Trivia
HardThe Microsoft Xbox Was Originally Slated To Be Called What?
Answer: Direct X-Box
In 1998 four members of Microsoft’s DirectX team–Otto Berkes, Kevin Bachus, Seamus Blackley, and Ted Hase–began experimenting with hacked apart laptops in a bid to build a prototype gaming machine for Microsoft. Shortly after they cobbled together a working prototype they pitched it to Ed Fries–then the head of Microsoft’s game division. In an interview with gaming news and development blog Gamasutra, Fries recalls the experience of naming what would become the Xbox:
[…] These crazy guys walked into my office and told me they had this idea to get Microsoft into the console business. They were from the DirectX team, and they wanted to make this thing called the “Direct X-Box”. […] marketing hated the name, they went off and created this whole, long list of better names for the machine.
Direct X-Box was shortened to Xbox and, despite the best efforts of the marketing department to kill the name off, the test group subjects loved it. The Xbox name stuck and Microsoft went on to develop the Xbox and then Xbox 360 in a wildly successful foray into the console gaming market.
Trivia
HardThe Legal Concept Of “Ad Coelum” Gave People Ownership Of?
Trivia
HardThe Most Expensive Super Bowl Rings Were Purchased By Which Team?
Trivia
HardWhat Accounts For One Third Of America’s Evening Internet Traffic?
Trivia
HardThe Existence Of Which Of These Star Types Is Only, At Present, Hypothetical?
Trivia
HardThe First Companion Character Link Has In Any Of The Legend Of Zelda Games Is?
Trivia
HardTeleprompters Are A Practical Use Of An Old Illusionist’s Trick Known As?
Trivia
EasyIn Your Average School Class There Is A 50% Chance Two People Share What?
Trivia
HardWho Was Responsible For Thrusting “Area 51” Into The Public Consciousness?
Trivia
HardWhat Was The First TV Show To Use Computer Generated Models?
Trivia
HardHomeowners Are Encouraged To Keep Their Hot Water Tank’s Temperature Set Higher To Prevent?