Xbox 360 review: summing up the life of the seventh generation console from Microsoft

Comparative characteristics

To understand which Xbox to choose, you need to consider the comparative characteristics of the models.

Table. Comparative characteristics of Xbox.

⇡#Xbox 360. Consolidating success

If the first Xbox was catching up with Sony products, then by the next generation they already looked like equal rivals. Sony had traditions and a huge fan base (after all, PlayStaion 2 is the best-selling console of all time with more than 158 million units sold), but Microsoft was already flexing its muscles. The announcement took place in May 2005 on MTV, and the first details about the new product were told by Elijah Wood - the corporation has a penchant for attracting Hollywood stars for promotion. Soon, a large-scale show took place at E3, which was recently remembered on the Digital Foundry channel.

This time, Microsoft overtook its rival at the start - the Xbox 360 came out almost a year earlier than the PlayStation 3, in November 2005. The new product, unlike its predecessor, began to actively fight for the Russian market, although it reached it only two years later, in 2007. It was thanks to the 360 ​​that I joined the Xbox, becoming its loyal fan in both joy and sorrow (oh, those first years of Xbox One...).

The classic Xbox 360 on the left, Slim in the center, and on the right the latest modification called Xbox 360 E

In terms of technical characteristics, the new system looked convincing and became less like a “PC with console sauce.” The x86 architecture gave way to PowerPC - at the heart of the system beat a three-core IBM processor (each core could handle two work threads) codenamed Xenon. ATI now acted as a partner for the production of the video chip, which provided a productive Xenos solution with 512 MB of video memory. Don't confuse them with each other or with Intel's Xeon family of server processors. It seems that the Xbox division was already adopting confusing names...

However, the rush to get ahead of Sony led to a number of problems. I think many of you have heard about the “three red lights of death”: the first versions had terrible cooling problems, which led to overheating of the processor and failure of the video chip. If you had an early Xbox 360, it was almost guaranteed to burn out. Mine also went to another world in due time. Moreover, I already had a version of Jasper, which supposedly solved the overheating problems. Not completely, apparently. The troubles finally went away only with the release of the Xbox 360 Slim.

There were other shortcomings, although much smaller compared to what was written above. Despite Full HD support and the corresponding emphasis in the advertising campaign, initially the console did not have an HDMI port. The hard drive was only in the Pro version, and even that was a modest 20 GB. Nowadays it’s hard to imagine, but in those days the principle of “insert a disc and play” was still relevant.

Bill promoted Western values ​​in the Land of the Rising Sun back in the days of the original Xbox

With the Xbox 360, Microsoft is about to seriously enter the Japanese market. One might say, penetrate into the very lair of the main enemy. The arguments were made by two jRPGs from the father of Final Fantasy himself - Hironobu Sakaguchi. Both Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon turned out to be excellent examples of the genre, but this did not help effectively fight for buyers in the Land of the Rising Sun: out of 86 million Xbox 360s, only 1.6 million ended up in Japan.

What has always impressed me about the Xbox platform is the courage of its creators - they were not afraid to experiment. During its life, the Xbox 360 changed three versions of the shell. At some point, it became possible to create your own 3D avatar, which allowed you to truly personalize your account. Although some people were annoyed by the constant updates of the dashboard, this always seemed to me to be a strong point of the platform. The team was constantly looking for new approaches (even if not always successful), and knew how to admit and correct mistakes. This will be very useful in the future.

The release of Kinect again showed that developers want to do something new and different. It is clear that interest in touch controls is caused by the stunning success of the Nintendo Wii, but if Sony practically copied the idea of ​​​​a touch controller, then Microsoft famously decided - why, in fact, hold a controller in your hands at all? The result was the most popular console gadget in the industry: 35 million copies as of October 2017, a result officially recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. And the best-selling game on the Xbox 360, by the way, is not some Forza or Halo, but Kinect Adventures.

Waving your hands in front of the screen for half an hour at a time was tiring, but good for your health

By the way, Kinect has gained enormous popularity outside the gaming industry - in all kinds of projects it has not participated! A scanner of objects for subsequent 3D printing, a tool to assist in rehabilitation, translation of sign language into text and vice versa, providing visual effects at concerts (the most famous example is perhaps the Nine Inch Nails tour in 2013) and exhibitions, and so on and so forth. . Technologists, scientists, researchers and creators of all stripes have appreciated the capabilities of Kinect. It is unlikely that Microsoft specifically conceived the device in this way, but in the end the controller not only brought millions of people the pleasure of the game, but also helped in the implementation of a lot of interesting things. Although he also played a cruel joke on the creators, but more on that below.

Xbox 360 continued to focus on the social side of gaming. The Live service has undergone natural development and, in my opinion, has become the best gaming service (at least for a while): collecting statistics, organizing matches, chats - everything is convenient. However, with the release of the new console, Live was divided into types of subscriptions - Silver and Gold. The latter was needed for online play and turned out to be paid.

