Destined to flop, or become an AAA title? Maybe Inside the Xbox knows ...

It has been a long time, if at all since the public has been given a chance to actually see inside the game development process. Sure, there are numerous articles about how to become a developer, places where developers talk about the process, DVD extras that profess to show the long & twisted route it took to get a game to production - but nothing that has actually showed us the real behind the scenes story. Luckily there is Inside the Xbox - a hour long documentary that follows several development studios through different parts of bringing their visions to the Xbox. From the initial creation of Halo to Blur Studio's troubled work on the new Crimson Skies title, the Discovery Channel gives us an addictive glimpse into this world.

Inside the Xbox takes the Xbox development mantra and runs with it - 'Great games are built by fostering one vision.' It's only fitting that they allow Ed Fries, Microsoft's liaison between the developers and Gates' piggy bank to open the show and succinctly explain Microsoft's position on developers. While I had read about Fries in Opening the Xbox, this was the first time that I really felt like he was passionate about video games and knew how to foster an environment where quality games can really get made. Unfortunately, it kind of makes you wonder how projects like Kabuki Warriors and Sneakers got off the group though.

Not your father's RTS FPS.

Blur Studios, the developers of Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge (a.k.a. CS: HRR) provide the foundation for Inside the Xbox - we meet up with them as they're in crunch mode trying to get CS: HRR shaped up for decisive meeting with Fries and crew - a meeting that will decide whether they'll be fully featured by Microsoft at E3, or just a side-note. During the rush several key members are introduced: the lead designer who wants to be an auteur so much it hurts, the young and cocky programmer, so on and so forth. A power strip dies and takes down three servers! They work out level strategies to make the gaming experience look as gripping as possible! It's just like college exam times all over again. As the hour goes on, we follow Blur Studios through numerous falterings, additional meetings with Fries and some parts that wouldn't feel out of place at Fat Babies. Ultimately it's Blur's story that makes up the meat of the documentary - giving us access to the design changes and disappointments they ended up facing.

We even get brand-spanking-new footage of this tasty game!

Occasionally Inside the Xbox takes a gander at other development companies. Take Bungie for example - they spend a good deal of their screen time reminiscing about Halo in a time before the Xbox, showcasing how it went from a Real-Time Strategy game to the FPS that has brought the Xbox so much acclaim. When they're not taking a trip down memory lane, they're taking us through bits and pieces of Halo 2 that have already been unleashed to the hungry fanboys. However most of the non-Blur material is Lorne Lanning hogging the spotlight. Lanning's enigmatically swarmy demeanor walks us through the disappointment known as Munch's Odyssey and goes into great detail about the new Oddworld game - especially the creation of the lead charchter 'Skeef' (possibly 'Steef' - either my ears or their enunciation was a bit fuzzy.) Watching Lanning explain his new character and world was strangely enticing, and the meeting between him and Fries is especially entertaining if for no other reason than to see Lanning become vividly animated while pitching Skeef. Obviously, the bulk of the Oddword Inhabitants section focuses primarily on prototype work, a far cry from the inroads that Blur has made with CR: HRR which fits snugly into the structure of Inside the Xbox.

Inside the Xbox is a surprisingly in-depth documentary that does justice to their subjects and to the gaming world. We're treated to an even handed, well told story that pulls back the curtains for those of us that aren't part of the development community. The interweaving of Blur's drama with bits of insight from other developers is tightly executed, providing a nice cohesion to the whole, as well as providing several different voices and experiences. Between Inside the Xbox and Gameheadz, I'm starting to think that the gaming world is finally starting to gain some respect from the mainstream media and the end result is well worth watching - even if you are just tuning in to see the Halo footage or to revel in the words of Double Fine you will still learn a bit more about the development process and enjoy yourself at the same time.

Inside the Xbox is currently airing on The Discovery Channel and is part of their On the Inside series of programming.