Opening the Xbox: Inside Microsoft's Plan to Unleash an Entertainment Revolution [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

~ Dean Taikahashi (Author) "BILL GATES WAS SHOWING OFF his new baby at the Game Developers Conference in early 2000..." (more)
Key Phrases: other game developers, graphics chip makers, console makers, Bill Gates, United States, Robbie Bach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

?I had not thought it possible to write an entire book on a single game console. Takahashi has done it and done it well. Opening the Xbox is constantly interesting and very personable. It?s also a book that should ruffle a few egos, including my own.?
?Steven L. Kent, author of The Ultimate History of Video Games

?Opening the Xbox provides fascinating insights about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering at Microsoft. Takahashi?s fly-on-the-wall style of writing is complemented by insightful analysis of the gaming industry and interesting vignettes about the personal lives of the Xbox creators. This book perfectly intertwines a compelling business story with human drama.?
?Geoff Keighley, editor in chief, GameSlice

?Dean Takahashi paves the way for serious journalistic coverage of an industry long dismissed by traditional media. Thoroughly researched, his book exposes the guts of the video game industry through the prism of Microsoft. Takahashi gives us an engrossing glimpse of an industry that?s at once juvenile and ruthlessly systematic in its manufacturing of digital fun.?
?Alex Pham, staff writer, [I]Los Angeles Times[I]

?Takahashi has meticulously researched this book. It?s required reading for anyone interested in the next-generation console race.?
?Tom Russo, director of program development, G4 Media

?Reads like The Soul of a New Machine for the new millennium. Dean provides insights into the people and the motivation behind Microsoft?s high-stakes bid to break into the home-entertainment market. And, he doesn?t miss a detail.?
?Dawn C. Chmielewski, staff writer, San Jose Mercury News -- Review

Review

“I had not thought it possible to write an entire book on a single game console. Takahashi has done it and done it well. Opening the Xbox is constantly interesting and very personable. It’s also a book that should ruffle a few egos, including my own.”
—Steven L. Kent, author of The Ultimate History of Video Games

“Opening the Xbox provides fascinating insights about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering at Microsoft. Takahashi’s fly-on-the-wall style of writing is complemented by insightful analysis of the gaming industry and interesting vignettes about the personal lives of the Xbox creators. This book perfectly intertwines a compelling business story with human drama.”
—Geoff Keighley, editor in chief, GameSlice

“Dean Takahashi paves the way for serious journalistic coverage of an industry long dismissed by traditional media. Thoroughly researched, his book exposes the guts of the video game industry through the prism of Microsoft. Takahashi gives us an engrossing glimpse of an industry that’s at once juvenile and ruthlessly systematic in its manufacturing of digital fun.”
—Alex Pham, staff writer, [I]Los Angeles Times[I]

“Takahashi has meticulously researched this book. It’s required reading for anyone interested in the next-generation console race.”
—Tom Russo, director of program development, G4 Media

“Reads like The Soul of a New Machine for the new millennium. Dean provides insights into the people and the motivation behind Microsoft’s high-stakes bid to break into the home-entertainment market. And, he doesn’t miss a detail.”
—Dawn C. Chmielewski, staff writer, San Jose Mercury News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 370 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles; 1st edition (April 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761537082
• ISBN-13: 978-0761537083
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #387,803 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any XBOX fan or business professional!, April 27, 2002

By	AMM "adrian_m" (New England, United States) - See all my reviews

This is a great book! Author Dean Takahashi gives a detailed insight as to the development and marketing of the XBOX from its early conception right up to its high profile launch!

Being an XBOX fan, this was just the book to read to help dispel some of the myths that were floating around when the XBOX was being developed. You also get a good idea of how the Microsoft corporation thinks and operates not just in the video game market, but throughout all of their business ventures. Interesting theories as to why Microsoft entered the console market in the first place are discussed (one theory is that the XBOX is Microsoft's act of "revenge" against Sony when it looked elsewhere for it's PS2 development systems!).

I highly recommend "Opening the XBOX" to anyone who enjoys video games in general or for someone who is looking for a book that's different than all the other business books currently in stores. Well worth the price and a very insightful look into the strategy and culture that is the Microsoft Corporation.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great glimpse of the video game industry., January 14, 2003

By	Marcus A. Sasiadek (Valley Forge, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't like Microsoft. In fact, I bought a PS 2 just to spite them. But, I couldn't put this book down in the bookstore.

The reader gets rare glimpes of the decision making processes for Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo. The book provides good information on the specifications and history for all 3 systems. The book also gives good insight into the developer's point of view as well. The personalities of the people involved are very interesting, especially the ones from Microsoft.

It's one of the best books I've read in a while. I found it very entertaining and informative.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unprecedented Access, August 13, 2002

By	Steven L. Kent "gamereader" (The GREAT Northwest) - See all my reviews

Dean Takahashi is quite possibly the finest reporter ever to dive into the video game arena. He has a shrewd understanding of the financial arena, does not take surface answers seriously, and digs.

He is also a fine writer.

And all of this is apparent in "Opening the Xbox," the deepest and best coverage ever dedicated to a single game console.

I have always belonged to the "Phoenix," "Ultimate History of Video Games," "Supercade," "Arcade Fever" school of game coverage--these volumes seem dedicated to the idea that the book format is so vast that you need to cover the entire industry in it.

David Sheff bucked that trend with "Game Over," dedicating an entire book to the history of Nintendo with exemplary results. Then Takahashi comes along and does an entire book on one console--ONE CONSOLE! The result is real depth.

"Opening the Xbox" does a great job of capturing the intrigue and excitement of Microsoft's boardrooms. Takahashi takes more than a fly-on-the-wall approach here, he is a genuine fixture--he is pervasive, making everybody explain what they did and why they did it.

"Opening the Xbox" offers a most thorough picture of the inside decision making process for one small segment of gaming; and doing so, it offers a big-picture view for any company in an analogous situation.