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Xbox FAQ Version 1.2
Written by Evan Wojtanek (EMSOX)
Created on: 2-2-02
Last update on: 3-12-02
http://emsox.tripod.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gamefaqsusers
=============================================================
Contents
-----------------
1. Xbox Console
-----------------
Xbox Timeline
About the Xbox
Xbox Specifications
Dashboard
General Care
Hard Drive
LAN Play
Special Edition Xbox
Japanese Xbox
European Xbox
-----------------
2. Xbox Games
-----------------
Launch Games
Online Games
Games with music support
-----------------
3. Peripherals
-----------------
Memory Cards
Controllers
Cables
DVD Kit
Voice communication headset
-----------------
4. Other Information
-----------------
Frequently Asked Questions
Codes/Secrets
Websites
Contact me
Misc.
=============================================================
*****************
1. Xbox Console
*****************
-----------------
Xbox Timeline
-----------------
October 1999: First developers signed off
December 21st 1999: Xbox general specs officially signed off by Bill Gates and
sent to developers
February 2000: New secret third party developers meeting held in Seattle
March 6th 2000: Microsoft goes with NVidia for the Xbox graphics engine
March 9th 2000: Bill Gates officially announces the "XBox" on CNBC
March 10th 2000: Bill Gates announces "Xbox" at the GDC and in Japan
May 15th 2000: The Xbox processor speed increases to 733MHz
June 2nd 2000: First screenshot of a prototype Xbox system is released
unofficially
November 7, 2000: Microsoft chooses Seagate as hard drive manufacturer
January 6, 2001: Xbox is unveiled at CES
October 2001: Preview units begin to arrive in stores
November 15th 2001: Official North American launch
February 22nd 2002: Official Japanese launch
March 14th 2002: Official European launch
-----------------
About the Xbox
-----------------
The Xbox is Microsoft's first video game console. At a cost of $300, it is a
bargain when compared to the PS2, but $100 more than the Gamecube. The Xbox is
larger than the PS2 and Gamecube, but it's not really a big deal. Featuring four
controller ports, an 8 GB hard drive, and ethernet port, the Xbox is ready for
the future of gaming. Games are stored on 9 GB DVD9 discs, which give developers
room to make massive worlds. The Xbox is the most powerful console currently
available with the best graphics, and brightest outlook for online gaming, due
to the built in hard drive and the broadband only strategy that Microsoft is
following. Finally, lag should be no issue with online console gaming. About
time!
-----------------
Xbox Specifications
-----------------
CPU: Intel Pentium III 733-MHz processor technology with streaming SIMD
extensions
Graphics processor: 233-MHz, custom-designed X-Chip, developed by Microsoft and
Nvidia
Total memory: 64MB of RAM (unified memory architecture)
Memory bandwidth: 6.4GB/second
Polygon performance: 150M/sec
Sustained polygon performance (full features): 100M/sec
Particle performance: 150M/sec
Simultaneous textures: 4
Pixel fill rate, no textures: 4.8 G/sec (anti-aliased)
Pixel fill rate, one texture: 4.8 G/sec (anti-aliased)
Pixel fill rate, two textures: 4.8 G/sec (anti-aliased)
Compressed textures: Yes (6:1)
Full scene anti-alias: Yes
Storage medium: 2X to 5X DVD, 8GB hard disk
I/O: Four game controller ports, Ethernet (10/100)
Audio channels: 256, AC3 encoded game audio
3D audio support: Yes
Midi/DLS2 support: Yes
Broadband enabled: Yes
Modem enabled: No
DVD movie playback: Yes
Gamepad included: Yes
Maximum resolution: 1920x1080
Maximum resolution (2x32bpp frame buffers + Z): 1920x1080
HDTV support: Yes
-----------------
Dashboard
-----------------
After becoming familiar with the Xbox GUI (graphical user interface), I can
safely say that it is the most user-friendly console GUI ever created. What
Microsoft calls the "dashboard", you use it to change various settings, manage
your game saves, and to rip songs off of CDs and play them.
Memory:
This is where you can view all your data on the hard drive and memory cards. The
first screen tells you the total amount of data, and how much is left. After you
make your selection, it will show all your game saves and song tracks sorted
alphabetically, and grouped by the game.
