X Factor Documentary Explores Xbox

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a press release and downloadable trailer (BitTorrent link courtesy Gametab) for the forthcoming Discovery Channel documentary, The X Factor - Inside Microsoft's Xbox. The program premieres on June 20th at 8pm ET/PT in the US, and "reveals never-before-seen footage of Microsoft and three game studios all racing to complete the next big Xbox blockbuster game. Will the next Xbox superstar be Microsoftâ(TM)s Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Oddworld Inhabitantsâ(TM) tightly held secret (the fourth game in their ongoing series), or Bungieâ(TM)s Halo 2?" Some healthy scepticism is also shown, since the doc "..also explores whether the software giant has the mettle to make it in the exploding video game business." This doc could be particularly interesting because of interviews/footage from the next in the Oddworld series.

documentary?

[joFFeman]

it sounds like a commercial to me, the fact that the discovery channel is airing it and apparently trying to pass it off as a documentary leads me to question the credibility of anything the discovery channel airs.

Re:documentary?

[stephanruby]

I wonder why two people modded you as a troll? Is it because they don't believe you it's a commercial? Or is it because everyone knows this is a commercial and there is no need to mention it?

Re:Next big Xbox blockbuster?

[Recoil_42]

Ever heard of Halo? no? surely you've heard of Splinter Cell then? you havent?

Documentary?

[ggambett]

A documentary about XBox?

Man, I hate when someone tries to sell paid advertisement as a "documentary"...

Re:Documentary?

[KU_Fletch]

For example, see MTV's "Making The Game" shows modeled after their "Making The Video." They've did one of the LOTR:TT game and one on Def Jam Vendetta. They we're pretty much horrid 30 minute advertisements of repetitive gameplay videos and interviews with PR schmucks. Never once did they bother talking to the programmers or artists (probably for good reason). At least they didn't make one for Britney's Dance Factory, that would be the official end of Western Civilization.

Re:Documentary?

[amuro98]

Not the first time something like this has shown up on Discovery (or TLC for that matter)

Look at all those "documentaries" about Las Vegas.

But yeah, this "documentary" sounds like yet another commercial...for a dying console and 3 games that aren't going to make a difference.

Halo2 and Oddworld are sequels. If you like these franchises, you already have a Xbox.

Crimson Skies is a sequel of a PC game, and will most likely come out for PC eventually which largely negates the reason to buy an XBox in the fi

Re:Documentary?

[drewmca]

That's just silly. You may hate microsoft or not even like the xbox but it's not a dying console. It may not beat ps2 but it's a fine console with some good games. The consoles all have their own strengths and weaknesses, xbox no more so than others. As with each of the others, it brings some interesting things to the table. As with each of the others, it has some weaknesses. You go off saying how it's dying or "xbox sux" or other silly bits of bitterness and you'll just sound silly. Also, don't know if a

Re:Documentary?

[amuro98]

WTF?

You go shoving a bunch of stupid arguments into my mouth so you can look more intelligent, and get modded up for that?

Please point out in my original post where I said:
* I hate Microsoft.
* XBox sucks.
* XBox is dying.

As for PS2 vs. Dreamcast, GameCube, and Xbox...

Sega dropped out of the console market ~4 months after the PS2 debuted in the US. This is despite them having a whole year. Heck, they couldn't even compete with the PS1, which continued to outsell the Dreamcast despite its better technolo

Re:Documentary?

[ggambett]

Redundant... yes... don't you love when you forget the subject, submit, alt-tab out and come back 30 minutes later just to find the "cat ate your tongue" message? :)