Crystal Xbox
Origin: Europe
Original Price: 199 euros
Number of Units: Unknown
Why It's Cool: Um, do you really need reason? Just look at the thing for Pete's sake! Sporting a sexy "crystal clear" casing, the Crystal Xbox just launched in Europe and will be available throughout spring of 2004. The console comes with two matching crystal controllers, and is packaged in a nifty white box that just screams "Buy me!" Yeah, the clear casing can't hide the fact that the Xbox is a gargantuan console, but being able to see the insides makes us feel a little bit better. Kinda.
Translucent green Xbox
Origin: Europe
Original Price: 229.99 euros
Number of Units: Unknown
Why It's Cool: First of all, it's Xbox Green. Everyone associates the color green with Xbox, so having a matching console only makes sense. Like the recently released Crystal version, the translucent green Xbox comes packaged with two - you guessed it! - translucent green controllers. The other cool thing about this Xbox is that it looks just like a debug units used by developers and journalists. The only noticeable difference is lack of the words "Debug Unit" on the right side of the unit. With this version, you can wave it around really quickly and tell friends you have a debug unit. Just don't stop waving the unit around.
Translucent gray Xbox
Origin: Japan
Original Price: 35,800 yen
Number of Units: 50,000
Why It's Cool: The first limited edition Xbox, the translucent gray one was released when the Xbox launched in Japan. What makes this package so cool (besides the clear casing) is that it comes with not only a matching controller, but also component video cables, and a special keychain featuring Bill Gates' signature and an engraved serial number. Okay, so maybe it's not that cool, but they are limited in numbers. Whee!
Dino Crisis 3LE
Origin: Japan
Original Price: 26,800 yen
Number of Units: Unknown
Why It's Cool: Well, the bad news is that the console in this package is a standard black Xbox. What is cool is the fancy Dino Crisis 3 box that it comes in. Doesn't it look ferocious? If the size of the Xbox doesn't scare you, then this box will. But the box isn't the only thing that makes the package special. Along with the console, you also get a DVD kit, and a copy of Dino Crisis 3. We know it's not the coolest package in the world, but it's better than a keychainÂ…right? Er, nevermind.
Pure White Limited
Origin: Japan
Original Price: 19,800 yen
Number of Units: 1000
Why It's Cool: You realize that you're looking at a pure white Xbox don't you? The white beauty also ships with a white controller, the DVD kit, and an Xbox Live Starter Kit. All of this for only 19,800 yen! But wait, there's more. Everyone who gets one gets to put a personalized, 20-character message on it before receiving it. Is that not the coolest thing in the world? Not only do 1000 lucky souls get a gorgeous console, but each one is truly one of a kind. Unfortunately, the only way to get one was through a lottery on Xbox Japan's website. And yes, they're all sold out.
Kasumi Chan-blue
Origin: Japan
Original Price: 22,800 yen
Number of Units: 5000
Why It's Cool: It's big, it's blue, it's got "Dead or Alive Online" tattooed in the corner. And the box features a ginormous picture of Kasumi on it. Plus, it comes with a DVD playback kit, 12 months of Xbox Live, a blue controller, and a copy of Dead or Alive Online. Sold through retail channels, the blue Xbox is a bit easier to come by. And good thing, too, because if there's one thing we love, it's Kasumi! We're patiently awaiting our blue Xbox from Japan. Anoop already failed his mission of getting us a pure white one, so if he doesn't come through this time, we're gonna get Otogi on his ass!
Panzer Dragoon Orta Xbox
Origin: Japan
Original Price: 35,800 yen
Number of Units: 999
Why It's Cool: This is the mothership of all special edition Xbox consoles. Featuring a white casing with the Panzer Dragoon Orta logo, as well as the dragon on top, this is by far the hardest of all the special edition Xbox consoles to come by. And with only 999 units made, it's also the rarest (though it's only one less than the pure white xbox). Beautiful and elegant, the Panzer Xbox makes us forget how silly the Xbox really looks. The worst part about it? We can't get one. If you have one you'd like to get rid of, send mail here. We have lots of cool stuff to trade!
