Instruct: Given a question, retrieve documents that can help answer the question.
Query: Who owns Xbox?
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft of the United States. It represents a series of video game consoles developed by Microsoft, with three consoles released in the sixth, seventh, and eighth generations, respectively. The brand also represents applications (games), streaming services, and an online service by the name of Xbox Live. The brand was first introduced in the United States in November 2001, with the launch of the original Xbox console.
Early access to the "Left 4 Dead" demo for people who pre-ordered the game began on November 6, 2008, for both Windows and Xbox 360. It gave users access to both online and single-player play in two "scenes" in one "movie" within the game. This promotion was being offered in addition to the ten percent savings for those who pre-order and applies to all Steam Windows pre-orders and all Windows and Xbox 360 pre-orders from GameStop and EB Games in North America. On November 11, the "Left 4 Dead" demo was made available to all Windows and Xbox 360 gamers worldwide. The "Left 4 Dead" demo was removed from the Xbox 360 Marketplace and Valve's own Steam after the game's release on November 18, 2008, however it is still available for those that played it.
In 2016, Microsoft announced that it would hold its own Xbox FanFest instead of a press conference at the Gamescom annual European video game convention.[77] Microsoft held an Xbox FanFest in Sydney in September 2016.[78]
During the February 2007 investigation report, Kassa stated that either not all Xbox 360s without protective pads would spontaneously scratch discs, or that the complaints were from Xbox 360 users who had moved their Xbox during use, or who used an unstable setup. Kassa's February 2007 investigation left open the question of whether consumers contributed to the rounded scratch problem by moving their Xbox 360 (TSST version) during the playing of a disc. This resulted in Kassa receiving an additional 1,000 complaints over the subsequent two months, with many consumers denying the Xbox had moved when the scratching occurred, or that it had been placed in an unstable position.
The Xbox 360 System Software includes a renderer and animation system that creates Avatars as they are seen in Microsoft's own titles. It is also possible for developers to use the data and process it with their own software, allowing Avatars to be easily integrated with a game's engine.
Game saves for original Xbox games that are backward compatible on both Xbox 360 and Xbox One can't be transferred between the three generations. While Xbox Live functionality won't be available Albert Penello, head of marketing for Xbox, explained users could "system link an original Xbox, an Xbox 360, an Xbox One and an Xbox One X for a four-player system-link LAN play with all original disks across three generations of consoles."
Amped 2's multiplayer on Xbox Live brought a number of new features not seen in any other on-line game at the time. For instance, it was the first game on Xbox Live to integrate a player's career mode character to that of their Xbox Live character. During career mode, as the player completes tasks, they gain skill points which increase their character's abilities. This then translates to the player's Xbox Live character, therefore, giving individuals who have completed the career mode an advantage over those who have not.
Microsoft launched the "Xbox Originals" program in December 2007 where Xbox 360 owners could purchase select original Xbox titles digitally if they did not own a game disc and could be found inside their own section in the Xbox Live Marketplace. Beginning in June 2009 the branding was phased out and the games were moved to the "Games on Demand" section of the store while Microsoft stating that they have "finished it's portfolio" of Xbox Originals.
On November 15, 2007, Microsoft celebrated Xbox Live's 5th anniversary by offering its then over 8 million subscribers the title "Carcassonne" free of charge and awarding gamers who had subscribed to Live since its inception 500 free Microsoft Points. Due to intermittent service interruptions during late December 2007 and early January 2008, Microsoft promised to offer a free Xbox Live Arcade game to all Xbox Live users as compensation, in an open letter to all Xbox Live members from Mark Whitten, Xbox LIVE General Manager. Increased demand from Xbox 360 purchasers (the largest number of new user sign-ups in the history of Xbox Live) was given as the reason for the downtime. On January 18, 2008, Microsoft announced "Undertow" would be offered free to both Gold and Free members for the week starting January 23 through January 27 as compensation.
