Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft Xbox

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Revision - 3.0

• Microsoft "Xbox"
• Microsoft "Xbox" Timeline
• Most asked Xbox Questions
• An introduction to the X World
• The Big Three Players
• General Xbox questions
• Xbox NV2A/graphical questions
• Video Connectors/Adapters & Output Questions
• DVD compatibility & playback questions
• Xbox input questions
• Xbox Dashboard
• Parental Lockdown
• Xbox Sound Questions
• XBox Music Playing & Ripping Questions
• Xbox Hard Drive Questions
• Xbox Live! & Other Internet/LAN & Multiplayer Questions
• Xbox Developers & Development Questions
• Games
• Xbox technical demos
• Form Factor
• Early rumours
• The X-Launch
• Miscellaneous questions
• Xbox associated acronyms
• The X Men
• ActiveXbox.com Questions

Microsoft Xbox

Most asked Xbox Questions

What is the cost of the Xbox?
The Xbox launch price was $299 in the United States - but has since been reduced to $179 in response to the Playstation 2 price reduction. In the UK It was originally priced at £299.  Microsoft has now reduced the price to £129 (Including one game).

When did Xbox Live launch?
Xbox Live launched in America on November 15th 2002.

How much does Xbox Live cost?
Microsoft charges $69.99 for the starting kit which includes one year of service.  Renewals cost either $49.99 a year or $5.99 a month.

Is the Xbox DVD player multiregional?
No - but buying the U.S Remote & using it on a UK Xbox DOES play U.S region 1 DVD titles but once the Region 1 infra-red box is put into the UK Xbox, the UK Xbox will ONLY ever play Region 1 titles as it places the code on to the hard-drive.

Can the UK Xbox play US Xbox games & vice-versa?
Unfortunately No, the North American box will only play North American games. The regional encoding is set when it passes through certification & in to the authorized replicators. North American Xbox systems will only play NTSC games, Japanese boxes will play NTSC-J games & Europe & the rest of the PAL territories will only play games marked with the PAL symbol.

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An introduction to the X World

What is an Xbox?
The Xbox is a next generation home gaming console which is currently being developed by the largest software company in the world, Microsoft Corporation.

Where is the official Xbox announcement press release?
You can find the Official Press Release issued on March 10th here, at the official Xbox site.

Which Microsoft department will be in charge?
Microsoft's Gaming Group will oversee much of the work. Ed Fries, newly appointed VP, is  in charge of controlling first-party software development. Robbie Bach, VP of the Home & Retail Division, & Rick Thompson are also a part of that team.

Which parties are directly involved in the construction of the Xbox?
Microsoft's has chosen to forge alliances with Intel & NVidia, two highly-successful companies in their respective fields. Intel are the developers of the widely known Pentium® processor, while NVidia pioneer the graphics market with their GeForce® product. Flextronics will be responsible for the manufacturing of the final hardware.

What is the correct way of spelling Xbox? X-Box? x box?
As officially confirmed by Microsoft, Xbox is written as one word only: Xbox.

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The Big Three Players

Who is Microsoft?
Microsoft Corporation are the creators of the Xbox, best known for creating the Windows® operating system line, which now runs on over 90% of the world's computers. They are well known as one of the biggest companies in the world.

Microsoft makes games?
Strangely enough, the Microsoft Gaming division makes games. In fact, Microsoft has taken the gaming market by storm, with such immensely popular games such as "Age of Empires", "Asheron's Call", the "MechWarrior" series, & "Starlancer". Microsoft isn't just confined to gaming software though, they also market "SideWinder" gaming devices, which range from force-feedback steering wheels, to voice comm& headsets.

Who is nVidia?
nVidia is the worldwide leader in graphics processors & media communications devices. The unmatched breadth of NVIDIA's product line enriches 3D, 2D, video, audio, communications, broadband connectivity & high-definition digital video & television for every audience & price point -- from workstations to internet-enabled appliances to mobile PCs.

What is NVidia role for the Xbox?
NVidia produces the GPU (graphics processor unit) for the Xbox, which will essentially be the graphics processor behind the machine. The GPU which NVidia is manufacturing (nicknamed the "XCHIP"), is codenamed "NV2a".

Who is Intel?
For more than three decades, Intel Corporation has developed technology enabling the computer & Internet revolution that has changed the world. Founded in 1968 to build semiconductor memory products, Intel introduced the world's first microprocessor in 1971. Today, Intel supplies chips, boards, systems, software, networking & communications equipment, & services that comprise the "ingredients" of computer architecture & the Internet.

What Is Intel role in the Xbox?
Intel produces customized 733mhz Pentium III chip that is  the processing power behind the Xbox.

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What are the specs of the Xbox?

What Operating System (OS) powers the XBox?
The Xbox is powered by a stripped down Windows 2000 kernel, which is approximately 500kb in size. Mr. Gates has emphasized that the OS does not make the console's load times sluggish like a PCs.