Many were disappointed by the move away from console exclusives. If at the time of the original Xbox there was still hope that internal studios would accelerate, then already halfway through the Xbox 360 it became clear that no, this would not happen. Only one new major series has appeared - but what a one! — Gears of War. Other projects were either multiplatform initially, or became so over time (Ninja Gaiden 2, Ninja Blade). Only the giants in the form of Halo and Forza remained pure exclusives, and some launch games like Project Gotham Racing 3 and Kameo, which, although they were good, few people needed after a couple of years. By the way, it’s especially offensive for PGR.

Master Chief has long been established as the face of Xbox

But the Xbox 360 has become an excellent launching pad for many popular franchises - for example, Mass Effect. Commander Shepard is here, and this is the best multi-platform console in the galaxy. Even though Sony won with exclusives, the vast majority of projects available on both consoles at once definitely looked more advantageous than Microsoft’s.

The Xbox 360 stayed afloat for 11 years, delighting its creators with an impressive 85.5 million sales. This is only a few million less than Sony's figure for that generation. Although it’s worth taking into account both the year’s head start and the frankly weak debut of the PlayStation 3. But still, we have witnessed how, in two generations, a daring newcomer to the market caught up with the seemingly unattainable industry leader. But while the Xbox 360's performance was a sobering slap in the face for Sony, Microsoft itself didn't seem to know what to do with its success.

Xbox One S review

Xbox One S is an improved version of the Xbox One console. The model is distinguished by high power, excellent game graphics and good operating speed. Let's take a closer look at this game console.

Design

This model is distinguished by ergonomics and visual appeal. The main advantage of this device over the basic version is the elimination of an external power supply. At the same time, the body of the product itself is reduced by almost half.

The product is distinguished by excellent quality materials. The body is made of durable matte plastic, which is pleasant to the touch and does not collect dust and fingerprints.

The model is also characterized by high-quality assembly without backlash.

Interfaces

All ports for connecting to other devices are located on the back of the console. There is a socket for connecting the power cable, a pair of HDMI connectors, USB and others. In addition, there is a USB port on the front of the case.

This model differs from the basic version in the absence of a dedicated Kinect connector. To connect the sensor you will need a special adapter, which is not included in the set-top box.

Video - Best Xbox One S Bundle

Hardware changes

In terms of general characteristics, the Xbox One S model is practically no different from the basic version. However, there are some differences between consoles. Thus, the device with the S prefix is ​​equipped with a more subtle technological process. This made it possible to make the chip more compact in size and more energy efficient.

In terms of power, this console is significantly superior to its predecessor. The thing is that 4K HDR gaming requires a higher ratio. For this reason, the GPU frequency has been increased. This allows you to run heavy applications in high-quality graphics and work with them without freezing.

The console comes with an advanced controller. The gamepad features Bluetooth support, which allows you to connect to a computer, laptop or any mobile device with the same option without using adapters.

Another innovation of the console is a 4K Blu-ray optical drive. Therefore, the set-top box can easily replace a full-fledged media player.

HDR image

The main advantage of this console is the 4K HDR format. It should be taken into account that 4K is used for watching movies and various online services, and HDR is used for games.

The set-top box can be used both for the most modern TVs and for older models. The console automatically detects the format your device supports and adjusts to it. This saves the user from having to perform the necessary manipulations manually.

The set-top box can be used both for the most modern TVs and for older models

However, many TVs do not have this option. In this case, the setup will have to be performed on this device. To properly set up your TV, you can use the console's main menu. It is simple and easy to use. This allows you to customize the device image to the desired format.

History and first models of game consoles

The history of the creation of game consoles began in 1951. The first game was called "Chase", in which two points moved one after another. A regular TV was used to display the image. In 1972, the first game console was released to use cartridges.

Until the 2000s, five generations of game consoles were released. The most famous brands of that time were Nintendo, Atari Corporation, Sega, NEC, Nintendo. The first real revolution in the world of game consoles took place after the release of the Sony Playstation. The Sony corporation at that time was the absolute leader in sales, the number of consoles purchased was more than 100 million.

Features of Xbox consoles:

1. High quality game graphics.
2. The hardware is as close as possible to its computer counterpart.
3. Improved interface, small size.
4. Using the analog-free Dashboard operating system.
5. RAM – 64 MB.
6. Built-in hard drive, size 8 GB.

Which console should I choose?

The most popular consoles are the Xbox One S and X. This is not surprising, because they are characterized by optimal characteristics and the best combination of cost/quality.

If you have to choose between versions S and X, you should understand that all games that are released on one model are also suitable for another device. This is due to the fact that the products belong to the same generation of consoles.

It should be noted that the X version has improved graphics and support for modern models, and the Xbox One S console has a more affordable price.

Thus, if you need a high-quality console with excellent graphics and support for modern formats at an affordable price, then the Xbox One S is the right option for you. The model not only has an affordable price and optimal characteristics. For this reason, it is in high demand among gamers. Either way, Xbox is the best choice for your family.

