Names Microsoft Almost called the Xbox One

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A list of potential acronym-based names pitched for the original Xbox have been revealed for the first time.

In an interview with Edge, Seamus Blackley has revealed a long list of names that were floated to him and the rest of the console's launch team.
"First, there were our code names, which were WEP – ‘Windows Entertainment Project’ – designed to make Microsoft executives comfortable," he revealed. "Midway – ‘Midway between a PC and a console or ‘Battle of Midway’ – you decide – and DirectX Box, which was shortened to xbox in email very early on.

Phase four was a battle between us and the naming guys, when we decided we just wanted to risk it and go with Xbox.

"When we got the first approval, Kevin [Bachus] was told we had to get a new name, because ‘xbox’ wasn’t legally sound, so against his judgment he did so, and got the phase two, or ‘car’ names. These were so bad we didn’t even save them, but I remember making fun of one of them by calling it the ‘Microsoft Bunduss’. Then we got the ‘acronym’ phase from the naming geniuses.

"Phase four was a battle between us and the naming guys, when we decided we just wanted to risk it and go with Xbox – since that’s what everyone called it anyway – and they wanted, for some unknowable reason, to call it ‘11-X’ or ‘Eleven-X’. Finally, we told them no, but still had to decide: X-Box, xBox, XboX, Xbox, X-box…"

The complete list of suggested names are below and it's safe to say we think Blackley made the right call...

• MAX (Microsoft Action Experience)
• AIO (All In One)
• MIND (Microsoft Interactive Network Device)
• FACE (Full Action Center)
• MITH (Microsoft Interactive Theatre)
• XON (Experience Optimised Network)
• MVPC (Microsoft Virtual Play Center)
• TAC (Total Action Center – discs/games could be called TACs)
• MARC (Microsoft Action Reality Center)
• LEX (Live Entertainment Experience)
• M-PAC (Microsoft Play and Action Center)
• RPM (Real Performance Machine)
• MOX (Microsoft Optimal Experience)
• E2 (Extreme Experience)
• MTG (Microsoft Total Gaming)
• VIP (Virtual Interactive Player)
• PTP or P2P (Powered To Play)
• VIC (Virtual Interactive Center – disks/games could be called VICs)
• MARZ (Microsoft Active Reality Zone)
• TSO (Three, Six, Zero)
• EHQ (Entertainment Headquarters)
• O2 (Optimal Ozone or Optical Odyssey)
• MIC (Microsoft Interactive Center)
• R&R (Reality and Revolution)
• MEA (Microsoft Entertainment Activator)
• AMP (Active Microsoft Player)
• VPS (Virtual Play System)
• MAP (Microsoft Action Play)
• MEGA (Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Attendant or Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Assembly)
• CPG (CyberPlayGround)
• VERV (Virtual Entertainment & Reality Venture)
• OM (Odyssey of the Mind)
• P2 (PowerPlay)
• IS1 (Interactive System In One)
• MET (Microsoft Entertainment Technology or Microsoft Entertainment Theatre)

Some of these are straight up ridiculous. Some would have just made us all laugh and really make fun of Microsoft. People are a creature of habit and what everyone knows it as is Xbox so they did the right thing by keeping it the same!

-Chris Taylor

Independant developers may have trouble with xbox one

GameNTrade Ltd

Independent developers wishing to get games on Xbox One's Xbox Live Arcade will still be unable to self-publish, it has been announced.

As it currently stands, indie devs must get a publishing deal with either Microsoft Games Studios or a third-party publisher to get their games on XBLA. The exception to this is titles that opt to release on Xbox Live Indie Games, though this has more financial drawbacks for developers than the more lucrative Arcade section.

There was some speculation following Sony's commitment to independent developers with the PS4 that Microsoft would make things easier for everyone to get games on its console, but it seems this won't be the case.

The company's general manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms Matt Booty told Shacknews, "We intend to continue to court developers in the ways that we have."

He did suggest this could change in the future though, adding, "I would also expect that for this new generation, that we're going to continue to explore new business models and new ways of surfacing content. But Microsoft Studios is a publisher that works with a wide range of partners, as do a lot of other people, to bring digital content to the box."

Both Sony and Nintendo allow indie devs to self-publish through PSN and eShop, respectively.

This may be some sad news for some developers. Hope they work this out in your favor.

-JaM
GameNTrade Ltd

Xbox One Reveal Revolutionized the Next-gen Industry

GameNTrade News

 



Microsoft has announced many of the specs for the Xbox One at the company's "Xbox Reveal" event, which began at 1 p.m. EDT today. The new Xbox One features an 8-core processor, 8 GB of system memory or RAM, a 500 GB hard drive, 802.11N wi-fi, HDMI, and USB 3.0.

Microsoft said the Xbox One features 5 billion transistors and three operating systems -- one for games (Xbox One), the second is the Windows kernel, the third connects the two for quick system switching and multitasking. The system will have several power states to save energy costs. It will also be nearly silent, according to Microsoft.

 

The new Xbox One controller has a newly designed D-Pad as well as several other new features. The screenshot above shows two buttons replacing the Xbox Home button, one appears to be for window-switching, and the other appears to have a list view or right-click function.

 

 

 

Microsoft said that the Xbox One Kinect sensor will be updated, and will capture content at 1080p. The Xbox One has not been given a specific release date, but will be released later this year, Microsoft announced.

Enjoy,

-Chris Taylor

GameNTrade Ltd.