Does the Xbox have a hard disk drive (HDD)?
Yes. The Xbox  has a built-in 8GB HDD that can be used for but not limited to storing game demos, ripped CD's, extra characters/maps/weapons in games. The hard drive is not be used as the installation destination of a game, like it is on the PC, rather it is used as a "scratch pad" to avoid DVD seek delays.

Can I rip music CD's to my hard drive & play them during a game?
Yes. Microsoft has demonstrated this capability with their "Amped!" snowboarding game. Players will be able to listen to their selection of music which is ripped onto the hard drive during play. Many other gaming studios have stated their intention to include this feature in their games. Check out our ripping FAQ.

What does the Xbox look like?
The Xbox console & controller design was officially unveiled at Consumer Electronics Show 2001.

How long does the Xbox take to boot?
Less than 2 seconds. Games around 15-20 seconds

Why is the Xbox so large compared to other consoles?
It contains more components than most other consoles: no other console on the market comes out-of-box with a hard disk drive & an Ethernet port, although the Playstation 2 does come with an empty hard drive bay.

How does it compare to the competition?
Ask a hundred different people, & you'll get a hundred different answers. People choose to purchase different consoles for different reasons, although, most people choose their console preference based on the exclusive games on that platform. Although this FAQ writer maintains the contention that the Xbox demolishes the competition powerwise, this is purely our own opinion, & should be taken with a grain of salt. There is no "best" console, only a "preferred" console. Games are what matter.

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What is a GPU? What is NV2a?
GPU is an acronym for "Graphics Processing Unit", which is the chip that performs most the graphical calculations. The Xbox's GPU is called the "NV2a", & is being developed by nVidia.

How powerful is NV2a?
Bill Gates stated that the graphics chip would do 1 trillion operations per second. According to the official Xbox site, the NV25 produces churning of 300 million micropolygons/particles a second, 150 million transformed & lit polygons a second, & 100-200 million polygons per second sustained performance (with shading & texturing applied).

Is the NV2a the same chip in the GeForce3?
No. The GeForce uses an NV20.

Why do some people label the NV2a as "NV27.5"
This was related to an earlier statement by J. Allard concerning the xbox's GPU.

"Well what we've always called it officially is the NV2A. A lot of people have called it the NV25, but nVidia told us to call it the 2A instead & there are two reasons for that: one, the NV25 in the event that nVidia wouldn't use that part would be a PC part & it would be put in here. The second thing is the part that we have in the box is not just a super clocked NV20 but it actually draws some of the geometry features out of the NV30. So if you put a label on it, it's really an NV27.5 or somewhere in that range in terms of the family. But it doesn't really have an official name so we're settling on the NV2A & calling it a day at that. As you know we upped the CPU & downgraded the GPU recently but we'll still have the three times performance we were shooting for.

Does it have HDTV support?
Yes, via the Xbox High Definition AV pack. This needs to be purchased separately.

Does the Xbox support FSAA & TC?
Support for Full Scene Anti-Aliasing & Texture Compression is a GO for the Xbox. FSAA needs to be seen in motion to be fully appreciated as it eliminates the pixel popping & jagged edges in many of the games on competitor consoles. The first title on the Xbox to use FSAA was Azurik.

Is FSAA be performed in hardware or software?
It is performed all in Hardware.

Is the GeForce 4 faster than the Xbox GPU?
Yes it is, but only by a little. You also have to take into consideration that the GeForce 4 is going to be run on the graphic intensive Windows systems so the performance still may not reach that of the Xbox.

Does The Xbox support Pal 60 in the UK?
Yes! There is an option to have Pal 60 in the Xbox Dashboard. This basically makes it much easier for developers to keep the games at the same speed they were in America (assuming you have TV that supports it), but it is yet again up to the developers to support it - here are the pictures:

The Pal 60 support has both good & bad comments made about it, when the console is set to Pal 60 some games will experience bad frame rate problems, while other games will work fine without any problems at all. So if you experience any frame rate problems, try switching back to Pal 50.

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Video Connectors/Adapters & Output Questions

What AV connectors can be used with the Xbox?

High Definition AV

This console connects the Xbox to high-definition ready televisions that support 480p, 720p, 1080i component video signals, analog audio inputs, &/or digital receivers & contains a TOSlink fiber optic connection. The best type of connection you can get for the Xbox.

Compatible With NTSC Xbox?: Yes
Compatible With PAL Xbox?: Not fully - less video resolution options - 480p 720i 1080i & 1080p are no longer available.

Advanced AV.

This pack works with TVs equipped with AV inputs & S-Video inputs & contains a TOSlink fiber optic connection. Better than both RF & Composite.

Compatible With NTSC Xbox?: Yes
Compatible With PAL Xbox?: Yes

Advanced SCART Cable

The Advanced SCART Cable connects the console to TVs equipped with a SCART input terminal & enables RGB video signals for improved video output. This cable also provides a digital output for use with digital audio receivers. Sound system with Dolby® Digital decoding & a fibre-optic cable required to enable Dolby Digital audio. Better than S-Video, Composite & RF.

