The name Xbox is a great name, in my opinion, though what I didn’t know was how many alternatives that were up against that name in the early stages of development. For the first time ever, the other potential names have been revealed by Seamus Blackley in an interview with Edge. 

“First, there were our code names, which were WEP – ‘Windows Entertainment Project’ – designed to make Microsoft executives comfortable, Midway – ‘Midway between a PC and a console or ‘Battle of Midway’ – you decide – and DirectX Box, which was shortened to xbox in email very early on.”

He then goes on to how he decided to ignore what the “naming guys” wanted to call it and just stick with Xbox.

“Phase four was a battle between us and the naming guys, when we decided we just wanted to risk it and go with Xbox – since that’s what everyone called it anyway – and they wanted, for some unknowable reason, to call it ‘11-X’ or ‘Eleven-X’. Finally, we told them no, but still had to decide: X-Box, xBox, XboX, Xbox, X-box…”

Below is the complete list of proposed names for the original Xbox. Yeah… there are some REAL WINNERS on this list! My personal favorites are FACE (Full Action Center) and MARZ (Microsoft Active Reality Zone)… I mean… REALLY?!

• MAX (Microsoft Action Experience)
• AIO (All In One)
• MIND (Microsoft Interactive Network Device)
• FACE (Full Action Center)
• MITH (Microsoft Interactive Theatre)
• XON (Experience Optimised Network)
• MVPC (Microsoft Virtual Play Center)
• TAC (Total Action Center – discs/games could be called TACs)
• MARC (Microsoft Action Reality Center)
• LEX (Live Entertainment Experience)
• M-PAC (Microsoft Play and Action Center)
• RPM (Real Performance Machine)
• MOX (Microsoft Optimal Experience)
• E2 (Extreme Experience)
• MTG (Microsoft Total Gaming)
• VIP (Virtual Interactive Player)
• PTP or P2P (Powered To Play)
• VIC (Virtual Interactive Center – disks/games could be called VICs)
• MARZ (Microsoft Active Reality Zone)
• TSO (Three, Six, Zero)
• EHQ (Entertainment Headquarters)
• O2 (Optimal Ozone or Optical Odyssey)
• MIC (Microsoft Interactive Center)
• R&R (Reality and Revolution)
• MEA (Microsoft Entertainment Activator)
• AMP (Active Microsoft Player)
• VPS (Virtual Play System)
• MAP (Microsoft Action Play)
• MEGA (Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Attendant or Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Assembly)
• CPG (CyberPlayGround)
• VERV (Virtual Entertainment & Reality Venture)
• OM (Odyssey of the Mind)
• P2 (PowerPlay)
• IS1 (Interactive System In One)
• MET (Microsoft Entertainment Technology or Microsoft Entertainment Theatre)