Music:
Go here to copy music off your CD collection onto the hard drive. After you rip
the songs, you can also manage your playlists and listen to the music too.
Settings:
Change all the main settings for you Xbox here. Clock, language, audio, video,
parental control, and the auto-off feature are all available to mess around
with. You can also view the system info here.
-----------------
General Care
-----------------
Here are some things you should remember when using your Xbox:
1. Always have it plugged into a surge protector.
2. Do not use it on the carpet. You should always place it on a clean, hard,
flat surface.
3. Never place anything heavy on top of the Xbox.
4. Avoid spilling anything in or near your Xbox.
5. Always make sure to use officially licensed peripherals for your Xbox. Using
unlicensed stuff can void your warranty, and may damage the actual console.
6. Avoid blocking off ventilation, which may cause your Xbox to overheat. Keep
the air vents and the fan unobstructed by several centimeters. Do not use near a
heat source.
7. Only use a clean, dry cloth to clean your Xbox. If you must, only use water,
do not use other cleaning solvents.
8. Never let your Xbox fall. There are very delicate parts inside that can be
damaged.
9. The Xbox seams to be very sensitive when it comes to reading discs. Try to
keep your games and DVD's scratch free.
10. Do not leave discs inside the Xbox for extended periods of time.
Remember to read the manual that came with your Xbox to avoid other
complications!
-----------------
Hard Drive
-----------------
The Xbox is the first game console to ever come with a built in hard drive. This
is a great feature that they added, which allows many different possible uses.
And unlike the PS2, since every Xbox has the hard drive, every game can utilize
it somehow. A great feature built in, is where you can save games on the hard
drive, which eliminates the need for a memory card. Load times for games can
also be reduced by cacheing data on the hard drive, which is faster than loading
data off the actual DVD itself. The hard drive is listed on the dashboard as
having 50,000+ blocks. The actual amount of blocks available is a little over
300,000. A few sources indicate that there is actually 2 different hard drives
being shipped with the Xbox, one being 8 GB, and the other one being 10 GB.
Apparently, the Xbox's made in Mexico have the 10 GB hard drive. The extra 2 GB
is not actually used on the larger drive, which is kind of a waste.
-----------------
LAN Play
-----------------
Many XBOX games support the use of LAN play, so multiple consoles can be linked
together for even better multiplayer excitement. To set this up, first you will
need a few things:
1 Ethernet cable for each Xbox
1 Ethernet Hub
Connect each Xbox console to the hub using the cables. Then simply start up the
games and it will all be automatically configured for you. How easy! Also note:
If you only want to hook two Xbox's together and you don't have a hub, you will
need the system link cable. The system link cable is different from standard
ethernet cables even though they look the same, so don't confuse the two.
There have been certain programs developed for online play that trick the XBOX
into thinking it's on a LAN, so you can play on the internet against other
people. Visit www.gamespy.com for more info. You need a very fast internet
connection to be able to play online properly using this method.
-----------------
Special Edition Xbox
-----------------
There is a special edition XBOX available, but only in Japan. Unlike the normal
XBOX, the SE has a clear black case, instead of solid black. The XBOX logo on
the top is black with silver lettering instead of green. The set includes the
High Definition AV pack, the standard AV composite cables, a clear black
controller, and a silver key chain with the engraved signature of Bill Gates and
a serial number on the other side.
Like most other consoles, be on the look-out for different limited edition
XBOX's to appear from time to time.
-----------------
Japanese Xbox
-----------------
The Japanese XBOX launched on February 22nd, 2002. The standard XBOX and the SE
XBOX mentioned above were available. There is one noticeable change from the NA
and EU XBOX's. The controller is actually smaller, with a few changes to the
layout. The start and back buttons have been moved under the left analog stick.
The main action buttons on the right have been resorted into a diamond
formation, with the black & white buttons underneath. Instead of being oval, all
the action buttons are now round. They also changed the d-pad so it has more of
a cross formation. The standard XBOX is priced at ¾34,800 while the SE XBOX was
priced at ¾39,800.
-----------------
European Xbox
-----------------
The XBOX launched in all European territories and in Australia on March 14th. In
Europe XBOX retailed at 479 euros (œ299) while the games were 69 euros (œ44.99).
In Australia XBOX retailed around AUD$649 while games were AUD$99.95.
