35 Rejected Names Microsoft’s Xbox Could Have Been Called

A recent article on Edge contained an interview with Seamus Blackley, one of the original team members responsible for creating and engineering the original Xbox, in which he discussed a number of names originally pitched for the console, some not so bad, some utterly horrendous, and others that actually seem to be coming back in one form or another.

The majority of those names listed in addition were mostly acronym based ideas,some of which really stand out in terms of probably being source material for later generations, in particular the TSO (standing for Three Six Zero) and the AIO (acronym for All in One), both of which can clearly be seen as influences for the 360 and the soon to be released Xbox One.

“First, there were our code names, which were WEP – ‘Windows Entertainment Project’ – designed to make Microsoft executives comfortable, Midway – ‘Midway between a PC and a console or ‘Battle of Midway’ – you decide – and DirectX Box, which was shortened to xbox in email very early on.”

“When we got the first approval, Kevin [Bachus] was told we had to get a new name, because ‘xbox’ wasn’t legally sound, so against his judgment he did so, and got the phase two, or ‘car’ names. These were so bad we didn’t even save them, but I remember making fun of one of them by calling it the ‘Microsoft Bunduss’. Then we got the ‘acronym’ phase from the naming geniuses.”

“Phase four was a battle between us and the naming guys, when we decided we just wanted to risk it and go with Xbox – since that’s what everyone called it anyway – and they wanted, for some unknowable reason, to call it ‘11-X’ or ‘Eleven-X’. Finally, we told them no, but still had to decide: X-Box, xBox, XboX, Xbox, X-box…”

Curious how over a decade ago a few randomly pitched names in a conference room still hold on to the same basic ideas that are perpetuated now in Microsofts more recent entries to the gaming market, especially the idea of the Xbox always having a closer aim towards being a more all encompassing entertainment device than just a gaming only console. Among the other names listed are still some shared philosophies for what the console’s have tried to accomplish, most of which just sound horrible in spoken word, and were thankfully avoided. The complete list can be seen below, let us know which your favorite is!

• MAX (Microsoft Action Experience)

• AIO (All In One)

• MIND (Microsoft Interactive Network Device)

• FACE (Full Action Center)

• MITH (Microsoft Interactive Theatre)

• XON (Experience Optimised Network)

• MVPC (Microsoft Virtual Play Center)

• TAC (Total Action Center – discs/games could be called TACs)

• MARC (Microsoft Action Reality Center)

• LEX (Live Entertainment Experience)

• M-PAC (Microsoft Play and Action Center)

• RPM (Real Performance Machine)

• MOX (Microsoft Optimal Experience)

• E2 (Extreme Experience)

• MTG (Microsoft Total Gaming)

• VIP (Virtual Interactive Player)

• PTP or P2P (Powered To Play)

• VIC (Virtual Interactive Center – disks/games could be called VICs)

• MARZ (Microsoft Active Reality Zone)

• TSO (Three, Six, Zero)

• EHQ (Entertainment Headquarters)

• O2 (Optimal Ozone or Optical Odyssey)

• MIC (Microsoft Interactive Center)

• R&R (Reality and Revolution)

• MEA (Microsoft Entertainment Activator)

• AMP (Active Microsoft Player)

• VPS (Virtual Play System)

• MAP (Microsoft Action Play)

• MEGA (Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Attendant or Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Assembly)

• CPG (CyberPlayGround)

• VERV (Virtual Entertainment & Reality Venture)

• OM (Odyssey of the Mind)

• P2 (PowerPlay)

• IS1 (Interactive System In One)

• MET (Microsoft Entertainment Technology or Microsoft Entertainment Theatre)

Source: Edge / Image Credit: TechCrash.net  

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