatible when it is able to take the place of an older product An emulator duplicates (provides an emulation of the functions of one System using a different system so that the second system behaves like (and appears to The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. Emulated games are rendered in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p HD resolution with anti-aliasing enabled rather than the Xbox standard of 480p^[46] (anti-aliasing is also applied when the output resolution is 480p. 720p is the shorthand name for a category of HDTV video modes In Digital signal processing, anti-aliasing is the technique of minimizing the distortion artifacts known as Aliasing when representing a high-resolution signal 480p is the shorthand name for a video display resolution The p stands for Progressive scan, i In Digital signal processing, anti-aliasing is the technique of minimizing the distortion artifacts known as Aliasing when representing a high-resolution signal ) However there are also games that do not perform well in emulation; these often exhibit a lower framerate on the Xbox 360,^[47] as well as various sound bugs and occasional gameplay glitches. Frame rate, or frame frequency, is the measurement of the Frequency (rate at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames The 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. Optical disc authoring, including DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring (often referred to colloquially but improperly as burning) is the process of assembling com, or by ordering a free update disc from Microsoft. A full list of backward-compatible games is maintained at the Xbox website. ^[48]

The current U. S. list includes 464 games as of the November 2007 update; fewer titles are backward compatible in European and Japanese markets, with 295 and 101 titles respectively. Events in November All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day a Christian holy day is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Microsoft originally 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 though the rate of updates to the backwards compatibility list still continues steadily. ^[49]

At 2008's CES, Albert Penello, the Xbox 360's group marketing manager, said that "engineering work around bringing out new titles" is "winding down". The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES is a Trade show held each January in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is sponsored ^[50]

Xbox Originals

Main article: List of Xbox Originals

As part of the December 4, 2007 dashboard update, a new feature, called Xbox Originals, was launched allowing users to download original Xbox games directly to their Xbox 360. This article provides a list of released and upcoming Xbox Originals games for the Xbox 360. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. The games have not been altered in any way, except that any demos and game previews have been stripped out. As of December 2007, all titles are available for 1200 Microsoft Points (US$15) each. Microsoft Points (denoted as) are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery and Zune online stores The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ^[51] Seven games were available from launch: Halo: Combat Evolved, Fable, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, Psychonauts, Fusion Frenzy, Indigo Prophecy, and Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. Halo Combat Evolved (commonly known as Halo or Halo 1) is a First-person shooter (FPS Video game developed Fable is a role-playing Video game for Xbox, Mac OS X, and Windows platforms Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of Cortex is a Platform game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube Video game consoles Psychonauts is a platform Video game created by Tim Schafer (known for several LucasArts adventure games such as Grim Fuzion Frenzy is a Launch title for the Microsoft Xbox. At its core Fuzion Frenzy is a four-player Party game featuring Fahrenheit (known as Indigo Prophecy in the United States and Canada) is a Video game that was released in September Crimson Skies High Road to Revenge is a first-party video game title developed by FASA Studio (part of Microsoft Game Studios) for the ^[52]

Game library

Main article: List of Xbox 360 games

At the 2008 Game Developer Conference, Microsoft announced there would be over 1000 games available for Xbox 360 by the end of the year. This is the list of games that have been released or announced for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Video game console, organized alphabetically by name ^[53]. The 2007 Game Critics Awards honoured the Xbox 360 platform with 38 Nominations and 11 Wins - more than any other platform. The Game Critics Awards are a set of annual awards held after the E3 video game conference since 1998. ^[54]. 33 Xbox 360 titles have now sold over a million copies. ^[55]. By March 2008, the Xbox 360 had reached a software attach rate of 7. 5 games per console -- a record for any console in history, in EU the rate was 7. 0 while its competitors were 3. 8 (PS3) and 3. 5 (Wii). ^[56]

The Xbox 360 launched with 14 games in North America and 13 in Europe. The Xbox 360 launch marks the release of the first high-profile seventh generation Video game console. The console's best-selling game for 2005, Call of Duty 2, sold over a million copies. Call of Duty 2 is a First-person shooter Video game and sequel to the critically acclaimed game Call of Duty. ^[57] Five other games sold as well in the console's first year in the market: Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter,^[58] The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,^[59] Dead or Alive 4,^[60] Saints Row^[61] and Gears of War. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter ( GRAW) is the third installment in the popular Ghost Recon Tactical shooter The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion is a Single player Fantasy -themed action-oriented Computer role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios Dead or Alive 4 ( DOA4) is a Fighting game developed by Team Ninja for the Xbox 360 Video game console. Gears of War is a tactical Third-person shooter Video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios. ^[62] Gears of War would become the best-selling game of the console with 3 million units,^[63] before being surpassed in 2007 by Halo 3, with 8. Halo 3 is a First-person shooter Video game developed by Bungie exclusively for the Xbox 360. 1 million units. ^[2]

