Microsoft’s Xbox consoles are considered a pillar in the industry, part of a trifecta that makes up modern games. The first Xbox to be launched in 2001; the Xbox Series X and S arrived just last year. Today, Xbox is a powerhouse, but it was not always so. Bloomberg‘s Dina Bass publishes an oral history of the creation of Microsoft’s Xbox that tells the concept’s concept, from an executive retreat to the release – with a failure like a failed bid at Nintendo described along the way.
According to Xbox technology officer Seamus Blackley, the original Xbox was known to some as the Midway – or Coffin Box, “because they were worried it would fail and end their careers at Microsoft.” As part of an effort to include exclusive games, Microsoft has sought to acquire companies such as Electronic Arts, Midway Games and Square. Kevin Bachus, director of third-party relationships, says that Microsoft president and later CEO Steve Ballmer also brought the team together with Nintendo. Their pitch revolved around the technical forces of the Xbox. It did not go as planned.
“They just laughed at the asses,” Bachus said. Bloomberg. ‘Like, imagine an hour of someone just laughing at you. That was kind of how the meeting went. ‘
BloombergThe story goes on to examine the actual performance of the console, including the successful bid for it Halo creator Bungie. The full piece is worth reading, especially for the anecdote about an unnamed Konami executive.
As for Nintendo, Howard Lincoln, chairman of Nintendo America, told the publication that the company “does not talk about confidential conversations with other companies. In any case, none of these discussions came up. ”