Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is a seventh generation game console and is the successor to Microsoft's Xbox video game console, developed in co-operation with IBM, ATI, Samsung Electronics and SiS. Information on the console first came through viral marketing campaigns and it was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the prominent Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Upon its release, the Xbox 360 became the first console to have a simultaneous launch across the three major regions, as well as the first console to provide wireless controllers as a standard. It also serves as the first entrant in a new generation of game consoles and is competing against Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii. Microsoft believes that its push towards high-definition gaming, year-early head start and its Xbox Live online gaming service will help the console be successful. The Xbox 360 can also be System Linked with other Xbox 360s as well as the original Xbox, allowing multiplayer games to take place much more easily among gamers.

There have been a few different types of the Xbox 360, including the Core, Arcade, Premium and the Elite. However, special editions have also been available. These are like the Halo 360 had an aesthetic Halo theme as well as a special controller.

As of March, 2010, the 360 was in second place in the console war, with 40 million units sold. The Wii was first with 69,5 million, while the PS3 sold 33,5 million. The 360's most widely sold game was Halo 3, which sold an astonishing 8.1 million copies. Second was Gears of War, with 4.7 million copies, at third, Grand Theft Auto IV with 3.5 million copies sold. Fourth place was Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare at 3.1 million copies. Rounding off the top five is Forza Motorsport 2 with 3 million copies, although that also includes the free copies that came with every 360 Elite model. The most critically acclaimed game was Grand Theft Auto IV, with an average Meta-Score of 98 out of 100. Second was BioShock, with 96 out of 100, third was The Orange Box collection, which also got a 96 out of 100. Fourth was Gears of War with 94 out of 100, fifth was Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, sixth was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and in seventh place was Halo 3, which got an impressive 94 out of 100.

Halo on the 360 Dashboard
In the 360 dashboard, the user can apply Halo-themed backgrounds, one of which came preloaded on the original version of the console, while others must be downloaded. There are also Halo gamer pictures available; three of which were preloaded on the original 360, with the rest downloadable. The Limited or Legendary Edition Halo 3 disc two included codes to download more Halo 3 themes for the 360 console, such as a Bungie theme, Red vs Blue theme and the This Spartan Life theme. Every other theme must be purchased with Microsoft points.

Halo-themed editions
A Halo 3 edition of the Xbox 360 was released on September 16, 2007. The console included a copy of the game, a green wireless controller with a play-and-charge kit, a wired Halo 3 headset, as well a code to download the Halo 3 dashboard theme.

Though no special edition was released with Halo 3: ODST, a Halo 3: ODST Collector's Pack was made available alongside the standard version. This included the game itself, along with a limited edition UNSC-style Xbox 360 controller.

A Halo: Reach special edition Xbox 360 S was released on September 14, 2010. It features a Xbox 360 S Edition, a copy of the game, two controllers, and a wireless headset, all of which are based on the game. Colored silver gray, the console is based on an in-game archive reader unit and associated controller used by the Office of Naval Intelligence. The console actually appears in the game in Halsey's lab. The controller and headset were also released individually. The disc eject button emits a Spartan energy shield recharging sound, and the power button emits the spawning sound of a Halo 3/Reach multiplayer powerup.

A Halo 4 version of the console was released alongside the game on November 6, 2012. The special edition console also includes a copy of the game, two special-edition controllers, and a wired headset. It also includes Xbox LIVE tokens for exclusive in-game and avatar marketplace downloadable content (FOTUS armor avatar costume, in-game FOTUS Spartan Armor, avatar Promethean Crawler prop, in-game Lightrifle Skin, and in-game unique Unicorn emblem). The console and controllers feature a blue-white geometric pattern on a translucent, black body; the ring of light on the console and controller guide button (normally green) feature blue lights to match the overall color scheme. The buttons on the console emit electronic sounds when pressed. An alternate Halo 4 controller featuring the UNSC emblem on a translucent, dark grey body, was made available individually on October 21, 2012, and includes an Avatar T-shirt as exclusive downloadable content. The controller also features a transforming D-Pad.

Trivia

 * All three original Xbox Halo discs are backwards compatible on Xbox 360; Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo 2 Multiplayer Map Pack.
 * Halo 2 however features a bug that causes screen burn-in to appear during select missions or cutscenes. When this happens, it can only be resolved by quitting to the title screen, or restarting the Xbox 360 altogether.
 * An Xbox 360 hard drive is required for Xbox software backwards compatibility. As such, the Xbox 360 Arcade is incapable of playing Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2.
 * As of April 15, 2010, the Xbox LIVE service for all original Xbox games (including Halo 2) was discontinued. It was possible to play Halo 2 online on the Xbox 360, but was not possible if the person did not play Halo 2 on Xbox LIVE for the original Xbox. The person needed to have the map packs in order to play LIVE for Halo 2 on the 360.
 * The Xbox 360 can be found as an easter egg in Halo: Reach.