*****************
2. Xbox Games
*****************
Written by Evan Wojtanek (EMSOX)
Created on: 2-2-02
Last update on: 3-12-02
http://emsox.tripod.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gamefaqsusers
=============================================================
Contents
-----------------
1. Xbox Console
-----------------
Xbox Timeline
About the Xbox
Xbox Specifications
Dashboard
General Care
Hard Drive
LAN Play
Special Edition Xbox
Japanese Xbox
European Xbox
-----------------
2. Xbox Games
-----------------
Launch Games
Online Games
Games with music support
-----------------
3. Peripherals
-----------------
Memory Cards
Controllers
Cables
DVD Kit
Voice communication headset
-----------------
4. Other Information
-----------------
Frequently Asked Questions
Codes/Secrets
Websites
Contact me
Misc.
=============================================================
*****************
1. Xbox Console
*****************
-----------------
Xbox Timeline
-----------------
October 1999: First developers signed off
December 21st 1999: Xbox general specs officially signed off by Bill Gates and
sent to developers
February 2000: New secret third party developers meeting held in Seattle
March 6th 2000: Microsoft goes with NVidia for the Xbox graphics engine
March 9th 2000: Bill Gates officially announces the "XBox" on CNBC
March 10th 2000: Bill Gates announces "Xbox" at the GDC and in Japan
May 15th 2000: The Xbox processor speed increases to 733MHz
June 2nd 2000: First screenshot of a prototype Xbox system is released
unofficially
November 7, 2000: Microsoft chooses Seagate as hard drive manufacturer
January 6, 2001: Xbox is unveiled at CES
October 2001: Preview units begin to arrive in stores
November 15th 2001: Official North American launch
February 22nd 2002: Official Japanese launch
March 14th 2002: Official European launch
-----------------
About the Xbox
-----------------
The Xbox is Microsoft's first video game console. At a cost of $300, it is a
bargain when compared to the PS2, but $100 more than the Gamecube. The Xbox is
larger than the PS2 and Gamecube, but it's not really a big deal. Featuring four
controller ports, an 8 GB hard drive, and ethernet port, the Xbox is ready for
the future of gaming. Games are stored on 9 GB DVD9 discs, which give developers
room to make massive worlds. The Xbox is the most powerful console currently
available with the best graphics, and brightest outlook for online gaming, due
to the built in hard drive and the broadband only strategy that Microsoft is
following. Finally, lag should be no issue with online console gaming. About
time!
-----------------
Xbox Specifications
-----------------
CPU: Intel Pentium III 733-MHz processor technology with streaming SIMD
extensions
Graphics processor: 233-MHz, custom-designed X-Chip, developed by Microsoft and
Nvidia
Total memory: 64MB of RAM (unified memory architecture)
Memory bandwidth: 6.4GB/second
Polygon performance: 150M/sec
Sustained polygon performance (full features): 100M/sec
Particle performance: 150M/sec
Simultaneous textures: 4
Pixel fill rate, no textures: 4.8 G/sec (anti-aliased)
Pixel fill rate, one texture: 4.8 G/sec (anti-aliased)
Pixel fill rate, two textures: 4.8 G/sec (anti-aliased)
Compressed textures: Yes (6:1)
Full scene anti-alias: Yes
Storage medium: 2X to 5X DVD, 8GB hard disk
I/O: Four game controller ports, Ethernet (10/100)
Audio channels: 256, AC3 encoded game audio
3D audio support: Yes
Midi/DLS2 support: Yes
Broadband enabled: Yes
Modem enabled: No
DVD movie playback: Yes
Gamepad included: Yes
Maximum resolution: 1920x1080
Maximum resolution (2x32bpp frame buffers + Z): 1920x1080
HDTV support: Yes
-----------------
Dashboard
-----------------
After becoming familiar with the Xbox GUI (graphical user interface), I can
safely say that it is the most user-friendly console GUI ever created. What
Microsoft calls the "dashboard", you use it to change various settings, manage
your game saves, and to rip songs off of CDs and play them.
Memory:
This is where you can view all your data on the hard drive and memory cards. The
first screen tells you the total amount of data, and how much is left. After you
make your selection, it will show all your game saves and song tracks sorted
alphabetically, and grouped by the game.
Music:
Go here to copy music off your CD collection onto the hard drive. After you rip
the songs, you can also manage your playlists and listen to the music too.