Compatible With NTSC Xbox?: Yes
Compatible With PAL Xbox?: Yes

RF Adapter

This adapter connects the Xbox to TVs that do not have audio & video connections. This is the lowest quality cable you can get for the Xbox.

Compatible With NTSC Xbox?: Yes
Compatible With PAL Xbox?: Unknown

Which channel on my TV does the Xbox RF Adapter use?
Channel 3 or 4. This is switchable.

Standard AV Cable

This cable connects to TVs with audio & composite video input terminals. This cable is included with every Xbox.

Compatible With NTSC Xbox?: Yes
Compatible With PAL Xbox?: Yes

Am I able to connect my Xbox to a PC Monitor?
The RGB produced for SCART mode won't work on a PC monitor. While the encoding is compatible, the sync is retrieved from the SCART composite out & is not compatible with most if not all PC monitors.

Are Monster Cables/Other company cables better than the Microsoft ones for the Xbox?
The monster cables are very good & shield out interference, although we would say the difference is hardly noticeable on most televisions. So you will have to make your own judgement on this one.

What kind of optical audio cable should I buy for my Xbox?
Quite simply you only need the cheapest one you can find, you don't need shielding like most video cables do. So go for the cheapest option.

What resolutions does the Xbox support?

Why do some UK games not keep a Widescreen TV in Widescreen mode when they load up, they switch them to 4:3?
The way the DVD-ROM was encoded on start up is the cause of this, some games like Bloodwake, Buffy & Jet Set Radio Future tend to do this. The workaround is to switch the TV back to widescreen via your remote control.

What games support Widescreen?

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Does the Xbox use a CD or DVD drive?
It uses a DVD drive.

Will Xbox play DVD movies?
The Xbox has a DVD drive, but the drive will not be able to play DVD movies without the "Xbox DVD Movie Playback kit".

What does the DVD Movie Playback kit include?
It includes a remote control, & an infared receiver. The receiver is plugged into one of the Xbox controller ports.

Why didn't Microsoft choose to build DVD playback into every Xbox?

Choice
People who are looking to buy an Xbox will not be forced into buying a game console with an added feature that they may not need or want. Many households already have several DVD players to go along with their VCRs, so they may rather pay for a lower costing, streamlined Xbox gaming console. Gamers who do not initially wish to have DVD support are free to change their minds at any later date by simply buying an Xbox DVD expansion kit in the future.

Reduced Cost
Consumers don't want to pay for something they don't want, even if it seems to be a "free" added bonus. The truth of the matter is that if the Xbox had DVD playback capabilities included, the cost of manufacturing the console will be higher, & as a result, the retail price for consumers will be higher than it would be if the DVD add-on was sold separately. For example, if Microsoft was originally aiming for a $299 price point for the Xbox, they could now potentially end up with a suggested price of $249 instead.

Quality
If the DVD playback was included in the console, the chances were good that there would not be a remote control included because of the costs. So, most people who utilized the DVD player often would end up coughing up an upward of $20 for a remote control anyway. With the add-on, the Xbox has comparable playback to that of a high end DVD player.

More Games
Game developers will have more confidence in the potential amount of sales their titles will have on the Xbox because they won't have to worry that a portion of the Xbox install base will be spending their entertainment money on DVD movies rather than games due to the fact that the Xbox doesn't ship with a DVD Player out of the box. In other words, game makers won't have to worry about another "competitor" in the market, allowing them to make more games because they are confident & potentially making more money per game. Secondly, because the Xbox will be cheaper to manufacture & sell for a lower price in the market, there could be more purchasers of the console than if it was priced higher. The larger the customer install base of a console, the more willing publishers are to release games for it since it will yield a greater return.

Does the Xbox's DVD playback support progressive scan?
No & neither does the Playstation 2.

Has progressive scan playback been completely ruled out as a future enhancement?
No. Mr. Allard has stated that there is the possibility of a progressive scan DVD playback module being released in the future.

Does the DVD player output a RGB signal with DVD movies?
Yes - after testing it with a newly release RGB Scart lead - the Xbox does output an RGB signal with DVD Movies & it looks really great.

Is the Xbox DVD player multiregional?
No - but buying the U.S Remote & using it on a UK Xbox DOES play U.S region 1 DVD titles but once the Region 1 infra-red box is put into the UK Xbox, the UK Xbox will ONLY ever play Region 1 titles as it places the code on to the hard-drive.

Does the Xbox play VCD's or SVCD's?
This has not been announced at this time. Probably not.

I burned a CD but the Xbox doesn't recognize it. Is this an anti-piracy feature?
The Xbox's DVD-ROM laser doesn't read all types of media. Most CD-Rs & many CR-RWs can't be read by the Xbox because of simple hardware limitations. This is not a conspiracy.

Can I use a DVD Lens cleaner with the Xbox?
Yes you can, it will work fine.