Xbox Live Gold is a paid subscription service for the Xbox community. Signing up to Xbox Live is free, but, with the exception of the Windows 10 version, in order to play online and access some core services, a recurring subscription fee is required. Features that require a Gold subscription include online gaming, matchmaking/smartmatch, private chat, party chat and in-game voice communication. Other features, such as game recording and media sharing also necessitate Gold membership. Similarly, ordinary Xbox Live members can download and access the Twitch live streaming application, but in order to broadcast gameplay of one's own, a Gold subscription is necessary. Free-to-play titles also remain behind a paywall. Subscribers are benefited with space "in the cloud" for storing files, and granted early or exclusive access to betas, special offers, Games with Gold, and Video Kinect.
The limited free version of "Heavy Weapon: Atomic Tank" can be downloaded online at various websites, including PopCap's own site. The full version, "Heavy Weapon Deluxe", can be purchased for a fee. An Xbox 360 Xbox Live Arcade version was made available for download via Xbox Live Marketplace on January 17, 2007. It features a full (four-player) co-op mode compatible with Xbox Live and a boss blitz mode. The game has since been released for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network.
In 2007 EzyDVD started and launched its new online store, EzyGames. The site specialised in console games including Sony PlayStation PSP, PS2 & PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC games. They also sold PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles and accessories. The site was owned and operated by EzyDVD and was compatible with EzyDVD in that user accounts were the same for both sites. The EzyGames site was closed in 2009 and today customers are able to purchase PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS, 3DS, Wii, Wii U and PC games from the EzyDVD site itself.
As of late June 2009, various themed clothing articles were spotted in use by various members of the Xbox 360 community – namely those who work for Microsoft. These articles in question were based mainly around Halo, various T-shirts, shorts, hats and even full-body suit costumes were seen not only being worn by current Avatars but also in Avatar Store demonstration pictures and videos. The people who had access to these also were spotted to have a mysterious achievement in their profile named 'Xbox 360 Beta' and was orange in color with a Beta symbol and the number 09 – it was concluded that they were actually beta testing the new Avatar Marketplace. Most recently, Xbox users that were a part of the Xbox Preview Program were given a special prop featuring a cat dressed line a ninja and riding a T-Rex for use with their Xbox Avatar.
"Xbox Ambassadors" are Xbox Live members selected by Microsoft who have proven themselves to be helpful towards others, and are willing to assist new Xbox Live users and answer their questions. As of March 2009, there are ambassadors representing 18 countries in more than 30 languages.
The Xbox 360 game system allows users to download applications that add to the functionality of the dashboard. Most apps required the user to be signed into a valid Xbox Live Gold account in order to use the features advertised for the given app. But as of the 2.0.16756.0 update, most apps do not require a Xbox Live Gold Subscription to access them, although the app may have its own subscription to be able to use it. With the exception of a few early apps, Microsoft has added partners to develop apps for the Xbox 360 system since the New Xbox Experience (NXE) Dashboard update in 2008.
People who experience the problem will find that they have to send the Xbox 360 away for repair or replacement and it may take up to 3 weeks to repair or replace. During the time of the Xbox being replaced, Microsoft and UPS will keep the client(s) updated with the current status of where the Xbox is and whether it is being repaired or replaced.
The standard "10th Anniversary Edition" of the Xbox One version (consisting of the base game and the 10th Anniversary Car Pack) was given to Xbox Live Gold members for free throughout August 2018 as part of Microsoft's Games with Gold program. "Forza Horizon 2" and its downloadable content are set to be removed after 30 September 2018. Those who already own it can still download and play the game and its DLC.
The remake of the first episode, "Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter", was released on 24 November 2009 for Microsoft Windows through Steam, on 13 January 2010 for Xbox 360 through the Xbox Live Arcade and on 20 March 2017 for Linux through Steam thanks to the Fusion Engine.
The remake of the second episode, "Serious Sam HD: The Second Encounter", was released on 28 April 2010 for Microsoft Windows through Steam, on 22 September 2010 for Xbox 360 through the Xbox Live Arcade and on 4 April 2017 for Linux through Steam, again thanks to the Fusion Engine.