Settings:
Change all the main settings for you Xbox here. Clock, language, audio, video,
parental control, and the auto-off feature are all available to mess around
with. You can also view the system info here.
-----------------
General Care
-----------------
Here are some things you should remember when using your Xbox:
1. Always have it plugged into a surge protector.
2. Do not use it on the carpet. You should always place it on a clean, hard,
flat surface.
3. Never place anything heavy on top of the Xbox.
4. Avoid spilling anything in or near your Xbox.
5. Always make sure to use officially licensed peripherals for your Xbox. Using
unlicensed stuff can void your warranty, and may damage the actual console.
6. Avoid blocking off ventilation, which may cause your Xbox to overheat. Keep
the air vents and the fan unobstructed by several centimeters. Do not use near a
heat source.
7. Only use a clean, dry cloth to clean your Xbox. If you must, only use water,
do not use other cleaning solvents.
8. Never let your Xbox fall. There are very delicate parts inside that can be
damaged.
9. The Xbox seams to be very sensitive when it comes to reading discs. Try to
keep your games and DVD's scratch free.
10. Do not leave discs inside the Xbox for extended periods of time.
Remember to read the manual that came with your Xbox to avoid other
complications!
-----------------
Hard Drive
-----------------
The Xbox is the first game console to ever come with a built in hard drive. This
is a great feature that they added, which allows many different possible uses.
And unlike the PS2, since every Xbox has the hard drive, every game can utilize
it somehow. A great feature built in, is where you can save games on the hard
drive, which eliminates the need for a memory card. Load times for games can
also be reduced by cacheing data on the hard drive, which is faster than loading
data off the actual DVD itself. The hard drive is listed on the dashboard as
having 50,000+ blocks. The actual amount of blocks available is a little over
300,000. A few sources indicate that there is actually 2 different hard drives
being shipped with the Xbox, one being 8 GB, and the other one being 10 GB.
Apparently, the Xbox's made in Mexico have the 10 GB hard drive. The extra 2 GB
is not actually used on the larger drive, which is kind of a waste.
-----------------
LAN Play
-----------------
Many XBOX games support the use of LAN play, so multiple consoles can be linked
together for even better multiplayer excitement. To set this up, first you will
need a few things:
1 Ethernet cable for each Xbox
1 Ethernet Hub
Connect each Xbox console to the hub using the cables. Then simply start up the
games and it will all be automatically configured for you. How easy! Also note:
If you only want to hook two Xbox's together and you don't have a hub, you will
need the system link cable. The system link cable is different from standard
ethernet cables even though they look the same, so don't confuse the two.
There have been certain programs developed for online play that trick the XBOX
into thinking it's on a LAN, so you can play on the internet against other
people. Visit www.gamespy.com for more info. You need a very fast internet
connection to be able to play online properly using this method.
-----------------
Special Edition Xbox
-----------------
There is a special edition XBOX available, but only in Japan. Unlike the normal
XBOX, the SE has a clear black case, instead of solid black. The XBOX logo on
the top is black with silver lettering instead of green. The set includes the
High Definition AV pack, the standard AV composite cables, a clear black
controller, and a silver key chain with the engraved signature of Bill Gates and
a serial number on the other side.
Like most other consoles, be on the look-out for different limited edition
XBOX's to appear from time to time.
-----------------
Japanese Xbox
-----------------
The Japanese XBOX launched on February 22nd, 2002. The standard XBOX and the SE
XBOX mentioned above were available. There is one noticeable change from the NA
and EU XBOX's. The controller is actually smaller, with a few changes to the
layout. The start and back buttons have been moved under the left analog stick.
The main action buttons on the right have been resorted into a diamond
formation, with the black & white buttons underneath. Instead of being oval, all
the action buttons are now round. They also changed the d-pad so it has more of
a cross formation. The standard XBOX is priced at ¾34,800 while the SE XBOX was
priced at ¾39,800.
-----------------
European Xbox
-----------------
The XBOX launched in all European territories and in Australia on March 14th. In
Europe XBOX retailed at 479 euros (œ299) while the games were 69 euros (œ44.99).
In Australia XBOX retailed around AUD$649 while games were AUD$99.95.
*****************
2. Xbox Games
*****************
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FAQ Ver 1.2