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What kind of input scheme does it have?
The Xbox has 4 modified USB controllers ports.

What visual differences are there between Xbox & normal USB connectors?
Xbox USB connectors are rounded.

Why did Microsoft choose custom USB controller ports?
Microsoft chose custom shaped USB ports for numerous reasons, the primary being because less-informed consumers would be tempted to plug other USB peripherals such as scanners/webcams into the Xbox. Additionally, the plug for normal USB ports is too easy to accidentally detach, & would result in many gamers ripping their controller plugs out of the USB ports during intense gaming sessions. Furthermore, a custom USB port ensures that all Xbox controllers are pre-approved by Microsoft, to ensure that each 3rd party controller is bug-free, has its quality match a certain level & is 100% compatible with Xbox. Lastly, normal USB doesn't provide the amount of power required to supply the Xbox controller & its built-in force feedback feature.

Is there any chance of getting a USB to Xbox USB converter or vice versa?
Is there any chance of getting a USB to Xbox USB converter or vice versa? Possibly, although no companies have released any at this current time.

What do the controllers look like?
The Xbox controller has two analog sticks, one directional pad, two trigger buttons, two expansion slots, six game buttons, & two navigational buttons. All buttons have 8-bit accuracy, meaning that the pressure which you apply to them is measured to a factor of eight. However, the controller comes in both a US & Japanese configuration, the only difference being the layout of the buttons & size of the overall controller.

What is the different between the US & Japanese game controllers?

The Japanese controller is considerably smaller than US game controller. The black & white buttons have been moved from the upper right of the controller to the lower right palm grip. The navigational "Back" & "Start" buttons have been moved from the centre of the controller to towards the left palm grip.

How accurate are the buttons on the controller?
The six analog buttons (white, black, yellow, red, blue, & green) have 256 degrees of accuracy. The directional pad is eight-way (left, right, up, down, & all diagonals)

How long are the Xbox controller cords?
2.9 meters (9.5 feet).

Does the Xbox controller have force-feedback?
Yes. Two vibration feedback motors are built into the controller. Since force-feedback is included by default, gamers can expect more of their games to be force-feedback enabled.

Is there a lightgun for the Xbox?
Yes.

Are Wireless controllers available?
Yes! Logitech and Mad Catz both have them out now.

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What is the Xbox dashboard?
The dashboard is a menu which will allow you to modify various Xbox settings (sound type, language, clock time), rip your music CD's onto the hard drive, play CD's & DVD's, & manage your saved games.

How can I access the Xbox dashboard?
The dashboard appears when you turn the Xbox on without a game in the drive.

How do I get Dolby Digital output from my Xbox?
In order to get Dolby Digital output from both games & DVD movies, you need to first purchase either the Advanced or High Definition AV pack. These two packs have an optical connector that is required for digital output.

I bought the Advanced or High Definition AV pack, but I still don't get Dolby Digital output.
Boot the Xbox without a game in it to launch the Xbox Dashboard. Once you're in the Dash, select Settings, then Audio. You should see options for both Dolby Digital & DTS. Select whichever of these encoded formats your receiver supports & choose 'yes'.

I bought the AV pack & went into the Dash, but I only see mono/stereo/surround. Where are DD & DTS?
There are issues with some 3rd-party AV packs that prevent the Xbox from recognizing them properly. If you have an optical-out on your AV pack, but don't see the DD or DTS options in the Dash, exchange your AV pack for a Microsoft Advanced or High Definition AV pack.

I have the right AV pack & Dolby Digital is enabled, but I get no sound or broken sound. If I disable Dolby Digital or use the RCA audio outputs instead of the optical, everything sounds OK.
There may be a manufacturing defect with some Xbox audio chips. Microsoft is in the process of investigating this. If you are having the above problem, call Xbox technical support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX.

Is it true that the boxes build in Mexico have the audio problem?
Currently, there is no data pointing to a plant-specific manufacturing defect.

How do I get DTS output from games?
You don't. The Xbox only supports real-time encoding of Dolby Digital data. DTS is supported for DVDs only.

I have a DTS receiver & I'm getting surround sound from my games. Are you sure DTS isn't supported?
If you have the Dash set to output Dolby Surround data, you will hear sound from both your center channel & rear speakers, but it's not DTS nor Dolby Digital.

I have a receiver that can decode Dolby ProLogic. How do I enable this?
Dolby Surround is commonly called Dolby ProLogic by receiver manufacturers. They are the same thing. If you enable surround in the Dash audio settings, you will get st&ard Dolby Surround/ProLogic data.

There's information about Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround & DTS. I have a 5.1 receiver. Where's my section?
Dolby Digital is commonly referred to as 5.1 or AC3. They're not the same thing, but are often used interchangeably.

