Yes...One year.
How the time does fly.
Maximus got a new job, Enron filed for bankruptcy, Johnny Unitas died and the Xbox got a new controller thanks to the Japanese.
Well, at least that’s how I will remember 2001-2002.
Except for the events of one fall day, November 15th. In 2001 I was just packing up the camping chair which I barrowed from the sporting goods at my local Wal-Mart. I had already sat in it for around 7 or so hours, unless I had to go to the bathroom or look at other Xbox games. I had already studied the controls, and descriptions of everything I could from the Halo instruction manual. Oh how the pain comes back to me when I was holding the gold Halo disc in my hands, glaring the reflection of the bright fluorescent lights off of the disc into my eye. No pain was like not having the Xbox to play it on. Knowing darn well I would be playing Halo for quite some time. In fact, Halo is the only game I still have today that I bought on November 14th. The corral of dedicated gamers went to the front of the store, eagerly awaiting the large brown boxes sophistically labeled, "DO NOT OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 15, 2001". There is no doubt anyone didn’t know what was contained in the brown boxes of joy. What looked like should fit 4 Xboxes in only actually carried 2, and the gasps of size grew when they were pulled out in their full glory. I was cashed out at 12:11 and you can bet I still have that receipt, and not for warranty purposes.
Of course, then there's today. One year from the most memorable day of my gaming life. Today we have seen the games. The Good and the painfully bad. Games like Halo are still noted today as reasons to purchase an Xbox. In fact, when one game comes to your head as a reason to purchase an Xbox, you will most likely recommend Halo, even though you may of not played it in awhile. Games like Kabuki Warriors, which prove that we can still have a good laugh.
1 year. Oh what we have gone through, as people. As Gamers. As Xboxaddicts. On this 1 year anniversary I would like to thank everyone for their support to all things Xbox, including XBA. By your simple recommendation to your friends you are insuring the Xbox will not die. Times still look hard, as the PS2 is exceeding the Xbox in sales. Even though this may be true, you don't care. You know what is the best, even though some people may only buy a system for one game. Well folks, now we have our GTA3, our Vice City, our Super Mario, our kick ass top selling trademark. We have Xbox Live.
Microsoft promised it. 1 year after the release, can you complain?
Maybe you wanted it on Nov 15, 2001. Once you opened the Xbox you wondered why they could invite in a capability to play with other gamers already built in, but the infrastructure to use it was not there. Well, just look at it this way...how is the PS2 online working? Where is the hard drive? How about downloading new rosters, levels, characters and other content? How about having voice communication across all online games? What else can do that, right out of the box? It’s about damn time you got some use out of that Ethernet connector on your Xbox. And here’s another thing that’s due. Due to you. The Last Laugh.
You can already be playing Mech Assault, Ghost Recon, NFL 2k3, NBA 2k3 and a handful of other games online right now. You will always have someone to play with. Someone with a real brain (hopefully). You will be able to have friends over whenever. There will always be real strategy in every game, because you may be able to anticipate a computers move, but not with someone across the country...or world.
Yes, we actually do have the last laugh. We will soon be enjoying these and other top quality online games to come such as Unreal Championship and Halo 2. We will be playing the newest, and most innovative games on the most advanced video gaming system ever created.
Be sure to laugh in a month when people get bored of Vice City, which I must say its the only thing sparking PS2 sales. Be sure to giggle when people get bored of Metroid Prime. Hey, you may be able to get a GameCube in platinum, but that doesn't make it better. If it were green, then maybe I would reconsider.
Once again, Happy One year Anniversary to everyone who day in and day out continues to support the Xbox and us here at the best Xbox related site around, XBA.
1 year. Look how far we have gotten, and look at what we have to look forward to.
Live it up...
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