Six games were initially offered in Japan, and eagerly anticipated titles such as Dead or Alive 4 and Enchanted Arms were released only a few weeks later. Enchanted Arms (known as -eNCHANT arM- in Japan is a Science fiction /fantasy-based role-playing game for the Xbox 360 ^[64] Games more suitable to the region were planned or have since been released, such as Chromehounds, Ninety-Nine Nights, and Phantasy Star Universe. Chromehounds is a video game for the Xbox 360. The game is set in an alternate universe where mechanised HOUNDs (a kind of Mech) battle for control N3 Ninety-Nine Nights, ( Korean:ko 나인티-나인 나이츠 Japanese: ja ナインティ ナイン ナイツ or simply Ninety-Nine Nights ( PSU) is an Action role-playing game by Sega 's Sonic Team for the PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360. ^[65] Microsoft also had the support of RPG developer Mistwalker, founded by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. is a Japanese video game development studio started by Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of the popular Final Fantasy series in 2004 with the financial backing (born November 25, 1962) is a Japanese Game designer, Game director and Game producer. Mistwalker's first game, Blue Dragon, was released in 2006 and had a limited-edition bundle which sold out quickly with over 10,000 pre-orders. is a Console role-playing game developed by Mistwalker and Artoon and distributed by Microsoft Game Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360. ^[66] Blue Dragon became the best-selling Xbox 360 game in the region, with over 200,000 units. Mistwalker's second game, Lost Odyssey also sold over 100,000 copies. is a Console role-playing game developed by Mistwalker and feelplus and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. ^[67]

XNA Community

XNA Community is a future feature where Xbox 360 owners can receive community created XNA Creators Club developed games made with Microsoft XNA Game Studio. The games are written, published, and distributed through a community managed portal. XNA Community will be a channel for console videogame delivery over Xbox Live that can be free of royalties, paid-software development kits, publishers or licenses. ^[68][69]

Xbox Live

Main article: Xbox Live

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 (trademarked as Xbox LIVE) is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation Xbox Live Silver is free of charge and is included with all SKUs of the console. A Stock Keeping Unit, or SKU (pronounced either as an Acronym (ˈskjuː or as an Initialism (/ˌɛsˌkeɪˈjuː/ “S–K–U” is a 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. An, or message board, is a Bulletin board system in the form of a discussion site Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to digitally distribute video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners ^[70] 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. Viva Piñata is a Life simulation game developed by Rare Ltd, for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Video game console. EA Sports games) can be played with a Silver account. EA Sports is a brand name used by Electronic Arts since 1993 to distribute games based on Sports Formerly a gimmick inside Electronic Arts sports Xbox Live also supports voice and video communication, the latter a feature possible with the Xbox Live Vision; an add-on USB web camera designed specifically for the Xbox 360. Overview The camera can be used for Video chat, personalized gamer pictures in-game video chat and still pictures ^[71] The Gamercard of a player with a Silver account has a silver trim, rather than gold.

Xbox Live Gold has the same features as Silver and includes integrated online game playing capabilities outside of third-party subscriptions. Online games are games played over some form of computer network. Microsoft has allowed previous Xbox Live subscribers to maintain their profile information, friends list, and games history when they make the transition to Xbox Live Gold. A contact list is a collection of screen names in an Instant messaging or E-mail program or Online game or Mobile phone. To transfer an Xbox Live account to the new system, users need to link a Windows Live ID to their gamertag on Xbox. Windows Live ID (originally Microsoft Passport, then.NET Passport, then briefly Microsoft Passport Network) is a Single sign-on service developed com. ^[72] When users add an Xbox Live enabled profile to their console, they are required 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. The numbers found on Credit cards and bank cards have a certain amount of internal structure and share a common Numbering scheme. An Xbox Live Gold account has an annual cost of US$49. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 99, C$59. 99, NZD 90. The New Zealand dollar ( sign: $; code: NZD) is the Currency of New Zealand. 00, GB£39. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency 99, or €59. Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e 99. As of May 14, 2008, Xbox Live has over 12 million subscribers. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[73]