What is the MCP (or, MCPX)?
The MCP is the Media Communications Processor of the Xbox. To quote the nVidia press release,

"...at the heart of the MCPX, is a pair of high performance multimedia DSPs, executing up to 4 billion operations per second. This is equivalent to the multimedia processing power of a high performance Pentium III. The processing power of MCPX will enable the Xbox to produce theatre quality 3D audio & super realistic 3D sound effects, while connecting to the broadband Internet for networked games. The MCPX is manufactured in advanced 0.15um 7 layer metal process & is the second NVIDIA processor to be featured in Xbox. The combination of NVIDIA's Xbox GPU & MCP will produce never-before-experienced 3D graphics, high definition video, audio, & broadband capabilities. The awesome technology inside Xbox will enable a major leap in videogame experience..."

How is the MCP different from my sound card in my computer?
Sound & music in the Xbox isn't created by just a standalone chip like in the PC. Sound & music is powered by the Xbox's MCP (Media Communications Processor), which handles several other tasks, including sound & input/output.

Any comments on the Xbox sound quality?.
As has been displayed & demonstrated numerous times before, Microsoft are aiming for a high quality audio in the Xbox, stating that it will have 256 simultaneous audio channels, 3D positional audio (through DirectSound), & Dolby AC3 audio encoding for crisp DVD theatre-type sound.

Can the MCPX do Dolby Surround?
Yes. Dolby Surround is trivial to implement. Early Sound Blaster Live! Value supported Dolby Surround.

Can the MCPX decode Dolby Digital?
Yes.

Can the MCPX decode Dolby Digital in realtime?
Yes.

What else can the MCPX allow for?
The MCPX allows for playback of audio files from the hard-drive. Allard stated that gamers can create their own game soundtracks on the Xbox hard-drive using their favorite CD audio tracks. MP3 playback is also available.

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How do I play music CD's on my Xbox?
Simple - just place the CD into your Xbox and the CD will start to play for you thanks to the Xbox Music Manager.

What format is ripped media stored in on the Xbox?
128 kbps, 16-bit stereo WMA.

How many hours of music can my Xbox hold?
Just over 73 hours worth if you really wanted to.

I burned a CD but the Xbox doesn't recognize it. Is this an anti-piracy feature?
The Xbox's DVD-ROM laser doesn't read all types of media. Most CD-Rs & many CR-RWs can't be read by the Xbox because of simple hardware limitations. This is not a conspiracy.

How do I play my ripped MP3s or WMAs on the Xbox.
The Xbox does not directly support playback of MP3 or WMA files from CD. To transfer ripped music to the Xbox you will need to burn a Redbook CD-R or CD-RW & re-rip the tracks from the Xbox.

The Xbox is supposed to support custom soundtracks, but I can't figure out how to play them in some of my games.
Custom soundtracks are a feature that each game chooses whether or not to support. If you don't see an option to play a custom soundtrack, it's probably because the game doesn't support them.

Can I copy music to a memory card?
No it won't work.

What CD-R's don't work in the Xbox?

What games support custom soundtracks so far?
The following games have been confirmed to support your own music in the game:

• Amped
• Conflict Desert Storm
• Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
• Dead or Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball
• 4x4 Evolution (EVO)
• Fusion Frenzy
• Gun Metal
• Legends of Wrestling
• Midtown Madness 3
• MotoGP
• Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
• NHL Hitz 2002 (in menus only)
• Project Gotham Racing
• Quantum Redshift
• Rallisport Challenge
• SegaGT 2002
• Splashdown
• State of Emergency
• Steel Battalion
• Test Drive
• Tetris Worlds
• Tony Hawk
• Toxic Grind
• Transworld Snowboarding
• Transworld Surf
• World Championship Pool 2004

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How many blocks does the hard drive actually have on the Xbox?
Just over 300,000 (and yes, we have tested it).

Do I have to defragment the Xbox hard drive?
No. You don't need to. The Xbox hard drive has separate partitions for cache, music etc & there is no need to defragment the drive ever, period.

Does the hard drive slow down when filled up with information?
No. We have tried this - there is no slowdown or loss of performance when the drive is full.

Can I run programs from the hard drive?
Content downloaded from Xbox Live resides on the hard drive, but in most cases, the game disk is needed to access and use the downloaded content.

Does this mean that games will be able to have patches released to fix problems?
Games that are not online based will NOT have downloadable patches, this has been confirmed by Microsoft & by developers themselves who have been informed that they are not allowed to do so. For online releases, patches are likely due to cheating & progressive new features.

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Yes. You can use normal Ethernet cabling, or the Microsoft-endorsed "system link" cabling.

Instead of dragging your tower & monitor to a LAN party, you could just bring along the compact Xbox console, hook it up to one of the numerous hubs in the house, set up the network, & you're ready for an intense fragging session. This will be entirely possible with the Xbox. J. Allard has also commented about how Xbox owners will be able to have "LAN parties" with their Xbox's.

Am I able to check e-mail & surf the internet?
No. Microsoft has stated that the Xbox is a gaming machine only & there will be no internet enabled browser released. The only browsing style system on the Xbox will be for the online gaming site.

