Mystery Tech: A Look at an Original Xbox

We picked up this original Xbox on Christmas, and I couldn't wait to see what it was like inside. The console itself is in pretty good shape, with some minor signs of wear and tear.

The packaging is a bit dusty, but overall, it looks like the seller took care of this thing. We did open it up, though, and sure enough, there's everything that came with the original Xbox - controller, cables, manual... even a few extra goodies.

I was curious to see how clean the console was, especially compared to our own old Xbox. Well, let me tell you, this one is spotless. I mean, it's basically like new. The only thing that really stood out was the disc drive - it looks like it might be a bit sticky or something.

As we pulled everything out, I started to think about how this console would work with our modern Xbox Series X. But then, we decided not to make a comparison video... yet. Instead, let's just fire up the original Xbox and play some games!

We plugged in the disc drive and popped in one of my favorite games - Project Gotham Racing. And to our surprise, it started right up! Well, sort of... the console seemed to be having a bit of an identity crisis, but we managed to get it working.

As it whirred to life, I couldn't help but notice how different it sounded from our modern consoles. It was like disc grinding - very 90s. But then, things took a turn for the worse. We tried to play another game, but the console just wouldn't cooperate.

At first, we thought maybe it was just a minor issue, but eventually, we realized that the problem ran deeper. The console couldn't recognize any discs! I mean, I've seen some weird stuff in my time with Mystery Tech, but this was something new.

After a few minutes of troubleshooting, Ken managed to get the disc drive working again - sort of. We were able to play a few seconds of gameplay before it just froze up on us. It was like the console was saying, "Sorry, I'm not working today."

In the end, we decided to try something a bit unconventional: putting the disc in our Xbox Series X. And you know what? It worked! We were able to play Project Gotham Racing without any issues.

While this whole experience has been a bit of an anticlimax, it's still been fun to tinker with the old console. Who knows what other surprises we'll find as we continue to mess around with Mystery Tech?

