product that ventured into the console arena, after having collaborated with Sega in porting Windows CE to the Dreamcast console. Xbox first released on November 15, 2001 in North America.The Xbox was initially developed within Microsoft by a small team which included game developer Seamus Blackley. Microsoft repeatedly delayed the console, which finally emerged at the end of 1999 following interviews of Bill Gates. Gates said that a gaming/multimedia device was essential for multimedia convergence in the new times of digital entertainment.On March 10, 2000 the "X-box Project" was officially confirmed by Microsoft with a press release. Notable launch titles for the Xbox console included Halo: Combat Evolved, Amped: Dead or Alive 3, Project Gotham Racing, Freestyle Snowboarding, and Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee.As time progressed, Microsoft's J Allard was responsible for the hardware and system software development. Ed Fries was responsible for all game development on the platform. Mitch Koch was responsible for sales and marketing and all three reported to Robbie Bach. This team was also primarily responsible for Microsoft's follow-up product, the Xbox 360.