Can I use any Cat5 UTP cabling, or do I have to use special Microsoft endorsed cabling?
No, you can use your own Cat5 UTP cabling to network Xbox's.

Does everyone who plays over a LAN need a copy of the game we play?
You will need a copy of the game for each networked Xbox to play against your friends.

Can it be networked with a PC?
Here's a quote from none other than Bill Gates:

"You've got the familiarity of the Windows API set, the DirectX extensions where we build off of DirectX 8. The familiarity of the X-86 type CPU. So you'll be able to share work between the PC & the Xbox"

Can PAL & NTSC boxes be connected together to play a game, say like Halo?
No, in our tests this did not work as the frame rates are different so game developers are starting to use different ports.

Does the Xbox have a 56k modem option?
No, a 56k modem will not be available. Microsoft does not want its online userbase forked into "High Speed" & "Low Speed" customers. To quote J. Allard himself,

"We have designed the Xbox without any compromises. We put in as much memory as we can afford, we will have the most bad ass GPU on the market year 2001, we have a great CPU, we have four controller ports & a hard drive. So why should we use yesterdays modem technology?"

Can I play my friends online with my Xbox?
Although it is not officially supported by Microsoft, two applications have been released by third-party developers which allow Xbox owners to play "System Link"-enabled games over the internet.

The "GameSpy Arcade" & "GameSpy Tunnel Software" is available from http://www.gamespyarcade.com/support/tunnel_xbox.shtml. It acts as a two-way tunnel for you to play your Xbox applications through.

The application "XboxGW", available at http://www.xboxgw.com/, is a Linux application which acts as an internet gateway for your Xbox.

On a slightly more official note, Bungie (the creators of Halo), have written a short howto concerning online Halo play.

What is Tsunami?
Tsunami is the code name given for the latest (as of Spring 2004) update to Xbox Live. As with all updates so far, this new code is free and automatically downloaded to XBL-connected boxes. Tsunami provides several new features, including in-game clan/team support, user-configurable tournaments, voice notes with game invites, limited MSN Messenger integration, and more. Detailed information is available at www.xbox.com.

It is important to note that none of these features will be visible in older games. Only new games, developed when the Tsunami API's were released, will be able to take advantage of Tsunami's features.

The first games to take advantage of this change will be released in Summer 2004.

Can I use a modified Xbox on Xbox Live?
No currently you can not, at least not without swapping the chips over or flicking a switch that came with your mod.

Can I use something other than the Xbox Communicator to talk and listen online?
Yes you can use any headset you want to. If you would prefer to listen through your TV speakers you can change to that option when playing some Xbox Live! games too.

Xbox Live! Links:

• Microsoft Xbox Live page
• Xbox Sports Network (XSN) (defunct as of 3/04)
• Microsoft's list of compatible routers
• Xbox Live Discussion forum at Xbox.com
• Gamertag Database

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Can anyone develop for the Xbox?
Microsoft has stated that they will be in charge of "Quality Control", & for a game to pass QC & receive the Xbox stamp-of-approval, it will have to pass many rigorous tests to ensure that it is a bug-free quality product. Quality Control has been implemented to stop mediocre games from ever coming to the Xbox.

Updated February 8th 2002: Despite this quality control a number of mediocre game releases have made it to the Xbox, so much for quality control eh?

Which developers have been confirmed?
A list of over 150 Xbox developers who have been confirmed for Xbox development can be found at GorillaX.

Does Microsoft develop games for the Xbox?
Yes. Microsoft is bringing all its successful gaming franchises to the Xbox.

Why are hordes of developers flocking to the Xbox?
Developers have been praising the ease of developing for the PC as compared to consoles. The Xbox uses DirectX API's & an x86 CPU which are no doubt familiar to thousands of coders around the world. Coders will not have to learn how to program a custom-made CPU when programming for Xbox, as they will have to with the PlayStation2 or to a lesser extent, the Gamecube.

Does this mean there are a lot of straight ports to Xbox?
Yes. Microsoft has emphasized that it has strict quality control in regards to game development, to try to prevent mediocre games but so far this hasn't happened as there have been many below par games release.

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Where can I read reviews of the latest Xbox games?
There are various sites on the internet like outs at ActiveXbox or IGN/Gamespot.

What is the one title that really stands out above the rest on the Xbox?
If you are looking for graphics & gameplay it has to be Halo, the original main console game, but in 2004 games really started to make headway on the Xbox with two stand out titles - firstly "Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay" showed us both fantastic graphics (better than Halo) and some great, if short gameplay. Doom 3 has also showed just how far the Xbox can be pushed.

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Can I stand my Xbox on its side?
No.

I saw a translucent green Xbox. Are these available for retail purchase?
No, translucent green Xbox's are debug kits. You can see pictures of them here.

I saw a translucent black Xbox. Are these available for retail purchase?
Yes, but only in Japan. They are however available on import at various stores in both the US & Europe, but remember that they will only play Japan's NTSC-J game titles.

