Launch Team Xboxes

[ProgrammingAce]

At the request of virtually everyone, I finally managed to get myself a decent camera. And with this new technological wonder, I'll start taking pictures of a few things some people have asked to see in greater detail. Starting with the launch team xboxes.

We'll start with the Launch Team 360. It was given to the team who designed the console as a gift in December 2005, shortly after the console launch. The team members had the option of having a short message engraved into the hard drive plate. If they didn't select anything, the default was the console launch date; November 22, 2005, which is what mine has.

There aren't too many high resolution images of this faceplate out there. A lot of owners are afraid someone will come along and start making cheap knockoffs. Way I see it, I think that'd be awesome. I'd love to buy another copy of this faceplate. I don't approve of stealing the design, but since when have Taiwanese pirates cared what i think?

Not only does the console have a special face plate, but the side panels are "Xbox 360 Green" (probably a registered trademark of some kind). The system came with a wireless controller with matching colors. Microsoft included copies of Kameo and Call of Duty 2.

Click the images below for higher resolution images. In the background you can see a faceplate that was signed by the Hardware Design Team.

http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/ThumbLaunch360.JPG (http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/Launch360.JPG)
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http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/Thumb360HardDrive.JPG (http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/360HardDrive.JPG)

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The first launch team Xbox was a bit different. It was offered to the design team of the original xbox. The difference is, it was sold at a very slight discount along with 5 games of the team member's choice. The selection of games were from the Microsoft published launch titles. Aside from the system and games, the console also came with a pair of unique "Duke" style controllers. Instead of the standard black, these were a clear shade of green that matched the console. These controllers were never available outside of this bundle.

The jewel in the center says "Xbox Launch Team 2001. Great work! Bill Gates". The consoles weren't actually individually signed by Bill Gates, the signature is imprinted in a metal film under the jewel.

http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/ThumbLaunchXbox.JPG (http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/SANY0049.JPG)
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http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/ThumbXboxJewel.JPG (http://gamerhistory.com/images/Launch360/SANY0056.JPG)

[RPG_Fanatic]

That's pretty cool, did you buy them off someone who worked on them?

[otoko]

Cool indeed. I would also like to know if you got them off an employee, or does the internal programming differ from the final retail.

[SegaAges]

That 360 is indeed cool, but I would never use it in fear of a RRoD. Man, that would suck balls

[s1lence]

That's pretty cool, did you buy them off someone who worked on them?

He kinda works for Microsoft, at least he used to.

[Gentlegamer]

If they didn't select anything, the default was the console launch date; November 22, 2008, which is what mine has.Wrong date . . .

[ProgrammingAce]

Wrong date . . .

Heh... I even went back and edited the date once too. I had it as Nov. 25.

The 360 is mine, the Xbox1 i got from a friend. I was 17 when the first xbox launched. And yes, the 360 sits on a shelf never to be played. Shame.


And that hard drive plate came with scratches on it, that's why i have a spare.Also, i didn't realize it until last night, but the hard drive plate is upside down if the console is laying horizontal.

[Lothars]

Awesome Pictures :) Thank you for posting them

I have to say that is probably the best looking 360 faceplate. Very Nice :)

[ProgrammingAce]

does the internal programming differ from the final retail.

These were actually manufactured after the first batch of retail systems. They weren't given to the employees until late december/early january. Mine has a manufacturing date of 12/24/2005.

The only "retail" systems with different coding are the initial batch of kiosk systems. They don't have an entry in the bios for the xbox live signature.

[The 1 2 P]

I've actually seen the launch team Xbox on ebay several times(ends for anywhere between $80-130). But the one time I saw the launch team 360 on ebay it got pulled by ebay before someone won it. I always wondered why and it brings up even more questions. The only one time I've seen a PS3 developer system listed on ebay---it too got pulled by ebay before the auction was over. How do I know it got pulled by ebay and not the seller? Because when ebay pulls an item all you are left with is a listing number. They remove all pictures, listing info and references to what the actual item was. And that was the case on both occasions.

[ProgrammingAce]

I've actually seen the launch team Xbox on ebay several times(ends for anywhere between $80-130).

Last one on ebay was about 3 months ago, went for $450+. Even the halo LE sells for more then $80

ebay does not allow developer tools to be sold. Which kind of makes sense because they can't be bought (even by developers) and are thus stolen property.

[The 1 2 P]

Even the halo LE sells for more then $80

Really? http://search-completed.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=so&sbrftog=1&pfid=1412&alist=a14&a14=24215&catref=C6&from=R2&dfsp=32&gcs=1134&satitle=halo+special+edition&sacat=139971%26catref%3DC6%26curcat%3Dtrue&fts=2&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=21014&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&fis=2&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=32%26fsoo%3D2

Of the six that sold recently only two ended for more than $80. I can actually buy them from a local game store for $60-80. Their price has definitely gone down over the years with the exception of factory sealed ones. As for the launch team Xbox, I never remember them going for that high. I would have gladly grabbed one of those $80-130 ones just to resell it for a profit. I'll keep that in mind the next time one comes up.

[otoko]

http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/07/11/xbox360_halo.jpg

I think he means that one 1 2 P


Which kind of makes sense because they can't be bought (even by developers) and are thus stolen property.

Funny how one man's trash is another man's stolen property.:roll:

[The 1 2 P]

http://regmedia.co.uk/2007/07/11/xbox360_halo.jpg

I think he means that one 1 2 P

Do people even want that ugly ass contraption?LOL

[otoko]

Do people even want that ugly ass contraption?LOL

Eye of the beholder dude.

You can also say it's but ugly as much as you want, but it's a limited edition.

[The 1 2 P]

Very true. I have the Halo limited edition Xbox because it is hella sexy compared to the normal black one. But theres no way I would rock that special edition. Thats like punishment for coming in late or something.

[PapaStu]

Do people even want that ugly ass contraption?LOL

Yep.

I got one just to have it as a 'backup'. I did the same thing with the Halo Xbox . When 360 #2 died, I didn't touch it and sent in my broken one to MS and had no 360 for a month.

[SegaAges]

Do people even want that ugly ass contraption?LOL

I would take it, why not.