Microsoft Xbox

The Microsoft Xbox is the first available console in the Xbox series, and a Generation Six console

History
In 1998 4 DirectX team engineers(Kevin Bachus, Seamus Blackley, Ted Hase and team leader Otto Berkes) disassembled a small number of Dell laptop computers to construct a prototype Microsoft DirectX based videogame console(named the DirectX Box) to compete with Sonys upcoming PlayStation 2, which was luring developers away from the Windows platform. The team presented it to current head of game publishing, Ed Fries, who decided to back the project with his support.

Development
With the support of the company, the DirectX Box went into development as the 2nd American produced console after the Apple Pippin, and was Microsofts first video game console. The name DirectX Box was shortened to Xbox, though the name was to be changed by Microsofts Marketing department and the name Xbox was only left on focus testing lists to show how Unpopular it would be with customers, however, the name by far passed all other names presented in consumer testing, and became the official name of the console. Undergoing several delays for various reasons the Xbox was finally officially announced at the Game Developers Conference on March 10, 2000 and release dates and prices at E3 2001.