Xbox launch named 'top Microsoft moment'

The launch of the Xbox has been identified as a "top Microsoft moment" by Time magazine.

"At the turn of the century, Microsoft and Bill Gates realised that the company really, really wanted a piece of the video game market," it said.

"Gates built buzz for the Xbox for over a year before unveiling the console at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2001. By the holiday shopping season, gamers all over America wanted them, launching a three-way battle for video game dominance between the Xbox, Sony's PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube.

"More than 1,000 people lined up in Times Square to snag the first Xboxes at midnight on November 15. Microsoft had a $500 million (£335 million) marketing budget for the game platform."

The report was published to commemorate Windows' 25th anniversary. The Xbox launch ranked at number eight in the list.