Thanks for watching this episode of Mystery Tech - and don't forget to ring that notification bell so you can stay up-to-date on all our shenanigans!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(swooshing sound)- Whoa.Wow!You almost knocked me out with that one.Hello and welcome to Mystery Tech.(serene music plays)Wrapping paper?(papers rustle)(serene music continues)This is a tree.Is this the Christmas episode?(upbeat serene music continues)(laughs)I'm actually happy.I've always wanted a Santa costume.- What size is that costume?- This is a small.- How does a Santa costumecome in anything otherthan an extra large?As a fat guy,I am so offended by this.( Austin laughs)- You bring up a good point.You bring up a good point.No one wants a skinny Santa.(bell rings)Matt, have you everdressed up as Santa before?- Wow, I take offense to that.As a fat guy...Yeah, I have.(Austin laughs)(zips costume up)(upbeat music plays)- Ho, ho, ho and welcometo Christmas Tech.Is my beard in my mouth right now?Absolutely!But why don't we builda little bit of holiday(spits)cheer?(spitting continues)(gags)(serene lo-fi music)Its all in my mouth.(lo-fi beats playing)So does this stand up by itself?It feel like it needs tocome with some type of base.Oh, yeah. There it is.(lo-fi beats continue)All right.- Santa, I thought I wouldhelp you out by giving youwhat the kids that you areservicing really, really want.- Please don't sayservicing kids ever again.(Matt laughs)And so...(bell rings)Is that?That's just a PlayStation.- It wouldn't fit in the sack.- Did you put the PlayStation in my sack?- I did. Well, I tried.Don't. Oh, no, no.Okay, then base it on the floor.(Austin groans)- So, as the hottest gift of 2020...- That's, that's for resale.- Wow!We don't even get to un-box the PS5.Did you already sell that one?- Yes.(serene music)- All right.Sonny tech.Some kind of bright technologyfor your holiday gift giving needs.Okay.A lot of packaging.- What is going on with this?- There's a lot of layers.Somethings needs to be kept safe.(sniffs)- Wait, is that just tin foil?- I think this is tin foil.(Matt laughs)This is just tin foil.What have you gotten?- So this is one ofthose education science toys.- Oh, I like these.Okay.I'm about to learn something?- Probably not.- So the whole idea behind thisis that it is a levitating motor.- Oh, that's cool.All right. All right.How's it powered?- It might actuallybe solar, which I know is...- You mean all the natural light in here.I'll just put it in frontof the very real windowand then, you know,it'll be powered, right?- Yeah.(swooshing sound)- Okay.So how do I arrange this?Could basically be it's tochange the float, right?Oh, like that?Nope.Oh, Oh, wait.It might be working.- Way to go. Oh yeah.- Oh, look at that.- Oh, just.Yeah.- Wow.That's pretty cool.I'm afraid of it falling off.So essentially the solarpanels are, actually,what's happening there.So it's got solar panelsand a bunch of copperwire wound on the inside.So, I'm guessing that's creatinglike an electric magnetic field.I mean, that's, these areactually moving pretty fast.Dude, I love these science toys though.That is so cool.Science is great.(upbeat lo-fi music)(swooshing sound)This episode of mysterytech is sponsored by LGand their brand new XBOOM PL Seriesof Bluetooth party speakers.(upbeat lo-fi music)So this is the PL2, thesmallest and cheapestin the rangeand it kicks some serious, serious soundout of a very small and lightweight package.But when we jump up tothe PL5 as well as PL7,not only do you getthat full LED lighting,but importantly you alsoget a ton of battery life.Not only do you get that dualaction bass with the speakerswhich vibrate along with your musicand you get those LED's,but it's also beencustom-tuned by Meridianfor that excellent quality sound.So, if you want to up your audio gamedefinitely be sure to go checkout the LG XBOOM PL seriesspeakers at the link in the description.And again, huge shout out to LGfor sponsoring thisepisode of Mystery Tech.(swooshing sound)(bell rings)(box drops)Whoo!Oh, okay. Oh, okay.Well that's a lot of things.All right.So these are-How many of these do you have?(whirring sound)- Oh!Oh, this is the thingthat they try to sell youat the mall.And is overpriced as hell.(toy buzzes around)- Oh, Jesus Christ.(Austin laughs)(toy buzzes around)- That seems to be bouncing up.(toys buzz)Well, that one's flying.(toy continues to buzz)Yeah.Oh!- Well, they're goingstraight into Santa's sack.Ho ho, ho.Whoosh!(box flies then drops)(swooshing sound)(box drops)Mutrics!Smart gaming glasses.- By the way, thisis another P.O. Box item.We did not buy this.- Yeah, I could tell 'cause it's getting-The items are getting questionable.So with our smart gaming glasses,we have blue light reduction lensesBluetooth 5.0 with Google and Siri,hands-free calls.They're Bluetooth.- I guess.- Ooh, this is actually a verynice little carrying case.Oh, wow!They're Gameboys theme.Look at that.- Oh, I like that.- Whoo!Am I Santa from 1989?- They make you look older.- You look like the FTC Chair.(Austin chuckles)- Pai?- Pai, yeah.- He's leaving.- I know!- Oh, the top of theglasses light up. Look at that.Yo!- Do they?- Look at that.Wow, in a straight line too.- This is really quiet.Can you hear this?(music blares quietely)- Yes.(music continues)- How much?How much can you hear this?- Barely.And I don't have the headphonesto hear your mic, so.- So they sound decent, right?And it's certainly not as goodas a pair of headphones,but I guess if you wanna,like, take a call or somethingyou'd be able to hear it all right.I think I'd still preferto wear headphones.I think it's more of a gimmick.It's more so about the lookof these glasses than anything else.Do we know how much these are?I mean, they look kinda expensive.- Whoa!- It's a kickstarter.- $200.- Wow.- So the whole thing is,it's about the audioand the audio is fine.- I mean, designerglasses cost the same.- Yeah.- But like..- But are these..Look,if you're about this style,and you want a pair ofglasses that will give youlike that blue lightprotection and looks cooland we'll give you some audio that's fine.- I just, I likeit more for the look.- Yeah.- These are the nicestlooking like, quote unquote,like geek wear that I think I've seen.- Yeah.- Like for the gimmick.- Yeah, yeah, yeah.And again if I could seethrough non-prescription lenses,I'm sure it would look great.- You're nearsighted.You can just use your phonereally up-close to your faceand you'll be good.- Yeah.It's great.(upbeat electric music)Glasses look so good.(swooshing effect)- Santa, close your eyes.- Okay.Santa Claus has beeninformed to close his eyes.(lighthearted music)I wanna peek right now.