I saw a large silver Xbox, shaped as an X. Are these available for retail purchase?
No, these were simply housings for prototype units, before the official Xbox design was released.

Is there a crystal Xbox available?
Yes, in Europe as a special edition - it came out in March 2004.

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Can the Xbox play Dreamcast games?
No.

Can Xbox games be playable on the PC?
No. Only if the titles are ported over.

Does the Xbox overheat?
No - not unless you decide to cover up the air vents

Can PC games be played on the Xbox?
No. Only if the titles are ported over.

Does it have a hand-held counterpart?
No, but Microsoft "PocketPC 2003" powered handheld computers are quite capable of emulating Nintendo's Gameboy & Gameboy Advance and some early PC titles.

One site reported 128mb in the Xbox, is that true?
No. But there is a spare 64mb memory slot on the Xbox motherboard.

Can I install Linux on my Xbox?
Not without a mod chip.

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The X-Launch

What was the launch date of the Xbox?
The Xbox was released on the stroke of midnight, in Times Square on November the 15th, 2001.

What was the launch price of the Xbox in America?
The confirmed Xbox launch price was $299. But it was later reduced to $199 about 7 months after release.  It is now at $179.

How many Xbox's were available at launch?
There were 600,000 to 800,000 Xbox's available at launch.

Was it a worldwide launch?
In order to avoid Sony's product stocking problem, launch dates for Xbox were staggered for North America, Asia, Europe, & Oceania.

When did the Xbox launch in Europe?
March 14th 2002 at £299 with games at £44.99. A month later in Europe the price was reduced to £199 due to lack of sales.

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What other accessories does it have?
Many third party accessories, ranging from racing wheels to snowboards. You can see these accessories at http://www.xbox.com/Hardware/.

Is there a  Memory Card?
Yes. The basic memory card is 8mb. It isn't vital to get one like on the Playstation though as games & settings are stored on the Xbox hard drive too.

Are there any third parties licensed to produce Xbox compatible memory cards?
Yes, Mad Catz Corporation, and a few others.

What is Unified Memory?
Think of unified memory as "communal showers". All the Xbox components will be able to dynamically share this memory. Dynamic means that the  developer can decide how much memory to allocate to certain tasks. In contrast, the Playstation 2 has a dedicated 4 MB of VRAM which is being criticized as a limiting factor in its graphics rendering.

Where is it  made?
Microsoft has outsourced their Xbox production plans to Flextronics.

How will the antitrust verdict affect the Xbox?
It won't.

If I import the Xbox to the U.K/Europe what do I need to get to make it run?
You MUST get a step-down transformer (200 Watt), available from most electrical stores. If you don't there is a very high chance that you will genuinely blow up the system.

Can the UK Xbox play US Xbox games & vice-versa?
Unfortunately, no unless modified, the North American box will only play North American games. The regional encoding is set when it passes through certification & in to the authorized replicators. North American Xbox systems will only play NTSC games, Japanese boxes will play NTSC-J games & Europe & the rest of the PAL territories will only play games marked with the PAL symbol.

You get the following error if you try to

The first ever mod-chip for the Xbox has been completed & in current testing it plays both UK & US games on one Xbox when chipped.

What does the Xbox logo look like?
Just like this...

Is it true that MAME was ported to the Xbox?
Yes, but only on a Xbox development kit. MAME is not available for the retail Xbox. For more information, visit http://www.otakunozoku.com/xbox/

I thought I saw a screenshots of the Xbox crash!

It's not a picture of an Xbox crashing, it's a picture of an XDK (Xbox Development Kit) not loading an executable correctly.

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• AA - Anti-aliasing
• API - Application Programming Interface
• AV - Audio/Visual
• CD - Compact Disc
• CPU - Central Processing Unit
• DD5.1 - Dolby Digital 5.1
• DSP - Digital Signal Processor
• DVD - Digital Versatile Disc
• E3 - Electronic Entertainment Expo
• FF - Final Fantasy
• FSAA - Full Screen Anti-aliasing
• GCN - Nintendo GameCube
• GF - GeForce
• GPU - Graphics Processing Unit
• GTA3 - Gr& Theft Auto 3
• HDD - Hard Disk Drive
• MCP - Media Communications Processor
• HDTV - High Definition TV
• MGS - Metal Gear Solid
• MS - Microsoft
• MSFT - Microsoft
• NGC - Nintendo GameCube
• OS - Operating System
• P3 - PentiumIII
• PSO - Phantasy Star Online
• PSOne - PlayStation (original)
• PS2 - PlayStation2
• PSX - PlayStation (original)
• RAM - R&om Access Memory
• SDK - Software Development Kit
• TC - Texture Compression
• TL - Texture & Lighting
• TGS - Tokyo Gaming Show
• USB - Universal Serial Bus
• XBL - Xbox Live!
• XDK - Xbox Development Kit

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The X Men

J Allard
General Manager for the Xbox Platform.

