XBOX Review
Today it came. You guessed right: XBOX! Billed as either the next big thing in Console Gaming or Microsoft’s Big Mistake depending on who you talk to. I will say one thing its big! At the size of a VCR and weighing in at over 8 lbs the Xbox is the heftiest console on the market. What’s included in that box is quite impressive.
· An Intel 750 MHz chip
· A 233 MHz proprietary Nvidia video card (origionally announced to be 300 then 250 MHz (based on the Geoforce3) capable of pushing 100-125 million (that’s right million) polygons per second
· 64 MB of memory
· An 8 GB hard drive (for saving games without a memory card and ripping your own CDs for custom soundtracks, although 8MB memory cards are available)
· A Network ready interface that allows broadband access (not yet supported) as well as networking of up to 4 systems together for multiplayer games with 4 separate TV sets (allowing up to 16 players to play simultaneously)
· A DVD/CD Player (a $40 add-on remote is required for DVD playback)
· Digital Audio (optical cable and HDTV package required) with Dolby and DTS 5.1 Digital both supported (5.1 means speakers in the following locations Center, Left Front, Right Front, Right Rear, Left Rear, and a subwoofer)
· HDTV compatible with a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 interlaced lines ($20 component out package required and no HDTV games out yet)
· One Controller
· No games (none of the next generation systems include a game)

Out of the box setup is quick and easy. I used the Component video cables for my HDTV and Digital Audio setup. You simply plug the cable in the back of the Box and match colors for the video. You must then connect the optical cable from you receiver to the HDTV Xbox video controller box. The setup menu involves setting the time, audio output mode (mono, stereo, digital, as well as DTS support if present (more important for movie playback than games right now)), and the video output (this is slightly more involved than other systems). You must tell the Xbox a few things about your TV to make it work properly and take advantage of your sets capabilities. First you must specify screen dimensions as 4:3 (standard), 4:3 letterboxed (like movies) or 16:9 (widescreen). Then you must tell it whether your TV accepts one or more of three hires modes (480p, 720p, or 1080i). All HDTV’s will accept either 1080i or 720p. After this you’re ready to go.

Gimme Some Game

Right from the get go the Xbox’s WoW! Factor is impressive. Dolby Digital Audio in 5.1 is nothing short of amazing! In Football games the crowd noise is enveloping, air horns go off from certain corners of the field, and your linemen bark out audibles to each other in full surround. When playing HALO my subwoofer shakes the ground as grenades explode and firefights erupt over my left shoulder. Having never tried 5.1 surround sound on a computer the immersion was more than I could have ever expected.

The video output of the Xbox while very impressive remains one of the more confusing specs, especially for those with HDTV’s. While all of the games will fill a 16:9 screen the way that they accomplish this varies from game to game. Most games simply stretch and distort the 4:3 picture while a few such as Dead or Alive 3 and Madden NFL 2002 will convert to a “True” 16:9 image. The other confusing point is with lines of resolution. While the Xbox supports 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i there are currently no HDTV games available (1080i or 720p). This means that even with an HDTV the best resolution you’ll see is 480p. Don’t get me wrong, this is a vast improvement for Big Screens over PS2’s 480i. There are no flickers in the screen at all, no stair stepping lines, and no repainting; but I can’t wait until the first true 16:9 HDTV game with DTS 5.1 comes out. It will truly be amazing (there are none on the horizon as far as I know). For those with even the biggest 4:3 sets the picture will be extremely satisfying. It is also important to note that while games can output 480p DVD playback is limited to 480i. Like many of these issues this is only important to you if you have an HDTV in which case the Xbox is unlikely to be your dedicated DVD player. Colors with component cables are very precise and well saturated. On my fairly well calibrated set dark scenes (as in HALO) show good shadow detail.

Another stong point of the Xbox is game load times. They are significantly faster than PS2. I'm not sure if this has to do with utilizing the hard drive, extra memory, the DVD storage medium, or a faster DVD drive. All I know is that load time for games with phenominal graphics (HALO) are very quick.

The Controllers are well thought out. They feel like a blend between the PS2 controllers and the old Nintendo 64 controllers. There are two thumb sticks one for the left and one for the right. Both are pressure sensitive. There is a trigger under each finger as well as a D-pad on the left. Action buttons are present on the top right. There are 4 laid out in a diamond shape with 2 additional buttons on the very top right. These top two can sometimes be hard to reach, and I often hit my top “Diamond” button when trying to push the very top row. Control is precise and tight. A built-in vibration pack is also present.

