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As Microsoft's initial foray
into the world of console
video games, the Xbox was one
impressive machine. Many
compared it to a high-end PC -
only at a fraction of the
price. Weighing in at a hefty
ten pounds, its large, black
rectangular form housed a 10
GB hard disk - a first for a
game console. The system also
boasted four controller ports,
support for high-definition
video, and the best graphics
of its generation.
While these graphics were only slightly better than those of the Playstation 2 (PS2), Xbox games exhibited faster load times, and the hard disk eliminated the need for expensive memory cards. The system could also play DVDs, but this was less of a selling point in 2001 than it was during the PS2 launch the year before. Initially the Xbox was shipped with extra-large controllers with rounded buttons, but after receiving numerous complaints, Microsoft quickly switched over to the "Controller-S" which more closely resembled the Playstation 2 controller design.