As General Manager for the Xbox platform, J focuses on empowering the world's best game developers with the services, libraries, tools & support to create intense, action-packed experiences for gamers. J's group is responsible for building the operating system, creating the development libraries, producing development kits, adding networked functionality & supplying technical support to the development community. As the head of the Third Party Relations team J also manages the title portfolio for Xbox working with publishers on world-class titles from concept approval through launch.

During his nine years with the company, Allard has been a major influence on Microsoft's Internet strategies. He joined the company out of college in 1991 & drove the company's TCP/IP networking strategy, defining the key APIs for Internet computing & working with the IETF to develop several industry standards to drive widespread adoption of TCP/IP & the Worldwide Web. Prior to joining the Xbox team as General Manager, Allard helped establish the strategy for Microsoft's .NET initiative.

At the end of 1999, J decided to return to his computing roots - video games. An avid gamer, J has owned over 20 game consoles starting with Pong & Oddessy which sparked his interest in computing. When an Atari 2600 appeared one Christmas morning he became permanently addicted to what would eventually become his career.

Robert J. Bach
Senior Vice President Games Division
Chief Xbox Officer (CXO)

As senior vice president of Microsoft's Games Division & Chief Xbox Officer (CXO), Robbie Bach directs a division that is committed to delivering the most realistic, intense & action-packed game experiences to gamers. In his role as "CXO", Robbie is responsible for managing Microsoft's entire Xbox effort including the teams that drive hardware, third-party games development, games development published under the Microsoft label, Xbox operations, marketing, research, sales, & support.

Under Bach's leadership, Xbox has been enthusiastically embraced by the games industry. The world's top game companies have committed to Xbox, including more than 170 third-party publishers & developers.

Before coming to Microsoft, Bach was a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley & Company. He holds a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of North Carolina & a master's in business administration from Stanford University.

Sandy Duncan
VP Xbox, Europe, Middle East & Africa Microsoft Corporation

As the VP responsible for the Xbox in Europe, Middle East & Africa, Sandy Duncan's current remit not only includes managing all aspects of the Xbox business but also managing the sales of all MS home products throughout these regions.

Sandy took up the challenge of the Xbox business in 2000 & since then one of his most important tasks has been recruiting & building a strong team capable of being successful in the video games arena. Readily admitting that his own keen interest in video games simply adds to the excitement of his position at Xbox, he is looking forward to the challenge of launching Xbox successfully in these regions.

Following his graduation from Aberdeen University with a degree in Psychology (MA Hons), Sandy first worked at BT for two years, moving to Hewlett Packard in 1984 where he spent another two years. It was from Hewlett Packard that he joined the Microsoft Corporation in December 1986, holding various positions within the MS OEM division until 1995, when he was appointed European OEM Director. Moving to Paris in early 1998 to work in Microsoft's European HQ, Sandy held channel positions & Small & Medium Enterprise positions until he took up the Xbox baton in 2000.

Born in 1960 in Dundee, Scotland, Sandy now lives in Hertfordshire, supports Arsenal FC & still plays too many video games.

Michel Cassius
Director of Publishing, Xbox Europe Microsoft Corporation

As Director of Publishing for Xbox Europe, Cassius' role is to build upon the extensive roster of third-party publishers developing games for Xbox. As well as developing new partnerships, Cassius is a senior-level contact point for publishers within the Xbox team, helping to ensure great creative output as well as maximising profit potential for third parties. He leads the European 3rd party account manager team in supporting Xbox publishing partners as well as managing Microsoft's Advanced Technology Group (ATG) in Europe & heading up the Xbox certification function.

Cassius brings years of entertainment & video game industry experience to the Xbox team, joining in September 2001 from Electronic Arts (EA) where he started EA.com Europe, EA's on-line gaming business. Cassius was responsible for developing the strategy & rolling out the business in the major European territories, & was a member of EA's European executive team.

Cassius was previously Business Development Director for EA Europe. He joined to build EA's Affiliated Labels business in Europe & was promoted to manage EA's New Businesses division. In both of these roles he developed strong relationships with major games publishers & other key players in the entertainment industry.

Before joining EA, Cassius was Marketing & Sales Manager, Apple Computer France. His key accomplishments were launching Apple's successful Apple Consumer Products division, significantly increasing Apple's market share in the consumer sector, & launching Apple's multimedia business in France.

Cassius has also worked as a journalist & communications consultant for Radio France & Reuters, among others. He holds a Masters Degree from the Sorbonne in Journalism & completed master classes in business, finance & strategy from the London Business School.

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ActiveXbox.com Questions

Any job openings at ActiveXbox.com?
Yes, please contact bobstein@activewin.com

Who was this FAQ written by, & where can I send any comments, corrections, or suggestions?
It is written by Paul Douglas of MSXBOX.com & by Byron Hinson of ActiveXbox. You can e-mail Byron at byron@activewin.com.

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The Xbox Timeline

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