On 14 January 2011, the DLC titled ""Fusion"" was released on Steam, which merged the levels of "The First Encounter" into "The Second Encounter". This DLC was free for everyone who owned both encounters on Steam.
Additionally, "The Second Encounter HD" was expanded with new piece of DLC called "Legend of the Beast". Released on 15 May 2012, it contained new maps for the Survival and Multiplayer modes and a new, short set of campaign missions.
Polinsky, as Corey Graves, made his video game debut as a playable character in "WWE 2K15", where on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, he has his own path in the "Who Got NXT" mode, documenting his matches in "NXT" and on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions as an unlockable character through the MyCareer mode. He later appeared in "WWE 2K18" and "WWE 2K19" as a non-playable character as part of the commentary team.
On February 28, 2017, Microsoft announced the debut of Xbox Game Pass and made a limited catalog of games available to select members of its Xbox Insider community for testing and feedback. Later in the second quarter of 2017, the service was opened up to players who subscribe to Xbox Live Gold, and then to the general user population. An Xbox Live Gold subscription is not required for Xbox Game Pass, but it is required for any online multiplayer content the games in the catalog may contain.
The Xbox 360 supports a limited number of the Xbox's game library if the player has an official Xbox 360 Hard Drive. Xbox games were added up until November 2007. Xbox game saves cannot be transferred to Xbox 360, and the ability to play Xbox games through Xbox LIVE has been discontinued since April 15, 2010. It is still possible to play Xbox games with System Link functionality online via both the original console and the Xbox 360 with tunneling software such as XLink Kai. It was announced at E3 2017 that the Xbox One would be gaining support for a limited number of the Xbox's game library.
The second generation modchips improved upon the first by reducing the required number of wires to just 11. In addition to this, the second generation modchips added a few extra features such as the ability to prevent the Xbox from resetting when you eject a disc from the drive. This allows one to swap discs for purposes of loading different data into the Xbox while running some piece of software (Ex. Loading a disc of TV shows to play on a homebrew media player). In addition to this, some games would be able to detect first generation modchips and thus crash or prevent the game from running. The solution to this was to copy the game to a computer and apply a piece of software to strip out the check. The second generation modchips do not require this and can prevent the check from running automatically. By this time users were interested in performing additional modifications to their Xbox such as replacing the internal 8GB hard drive with something larger and running their own dashboard (Xbox operating system). The second generation modchips did not have the capability to enable these functions. In addition to this, the next revision of the Xbox v1.1 started to become more and more prevalent in the field. The second generation modchips were still unable to run on these Xbox consoles.
When the Xbox 360 was released, Microsoft's online gaming service Xbox Live was shut down for 24 hours and underwent a major upgrade, adding a basic non-subscription service called Xbox Live Silver (later renamed Xbox Live Free) to its already established premium subscription-based service (which was renamed Gold). Xbox Live Free is included with all SKUs of the console. It allows users to create a user profile, join on message boards, and access Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade and Marketplace and talk to other members. A Live Free account does not generally support multiplayer gaming; however, some games that have rather limited online functions already, (such as "Viva Piñata") or games that feature their own subscription service (e.g. EA Sports games) can be played with a Free account. Xbox Live also supports voice the latter a feature possible with the Xbox Live Vision.
Xbox Avatars are avatars and characters that represent users of the Xbox Live service on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles, Windows 10, and Windows 10 Mobile. Avatars originally debuted on the Xbox 360 as part of the "New Xbox Experience" system update released on November 19, 2008, updated on Xbox One with "New Xbox One Experience" Xbox One System Software on November 12, 2015 , and reimagined with the release of the next generation character for Xbox One on October 11, 2018.
Popular franchises ported under Aspyr's banner include "Call of Duty", "Civilization", "Star Wars", "The Sims 2" and "Borderlands". By 2003, Aspyr owned 60 percent of the Mac entertainment market. Apart from macOS and Linux, platforms Aspyr ports to range over Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, iOS, Android, Xbox One and PlayStation 4.