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 Xbox Live Marketplace ( XBLM) is a virtual market designed for Microsoft 's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download The service offers movie and game trailers, game demos, Xbox Live Arcade games, gamertag images, and Xbox 360 Dashboard themes as well as add-on game content (items, costumes, levels etc). A game demo is an often but not always freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released computer or video game. These features are available to both silver and gold members on Xbox Live. A hard drive or memory unit is required to store products purchased from Xbox Live Marketplace. ^[74] In order to download priced content, users are required to purchase Microsoft Points for use as scrip;^[75] though some products (such as trailers) are free to download. Microsoft Points (denoted as) are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery and Zune online stores Scrip is any Substitute for Currency which is not Legal tender and is often a form of credit. Users are able to view items available to download on the service through a PC via the Xbox Live Pipeline website. The Xbox Live Marketplace ( XBLM) is a virtual market designed for Microsoft 's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download ^[76] An estimated seventy percent of Xbox Live users have downloaded items from the Marketplace. ^[77]

Video Store

On November 6, 2006, Microsoft announced the Xbox Video Marketplace, an exclusive video store accessible through the console. Events 355 - Roman Emperor Constantius II promotes his cousin Julian to the rank of Caesar, entrusting him with Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Launched in the United States on November 22, 2006, the first anniversary of the Xbox 360's launch, the service allows users in the United States to download high-definition and standard-definition television shows and movies onto an Xbox 360 console for viewing. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. 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. IPTV ( Internet Protocol Television) is a system where a Digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure which ^[78] Movies are also 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. 51, Multichannel audio, Multichannel music Surround 3D Surround 5 VC-1 is the informal name of the SMPTE 421M Video codec standard initially developed by Microsoft. In Telecommunications and Computing, bitrate (sometimes written bit rate, data rate or as a Variable R or f b 8 Mbit/s. ^[79] Television content is offered from MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Turner Broadcasting, and CBS; and movie content is Warner Bros., Paramount, and Disney, along with other publishers. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. VH1 (known as VH-1 Video Hits One from 1985 to 1994 and VH1 Music First until 2003) is an American Cable television Comedy Central is an American Cable television and Satellite television channel that carries predominantly Comedy programming Turner Broadcasting System Inc (often abbreviated TBS Networks or TBS Inc CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. Warner Bros Entertainment Inc (or Warner Bros, Warner Bros Pictures) is one of the world's largest producers of Film and Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. ^[80]

After the Spring 2007 update, the following video codecs are 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.

As a late addition to the Fall Xbox 360 update which was launched on the 4 December 2007 25 movies were added to the European Xbox 360 video market place on the 11 December 2007 and cost 250 Microsoft points for the SD version on the movie and 380 Microsoft points for the HD version of the movie. "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer ^[81]Xbox Live members in Canada featured the ability to go on the Xbox Live Marketplace as of December 10, 2007 with around 30 movies to be downloaded for the same amount of Microsoft Points. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

Xbox Live Arcade

Main article: Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to distribute downloadable video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners. Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA is an online service operated by Microsoft that is used to digitally distribute video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. In addition to classic arcade games such as Ms. Pac-Man, the service offers some new original games like Assault Heroes. An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in businesses such as Restaurants Pubs Video arcades and Family Entertainment Ms Pac-Man is an arcade Video game produced by Midway as an unauthorized sequel to Pac-Man. Assault Heroes is an arcade-style Top-down shooter video game developed by Wanako Studios. The Xbox Live Arcade also features games from other consoles, such as the PlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and PC games such as Zuma. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console Castlevania Symphony of the Night is a 2D Action-adventure game developed and published by Konami in 1997 Zuma is a fast-paced puzzle game developed by PopCap Games. It can be played for free online at several Web sites and can be purchased for a number of platforms The service was first launched on November 3, 2004,^[82], using a DVD to load, and offered games for about US$5 to $15. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Items are purchased using Microsoft Points, a proprietary currency used to reduce credit card transaction charges. Microsoft Points (denoted as) are the currency of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Windows Live Gallery and Zune online stores A credit card is part of a system of Payments named after the small Plastic card issued to users of the system On November 22, 2005, Xbox Live Arcade was re-launched with the release of the Xbox 360, in which it was now integrated with the Xbox 360's dashboard. Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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. Geometry Wars is a Minigame created by Bizarre Creations as part of Project Gotham Racing 2 for the Xbox, accessible is a 1991 competitive fighting game by Capcom. It is widely credited with launching the fighting game genre into the mainstream and extending the life of the worldwide arcade Uno (ˈuːnoʊ ( Italian and Spanish for 'one' is a Card game played with a specially printed deck (see Mau Mau for an almost identical ^[83]

Sales

The Xbox 360 began production only 69 days before launch. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 498 - Kofi Aseidu- After the death of Anastasius II, Symmachus is elected Pope in the Lateran Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Xbox 360 launch marks the release of the first high-profile seventh generation Video game console. ^[88][89] As a result, Microsoft was not able to supply enough systems to meet initial consumer demand in Europe or North America. Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer ^[90] Many potential customers were not able to purchase a console at launch. Forty thousand units appeared on eBay during the initial week of release; this was 10% of the total supply. ^[91] 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. ^[92]