(lighthearted music continues)- Good choice of words.- That sounded big.Can I open my eyes yet?- Yes.(lighthearted music)- Pop!Pikachu!I mean, I see you didforget to take off the tagfrom GameStop.It says 99.99.- Oh, don't worry.We used your Pro-Rewards.We got like $10 off.- Oh, thanks. Appreciate it.- I actually hate Funko pops.Their quality control is God awful.- Yeah.- But, in big size,I don't think I'd mind.And most importantly,you put it on the set.- Yes.- Don't cut your...- I'm not cutting my hand.I appreciate thoughthat you immediately went for the camera.So if I do cut myself, atleast we get it on camera.- Oh, I mean, it's for the content.- It's for the contentBehold!Wow!Wow, wow!- That's not whatI was expecting at all.- What are you?Wait, is it just a head?(Austin laughs)What do I do with this?What do I say about this?It actually does look cuterin person, I will say.Once you get rid of thehorrible looking box.So, if you know a Pokemon fan in your lifeand you want to give theman obnoxiously large Pikachuand make a GameStopemployee really hate you,then the giant Funko Pikachu...Wait, do I look like Santa Ash?- That's actually kindaadorable, not gonna lie.For once in his life,Austin made a friend.(lighthearted music)- But I paid for him.- Oh.Well, I mean, you do that for us too, so.- Yeah, but we don'teven consider him friends.- Yeah, fair enough.(lighthearted music continues)- Come. Come Pikachuinto my sack.(laughter in background) .They can't hurt you here.Ho, ho, ho!Merry Christmas.- That's not what the sack is for.- Man, I thought PETAhated Pokemon but like-(laughs)Oh, man, wait untilthey watch Austin Evans.They came up with the mosthumane way to capture Pokemon.It's with Pokeballs notwith a (bleep) sack dude.(Austin and Ken laugh)- That's some Team Rocket (bleep).(Austin laughs harder)- I finally caught Pikachu.I guarantee you Team Rockethas dressed up as Santa before.- They definitely have!(laughs heartily)- They have notdressed up as Santa,but they did kidnap him.- Jesse andJames kidnapped Santa?- Correct.- Okay. Got it.Well, Mystery Tech is goinggreat today, isn't it?- Are you gonnatake him out of the stack?- No, he lives there now.I'll pick him up when he's big enough.(swooshing sound)(bell rings)- This is from all of us.'Cause, you know, it's Christmas.- Polar pen!What's a polar pen?Why do I need a polar pen?- Well, you'refrom the North Pole, so.- Oh, clever!A bunch of...- The box has beenshifted around a fair bit.But the idea is that it is a penthat you can play with'cause it is all magnetsand comes apart.We know you like your pens.- I do like my pens.- So, there's-There's some pens and balls.- Oh, wow.It like, actually-Oh, okay.That's, yeah,you're not kidding.That's a pen that comes apart.(fumbles with pen)(lighthearted music)- And you can make them disappear.- Remember how Isaid it was from all of us?- Yeah.- It's actually just P.O. Box.- That was just P.O. Box.(Matt laughs)- Matt, I'm about to put you in my sack.(Matt laughs)- Aww, with Pikachu.(fast paced lighthearted music)- Magnets.- How do they work?- It's a mystery.Unknown by human minds.(swooshing sound)(lighthearted serene music)Is that?(lighthearted music continues)That's an original Xbox.- Why, yes it is.- Okay, well, it's been opened.But is this like a complete original Xbox?- Yes!- Dude, this is likestraight up everythingthat came with the original Xbox.Wow.- And a couple extras.- Look at that.That's control right there.- So, we have likeone or two original Xboxesbut they're all scuffed up.- We do.- I just wanna see.- How clean this thing is?- Yeah, 'cause Ihaven't taken a peek yet, so.- All right.(upbeat music continues)(removes the Xbox)- Christmas is over.- Fine.Look at this.They tell you how to connect it to a TVvia your VCR.(upbeat lo-fi music)- Remember, this was a media player.- Yeah.This is in pretty good shape.I do think it has been usedbut it's been nicely repackaged.It is, yeah, I'd say it's in good shape.- That is cleaner than our...- It's very clean.- Yeah.- It's very clean.So why don't we fire up the original Xboxand see if it matchesup to the Xbox Series X.Oh, sorry, not now.Let's not make a comparison video.We've already done enough of those.(swishing sound)Let's just play someXbox games, shall we?(swooshing sound)Here goes nothing.Ooh!As it whirrs to life.- It sounds like disc grinding.- Also we're not gettingany signal though.- Like all relics of this time.(Ken stumps hand)- Wow!What is wrong with you?- It's of the early 2000's.It should just work now.(lighthearted music)- I don't thinkit's just gonna work.- That was the late 90's.(lighthearted music continues)- Anything?- Yeap.- What, really?- I don't know. Look at that.- Oh, so yeah. That was totally...(chuckles nervously)- So you just didn't plug it in.- Yes, yes, yes.(lighthearted music)Can't recognize this disc.Oh, well that...I guess that's also a problem.The disc is 100% fine.Ken!(blows air out)Stop, stop!That's...(blows air out)Wrong console.(beats console rhythmically)I'm gonna walk back in with this.(continues to tap console)(upbeat lo-fi music)(Ken laughs)- It worked!(continues to laugh)I was just petting it.It was...(laughs happily)Well, I brought all myXbox games but okay.All right.All right, I mean, Idefinitely wanna play Sega.Okay. Quick battle?Yeah. I wanna do quick battle.(upbeat guitar music)That does not sound good.(upbeat guitar music)(taps on console)There we go.- Ooh, I'm telling you, man.Like it's...- You're nursing it through right now.- Yeah.- It is not happy.- Have you ever used thedefibrillator before?That's the same preview?- Have you?- No.(upbeat string music continues)- Okay, good chat.- Okay, maybe it's broken.Oh no, no, no.It's not broken.Oh, nevermind.Oh, you just took it out.Oh, your project Gotham.- Yeah.Let's just try a different game.- That's my favorite Xbox game.- We just try a different game.(lighthearted music)Think at this point.While it has been aMerry Christmas for many,for us, I don't know ifit's gonna work today.You know what though?We could put this disc in a Series X...(lighthearted music continues)You're trying to tell methat the only solution toChristmas this year is a PS5?- Well not, no, not this one.That one's still resale dude.- Thank you very muchfor watching this episodeof Mystery Tech.Is this an anticlimactic endto what was a very mediocre video?Well, yeah, I do think it is.But thank you for subscribing nonetheless.And most importantly,thank you for ringingthat notification bell.So you'll always be kept up to datewhen shenanigans like this occur.I'm gotta fix that Xbox now.- Let's put a PC inside of it.(upbeat lightheartedmusic plays then ends)