On February 22, 2002, a truly unique presence landed in the Japanese gaming market. That was the original Xbox. In an era where the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube were already gaining momentum, a large, black chassis suddenly appeared. Because of its appearance, the media at the time used the term ”Black Ship” (Kurofune). This hardware, which had been released earlier in November 2001 across the ocean in America, finally arrived in Japan. Many people probably remember that atmosphere of skepticism when they first heard that ”Microsoft is apparently releasing a home game console.”

What made the original Xbox decisively different from other models was its design philosophy. The first home console sent out by Microsoft, known for its PC operating systems, actively adopted parts derived from PCs internally, achieving performance that was outstanding for its time. While incorporating PC architecture into home consoles is not unusual today, at the time, it was a truly visionary concept. The high processing power influenced graphic expression and loading times, and people were amazed, thinking, ”Has a home console really come this far?” The original Xbox was an existence that stayed one step ahead in terms of specs.

Noteworthy is the launch of the advanced online service ”Xbox Live.” This system, which leads to today's Xbox Network, greatly expanded the possibilities of network matches on home consoles. The fact that internet connection was possible as a standard feature upon purchasing the console was also revolutionary, and its ease of use was clear compared to other models that required separate units. Furthermore, support for voice chat was novel for its time, and the experience of playing while exchanging voices with someone far away felt almost futuristic. It could be said that it was an existence that quietly rewrote the common sense that ”games are something you play alone.”

Dead or Alive 3, which appeared as a launch title, drew significant attention partly because it was an Xbox exclusive. Its beautiful graphics and smooth animations were symbolic works demonstrating the power of high-performance hardware. Additionally, ambitious spin-off titles like ”Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball” were born from this machine and became big topics at the time. And one must not forget the existence of Halo. An environment where one could quickly experience titles highly acclaimed overseas presented new options to domestic gamers. Furthermore, with a lineup of robust titles such as Steel Battalion and NINJA GAIDEN, it was a reliable selection for those seeking hardcore games.

Looking back, the original Xbox was not just a single model but a challenger that showed the direction of evolution for home game consoles. High-performance hardware design, standardization of online services, and the active expansion of overseas titles. Each of these has had a significant impact on the subsequent gaming industry. ”That big, heavy black box” was certainly an existence that carved out a new era. Recalling its journey now, one can clearly understand why it was called the Black Ship. As a machine symbolizing a turning point in gaming history, the original Xbox possesses a value that deserves to be passed down.