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 entered the market. The E3 Media and Business Summit, formerly known as Electronic Entertainment Expo and commonly known as E3, is an annual Trade show for the computer If you would like to experiment with Wikipedia please copy ^[93] Microsoft later specified that goal and estimated shipments of 10 million units by the end of 2006. ^[94]

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. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Being released one year ahead of its competitors, the Xbox 360 was the market leader throughout the first half of 2007. However on September 12, 2007, it was reported by the Financial Times that the Xbox 360 had been surpassed by the Wii in terms of worldwide console sales. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Financial Times ( FT) is a British international business Newspaper. ^[95] On October 4, 2007, soon after the launch of Halo 3, Microsoft stated that Xbox 360 sales had more than doubled compared to the previous average. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Halo 3 is a First-person shooter Video game developed by Bungie exclusively for the Xbox 360. ^[96]

Based on figures from October 19, 2007, the Xbox 360 outsold the Wii for the month of September in North America, helped in part by the spike in sales seen after the launch of Halo 3, which sold 3. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 3 million copies in the United States in a 12-day period. ^[97] The Xbox had sales of 528,000 units for September, while the Wii had sales of 501,000 units. ^[98]

However, despite these sales figures, Microsoft's gaming division is losing money. Through 2005, the Xbox gaming division had lost over $4 billion. ^[99] However, Microsoft expects the console will start making money in 2008. ^[100] The losses are due to the market strategy of selling consoles below cost in order to obtain market saturation and gain profits on software and peripherals that have a much higher profit margin. ^[101][102] Also notable is that Microsoft has taken a charge of $1 billion dollars on its June 2007 Income Statement to account for the cost of replacing bricked Xbox 360s. When used in reference to electronics "brick" describes a device that cannot function in any capacity (such as a machine with damaged Firmware) ^[103]

In Europe, the Xbox 360 sold 2 million units in 2006 and 1. Events January 26 2006 -- Nintendo announces its newly redesigned handheld the Nintendo DS Lite. 9 million in 2007 according to estimates by Electronic Arts. Events March 14: Microsoft announces Games for Windows - Live, a version of Xbox Live for the Windows platform ^[104][105] In 2007, the Xbox 360 had sold 4. 62 million units in the US according to the NPD Group,^{[106][107][108]} and 257,841 in Japan, according to Enterbrain. The NPD Group Inc (formerly National Purchase Diary) is a leading global market research company founded in 1967 and provides consumer and retail information to manufacturers is a Japanese magazine Publisher established on April 1 2000. ^[109][110] On May 14, 2008, Microsoft announced that 10 million Xbox 360s had been sold and that it was the "first current generation gaming console" to surpass the 10 million figure in the US. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[111] In the US, the Xbox 360 has sold 10. 08 million units as of May 1, 2008, according to the NPD Group. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[85] In Japan, the Xbox 360 has sold 602,558 as of March 30, 2008, according to Famitsu/Enterbrain. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common (formerly Famicom Tsushin) is a Japanese Video game magazine published by Enterbrain Inc ^[86][87]

On February 13, 2008, Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 suffered shortages in the US in January 2008, possibly continued into February. Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^{[112][113][114]} Prior to the release of the NPD Group's video game statistics for January 2008, the Xbox 360 has been in second place behind the Wii in US sales in most months since the Wii and PS3 were released, according to data by the NPD Group. ^[113]

Technical problems

The Xbox 360 displaying three red lights, indicating a "general failure error" (often referred to as a "red ring of death")

Main article: Xbox 360 technical problems

The Xbox 360 can be subject to a number of technical problems. The Xbox 360 Video game console is subject to a number of technical problems that can render it unusable Since the console's release in 2005, the product earned note in the press questioning its reliability and failure rate of the early consoles. ^{[115][116][117]}

To aid customers with defective consoles, Microsoft has extended the Xbox 360's manufacturer's warranty to three years for general failure errors. "General Hardware Failure" is recognized by three adjacent quadrants of the ring flashing red. This error is often known as the "Red Ring of Death". The Xbox 360 Video game console is subject to a number of technical problems that can render it unusable ^[118]

Since these problems surfaced, design modifications have been made to the console to improve reliability. All consoles manufactured after June 2007 have extensive revisions from the earliest units. Modifications include a reduction in the number, size and placement of components, and the addition of dabs of epoxy on the corners and edges of the CPU and GPU, as glue to prevent movement relative to the board during heat expansion,^[119] and a second GPU heatsink to dissipate more heat. ^[120]

External links

• Official Xbox/Xbox 360 website
• Gamerscore Blog—Official PR and marketing team blog
• Xbox development team blog
• Xbox 360 at the Open Directory Project

References