One of the nice Features of the Xbox is that extras other vendors make optional with one notable exception are built-in to the Xbox. You get an 8 MB hard drive (no need for memory cards), network-ready adaptor (for both Xbox to Xbox games as well as future Broadband games), and 4 controller ports. The big exception is the exclusion of built-in DVD control. You can’t play DVD’s until you buy the optional playback pack that includes an infrared adaptor and remote control. I can only guess that this was done to avoid the selling of Xboxes as cheap DVD players as experienced by Sony with the PS2. The most impressive application of this involves multiplayer games such as HALO (a first-person shooter). By linking 4 Xboxes together you can play with up to 16 players simultaneously. You will of course have to have 16 friends, 4 Xboxes, 16 controllers, Xbox network cable ($18 a piece), 4 televisions big enough to see a four-way split screen, room for everyone and everything, and last but certainly not least a significant other that would allow such a festival to take place in their home. What does all of this mean to you? It means that when developers make new games they will not be developing for multiply audiences (those with the network adaptor and those without, or those with online capabilities and those without, etc). They will simply be developing for the Xbox and its user base. This should translate to better titles for everyone.

Speaking of Titles: what about the current and upcoming titles for the Xbox. While they will likely never have the depth of the PS (PlayStation) line or the favorite characters of Nintendo Microsoft has secured a fairly strong lineup right out of the gate. HALO is arguably the prettiest game available on a console, and Dead or Alive 3 (a true 16:9 game) is simply gorgeous on a widescreen TV. Other titles that cross over platforms include the EA sports line as well as titles from Lucas Arts who seem to develop platform specific titles for each system out there. Obi-Wan is the upcoming Xbox release from Lucas Arts and it looks very promising. A note to parents of kids younger than 13 or so: the Xbox is a teen to adult system. Don’t expect many titles that you’d want you younger kids playing. If you’re looking for a system for the younger crowd a Nintendo Gamecube may be more in line.

On this note: (Zoom in on Jason climbing onto his soapbox) Parents please take a look at the games that your kids play. There are dozens of games on the market that glorify and reward killing (some of my favorites I might add, but I’m 31). If your child is not of a suitable maturity for such games don’t let him/her play them. If you would not allow your child to watch an R-rated action film with killing why would you allow him/her to be actively engaged in the simulated killing of others? Thanks. (Zoom out as Jason falls while climbing off of his soapbox)

Title Quality and not Quantity will definitely be one of the keys to success for Microsoft and the Xbox. I will have individual title reviews out shortly.

Conclusions:

If shear pixel-pushing power alone were the end all be all of a game system the Xbox would win hands down. This however is not the case. A great system will falter without great titles. The Xbox has a few right now, but needs to build on this library if it is to succeed.

So who should buy it?

1. A home theater junkie looking for the sexiest system for their HDTV.
2. Anyone over age 13 looking to replace their aging system.
3. Anyone who has to have it all.

Who should wait?
1. Those with young kids. Get a Gamecube instead (they are $100 less and have many many more titles for kids).
2. Current PS2 owners. Wait and see how the Xbox titles flesh out. The system is more powerful, but now worth the extra bucks if you have the PS2 already.
3. Anyone worried about plunking $500 (system, games, and extras) on a system that may not (but almost certainly will) succeed (they may even crush their competitors in the process). Sounds like Microsoft huh?
4. Anyone sick of lining Bill Gate’s pants pockets with their hard-earned cash.

In my opinion as a guy that has to have it all this is THE system to own right now. Good Luck finding one right now. As of this writing (11/18/01) nearly everyone is sold out.

Update: 12/20/01

You can now play all Systemlink games (This currently includes Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X, Nascar Heat, and Halo) via the internet on Gamespy.com. This allows you to with or against a nearly unlimited number of people via the interenet. You can play alone at home or with others on your system against the same configurations on other's systems. This allows true team tactics as your "team" can all be side by side on the same set.

What you need: All the Xbox requirements plus a broadband access with a network hub. Gamespy Arcade and Gamespy Tunnel software (downloadable at Gamespy.com). Your computer connects you to the net and you then hook your Xbox to your PC through the network hub. There is supposedly a Mac version in the works. A word of warning this is a very data intesive operation. Only broadband connections can use this, and there are no plans for standard modems in the future (these are by the way the same requirements for the upcoming Xbox gaming network). 1200 B/sec are recommended transfer speeds, and a higher end PC is recommended too; I'd say a 1Ghz system or higher.

When all things are working well you have one hell of a good time on your hands. I often ran into problems when more than 3 players were trying to play with me as the host (due mainly to my PIII 650 MHz processor I think). You will also have problems if you have firewalls around your network or system. If you want to host games you'll have to disable them. When the setup runs well it's the most enjoyable FPS online experience I've had with Halo.

I'm upgrading my review to Excellent!

Recommended: Yes