Evening Reading: Goodbye Original Xbox Live

Microsoft wrote a fitting coda to its first game console today. On April 15 they plan to turn off Live access for the original Xbox. New games stopped coming to the system a long while ago but the persistence of online play stands as probably the strongest indication of just how well the service ultimately hit the mark.

When Live launched on only the first anniversary of the Xbox, November 15, 2002, no one knew quite what to make of it. In a world where most relied on dial-up connections to the Net, it required broadband access. And despite only supporting a handful of titles, it asked users for an annual subscription fee. The inclusion of a headset and support for voice chat across all games topped things off. I remember our reactions were along the lines of "what are they thinking? Consoles are for single-player games. That's what they need to take on the PS2," and "everyone who wants to play online plays on PC and it's free."

Yet Live never once looked back. It certainly paid off. All those things that seemed like a gamble at the time we take for granted today. Sony and Nintendo both countered with online adapters but they floundered without a corresponding service on which to anchor support. They took steps to recover that lost ground in the current generation but Live continuously pushed forwards as well turning gamers into gamerscore slaves, revamping the service with the "new Xbox experience," and making the 360 into a conduit for NetFlix, LastFM, Twitter, and Facebook. For this move to end original Xbox access to be seen as a part of the Live success story it must spur the next evolution of the service -- and that's more than just expanding the friends list beyond the 100 member cap (though that's a good start).

So goodbye original Xbox Live. I haven't seen you in a long time but we had many good times together. I put Crimson Skies up there as probably my most fond memories from the service but obviously Halo 2 will be dominant in the eyes of many. And lest Shoe track me down who can forget the tense Spies vs. Mercs Splinter Cell matches? Yes, I've moved on but for anyone wanting to relive these and any other Xbox moments online the clock has started ticking. 68 days remain until the servers shut down and the Xbox book comes to a final close.

We covered some other stories around the Shack today as well:

In preparation for Super Bowk weekend, New Orleans send Miami a 'Get Ready' letter

Spend enough time measuring and you'd still be hard pressed to match the tape measure ninja

A work of art that takes here today, gone tomorrow seriously: this sculpture connects to the Net and starts auctioning itself on eBay the moment you get it hooked up

From The Chatty
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    February 5, 2010 6:10 PM

    Hold me, it is so barren here. Also, watch for my post in weekend chatty. Some copies of me2 to give away!

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      February 5, 2010 6:12 PM

      [deleted]

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        February 5, 2010 6:15 PM

        The BioWare headquarters are in this non-descript building in the middle of nowhere Edmonton

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          February 5, 2010 6:18 PM

          [deleted]

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          February 5, 2010 6:23 PM

          Hey now... There is a burger king pretty close...

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            February 5, 2010 6:26 PM

            Diamonds is also just down the street

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            February 5, 2010 6:26 PM

            I actually shouldn't say middle of nowhere Edmonton either. It's pretty close to Strathcona and Whyte which is pretty cool.

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        February 5, 2010 6:22 PM

        Cool, had no idea such a contest was running. Hope it's a shacker that wins too.

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      February 5, 2010 6:15 PM

      I am BioWare's bitch. Seriously, stop making such good games.

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      February 5, 2010 6:16 PM

      BioSector, can you ask your merchandising guys when:

      a) they will offer a Renegade shirt and
      b) when they'll have another preorder for the hoodie?

      The last preorder sold out in about an hour and a half.

    • reply
      February 5, 2010 6:20 PM

      :D

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      February 5, 2010 6:34 PM

      I just so happen to be playing through ME1 for the first time and want to check out this second one once Im finished... this is interesting news...

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      February 5, 2010 6:49 PM

      I formally declare that if you haven't purchased ME2 yet, you are broken

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      February 5, 2010 7:04 PM

      Starting to work thru ME1.

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      February 5, 2010 7:21 PM

      Hi BioSector! Would it be possible for you guys to patch in a way to toggle Tech Armor on and off? Right now hitting the ability again does nothing, and it looks weird going into a conversation with it on, wherein it disappears, then reappears as soon as you exit dialogue! Other than that, game is ace! (although if you can put crouching back in that would be awesome too!)

      xoxo
      dewdman

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