Video - Xbox One S - review

https://youtu.be/xDXoSvOt5QY

⇡#Xbox One. An incredible journey to the bottom and back

The seventh generation of consoles ended with such a powerful confrontation that the gaming community was looking forward to the next round of development. If the developers managed to implement Halo 4 and The Last of Us on old hardware, then what will happen next!

Then-Xbox CEO Don Mattrick faces disaster with a smile.

In 2013, the world saw the new Xbox for the first time. Microsoft organized a separate presentation for the Xbox One, outside of any major exhibitions. As a result, however, the majority had only one thought: “Uh-uh... what?” While the Xbox 360 was a gaming console with a ton of extra features, the Xbox One was positioned as a living room media center with gaming capabilities.

This is not to say that the idea is bad: after all, we often watch movies, call friends, listen to music. Why not have one device that will allow you to do all this conveniently, while also listening to voice commands? After the resounding success of the Kinect, few were surprised by the presence of a new version of the device included with the console. The trouble was that behind the notorious “TV, TV, TV” there were no actual games. Call of Duty: Ghosts, the obscure Quantum Break teaser and the EA Sports lineup are not what was expected from the new generation. Against the backdrop of the PlayStation 4 announcement, Microsoft's event looked very dubious. Even Steven Spielberg didn’t save it, and the Halo series he announced, by the way, still hasn’t come out.

The technical specifications were not impressive either. The Xbox 360 could be called the best place for games, if we don’t talk about exclusives, but the Xbox One lost this position even before its release. The hardware, although not much, was inferior to the PlayStation 4, and Kinect 2.0 not only increased the cost of the console by $100, but also bit off 10% of the performance. Not to mention the fact that the console was initially supposed to be connected to the Internet, otherwise it simply would not work. There were clouds hanging over the Xbox One, and something clearly needed to be done urgently.

How many jokes were there about the VCR after the first show of the Xbox One?

In my opinion, the Xbox One is an amazing story of failure before the start and a triumphant return to the race closer to the finish line. Despite all the problems, I still purchased the console in the first months and saw first-hand how much it has come in seven years. The most controversial issues were abandoned even before the release: kits without Kinect 2.0 went on sale, an Internet connection did not become a prerequisite for operation, and nothing prevented the resale of discs.

Although these undoubtedly correct decisions were not enough to improve the situation. The menus were far from intuitive, and multiplatform performance was noticeably worse than on PlayStation 4, with very rare exceptions like Assassin's Creed: Unity. The situation began to improve a couple of years later, when the Xbox division and the entire gaming direction of Microsoft were headed by Phil Spencer, who replaced Don Mattrick. Slowly but surely, he went up the hill, turning the Xbox One into a place for games first and foremost, and then for everything else.

This turned out to be difficult. Although Phil created an image for himself as a kind of kind uncle for gamers, charisma alone was not enough - changes were required. One of the turning points was the announcement of backward compatibility at the E3 2020 conference. Each project required careful testing and certain improvements, but the result was worth it: now Xbox One allows you to play several hundred projects with both the Xbox 360 and the original Xbox, which significantly expands general library of available projects. TES III: Morrowind on Xbox One? No problem!

Who should I give the classics to?

This move will smooth out the almost complete abandonment of exclusives for the console. Projects announced as “Xbox only” ended up either making it to PC or not making it to release (yes, Scalebound, I’m talking about you). It’s a pity that some past Xbox franchises did not receive development on Xbox One - Fable tried to go into session online with an incomprehensible offshoot Legends, and Project Gotham Racing finally gave way to Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon. Only Halo 5: Guardians has yet to make it beyond the console, but it's almost certainly coming to PC ahead of Infinite.

Another building block in the foundation of the system was the [email protected] , aimed at supporting modest indie studios. It opened the way to Xbox One for three and a half thousand authors from almost seventy countries, and during its active work, one and a half thousand games were released thanks to the program.

It's important to Phil Spencer's team that every audience can find something for themselves on Xbox. An Xbox Game Pass subscription for a fixed monthly fee allows you to play a huge number of games from an extensive library, and all new products from Microsoft's internal studios are included at the same time as release. Game Pass is now available on PC, and the Ultimate version also includes Gold status for multiplayer and free monthly game giveaways.

The Xbox One we deserve - the powerful X on the left, the affordable S on the right

It's a shame that Kinect 2.0 ended up on the sidelines of history - the consoles that are sold now don't even have a connector for it. I think this is a big loss, because an advanced touch controller could really provide a new experience. But only one game was released that demonstrated this, and it was very niche - D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (I'm still sad that they didn't release a sequel). Although the device has received a new life in the form of Azure Kinect, this story is no longer about games.

Taking into account all the errors, Microsoft released improved variations of the console. The version with the S prefix in the name is essentially the original Xbox One, only smaller, quieter, a little faster, with support for HDR and higher resolutions. But the Xbox One X is an absolute piece of hardware for the living room and, in my opinion, a miracle of engineering: compact, quiet, cool, stylish, and its filling is enough for developers familiar with the architecture to squeeze out honest 4K with 60 frames per second in such graphically advanced projects like Gears 5 and Forza Motorsport 7. For a very reasonable fee.