Microsoft before and after Xbox
The untold history of gaming at Microsoft from someone who was there
This week on Post Games: how did Xbox get here?
Former VP of Xbox Game Studios Shannon Loftis takes us on a guided tour of Microsoft's gaming ambitions, from the days before Windows 95 to Xbox's ambitious bet on the future of entertainment.
Patreon bonus prologue: The case for having fun
Act 1: Microsoft’s first tiny team of game makers
Act 2: Xbox before the acquisitions
Act 3: News of the week
Subscribe to Post Games on Patreon. For $5, subscribers get bonus segments in every episode — and none of the ads! They also have access to a monthly video series, receive new episodes days before the ad-supported feed, and ensure the show stays alive! Now available: episodes 1-3 of my video series, Video Game Journalism 101!
Patreon Bonus: The case for having fun
You may ask yourself, “How can I care about video games in times like these?” In this audio essay, I tell you something that you’ve heard before, and you need to hear again. It’s okay to have fun. Not at the expense of the specifics, but in response to them.
Act 1: Microsoft’s first tiny team of game makers
Microsoft completes Activision Blizzard acquisition, Call of Duty now part of Xbox (The Verge)
Microsoft employees occupy headquarters in protest of Israel contracts (The Verge)
The past, present, and future of Xbox, according to its head of publishing (The Verge)
Midtown Madness (1999) Gameplay (FirstPlaysHD on YouTube)
The History of Windows 95 (AbortRetryFail)
Age of Empires Review, 1997 (Gamespot)
Act 2: Xbox before the acquisitions
The story of the Duke, the Xbox pad that existed because it had to (Engadget)
Fable II UK Review (IGN)
E3 2009: Project Natal - Reveal Trailer 720p HD (AlphaProtocol360 on YouTube)
Kinect isn’t dead: Microsoft has unannounced Kinect games in development (The Verge)
E3 2015 signals the beginning of overdue change for big-budget games (The Verge)
Microsoft to close Xbox Entertainment Studios, ending original programming plans (Polygon)
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition review, 2018 (Destructoid)
Act 3: News of the week
Steam, Discord, and Twitch execs called to testify before Congress over 'radicalization' of users (Polygon)
Florida Suing Porn Game Websites Over Alleged Age-Verification Violations (Aftermath)
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor review (PCGamer)
Also on the Patreon
A spoken essay on why it’s important to make time for fun
This week in video game links
Free game of the week
What else I’m enjoying
Omg I love her!!!