Xbox Resurrection: 6 Uses For Your Old Xbox

Microsoft may have abandoned it, but the original Xbox still has some life left. Here are six ways you can maximize your investment.

By Roberto Baldwin

It's now early 2007, and the truth is inescapable: the era of the original Xbox is over. The signs are everywhere. For one, third-party publishers have virtually abandoned the console. For another, most online gamers have moved on to the Xbox 360. Even Microsoft has stopped manufacturing it. There are practical considerations, too. The Xbox is a massive system and takes up lots of space in your overcrowded entertainment center. And that's space that could be filled by a more worthy high-tech goliath, such as the PlayStation 3.

But what now? Toss your Xbox in the trash? Stuff it in your sock drawer? Donate it to needy Zimbabweans? We've got a better idea. Why not make it the hub of your living room? Or grant it TiVO-like abilities? Or upgrade it to store hundreds of Xbox games, movies, and TV shows? Or maybe you just want to cash in while you still can? This story will give you the full rundown on your Xbox options.

DISCLAIMER: Modding your console will void the warranty and may be considered an illegal act under the DMCA. And don't even think about calling Microsoft for support.


Table of Contents


1. The Trade-in
An old Xbox can translate into serious cash

An old Xbox can translate into serious cash

You want out. Maybe you still haven't taken the Xbox 360 plunge, or you've got your eye on the Wii. The good news is that your Xbox is worth something to EBGames and GameStop. The bad news is that time is almost out. Just three months ago you could nab $80 in store credit for a working Xbox - that's almost 25% off the price of the Xbox 360 Premium model. Nowadays, you'll be lucky to nab $50 (one EB Games we called quoted $35!). Of course, the shops will be happy to sweeten that deal if you include a stack of used games and controllers.

Selling to the retailers is an especially sweet deal if your Xbox isn't in perfect working order. Vicious Sid recently traded in his original Xbox for full credit even though its skip-happy DVD drive made a mess out of game cinematics. The secret is that GameStop and EBGames send out all used consoles to be professionally reconditioned and refurbished before they're resold, meaning that problematic components are found and replaced. If your Xbox has seen better days, this is the low-risk option.

There's also the eBay route. If you've got a stack of must-have games (Halo and Halo 2, for instance) and you're willing to shoulder the slight risk that online auctions naturally bring, eBay may be your best bet. With some games, you can easily net $100 for your old Xbox on eBay. If you have extras like wireless microphones, component cables, and first-party controllers (the smaller Controller S models), think closer to $125 or $150. That's half of an Xbox 360 Core right there.

Whether you go with GameStop or eBay, the key is speed. If you want to get a worthwhile return out of your original Xbox, don't wait any longer or the market will drop out. Once that happens, you're screwed.



2. The Hardware Mod
The Evolution X dashboard allows you to back up your games or launch third-party apps.

This is the mod that involves peeling back the plastic skin of your Xbox and getting your hands dirty. Sure, it's a little scary. But when the task is done you can bask in the warm, glowing pride that only comes after a successful do-it-yourself hack. After you purchase the mod chip on the internet and install it, your first task should be to install the Evolution X dashboard. It replaces the default dashboard and allows you to back up and play your favorite games, launch third party programs or set up an FTP server.

Playing backed-up games has serious perks. You'll never again have to paw through that mess of pizza boxes and beer bottles to find your Splinter Cell: Double Agent disc. Just don't blame us when you cause a city-wide blackout with your amateur soldering skills.



3. The Soft Mod
Action Replay is your key to Xbox modding goodness

Action Replay is your key to Xbox modding goodness

If the idea of soldering circuit boards makes you queasy then a soft-mod is definitely the way to go. Using the Action Replay device you can install Linux or even Mac OS X (your Windows fan-boy friends will never speak to you again) onto your Xbox without having to perform any sort of delicate surgery. The soft mod is also the first step to installing many media center programs onto your Xbox. Of course when your bewildered friends ask why you would take the time and effort to install Linux on your old console, check your email before blowing them away in a rousing online match of Halo 2 and they'll see the light.

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