Birthdays are days to look back. They are days to reflect on previous years to see exactly what has gone on year after year after year. I know some of you are new to Xbox Live so I thought it would be fun to look back to the year it all began. I took a few pictures of the Xbox Live Beta Kit that I still have. It’s amazing that I’ve kept it this long but I figured it was the start of something beautiful. Five years later it seems I was right.
In October 2002, it began for me. I was selected to be amongst the few to beta an exciting idea from Microsoft. Xbox Live. It was a bold step to bring gamers from different cities, states and countries together. I didn’t know what to expect but I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to be among the few to experience it first. My gamertag then was Racivius Dawn. (had to think quick and I was deep into Morrowind at the time)
It started with an Xbox Live starter kit. It had demos of Revolt, Whacked, NFL Fever and Moto GP. I can still remember how amazed I was at speaking to people in other states as they all drove backwards on the track of Moto GP. It was insane but so much fun. I remember the lag during NFL Fever that caused so many losses for me. Ok, maybe my lack of skills had something to do with it but I’m sticking to the lag story. The experience was amazing though. The headsets hung over your ears and were actually quite ugly. But there was no denying that being connected to people on the Xbox was a defining moment.
If you have any stories or pictures to share from 2002, let me hear it. I know I wasn’t the only one in the beta. Things sure have changed haven’t they? I’m looking forward to 5 more years!
Screenshots: Xbox Live Beta Kit
November 16th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Cool stuff… That’s really cool that your able to give us Flashback Moments like that. Keep it up.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:42 am
I got my [first] Xbox Live Starter Kit about over 4 years ago. And I won my original Xbox [in a GS giveaway], which I still have and wanted for the original Splinter Cell; during my tender college days.
Geez, time DOES really fly…lol
Oh, I played alot of Outlaw Volleyball and Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO online.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:52 am
geez Fizzy..you’re a winning machine dude! i need your luck apparently.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:53 am
@TX, no sweat dude…i’m glad to share a cool moment in gaming history for us all.
November 16th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Great post man, great post!
November 16th, 2007 at 11:40 am
To be honest, I never got my Xbox until holiday ‘03 and signed up for Live in early ‘04.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
bad bad Green lol
November 16th, 2007 at 6:39 pm
::Fizzy “sprinkles” his luck on DB:: There ya go, Deacon!
Alright, Ryhme…where’s DB’s Heroes HD-DVD player? XD lol
November 21st, 2007 at 11:07 am
[...] was pretty cool. I know I gave you all a bit of a look back at the beginning of Xbox Live with my Beta Flashback but here you can enjoy all the years in between then and [...]
November 21st, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I still have my carrier for the headset and memory card from the beta testing… i’ll see if I can get a picture..