It’s been more than a decade since Microsoft introduced the original Xbox, and since then we’ve grown increasingly used to its name. Just ask anybody who plays video games if they think the Xbox name is weird and they’ll probably say no. If they do find it weird, they probably only noticed it because you asked. Heck, we live in a world where Nintendo has two consoles with the word Wii in them so Xbox is just fine either way.

But if you’ve ever thought that the Xbox name was bad, you should be glad they decided to go with it. Because if they didn’t, we might be calling very console that may or may not be sitting in your living room right now, some very atrocious name or acronym. What about MIND, for Microsoft Interactive Network Device? Or maybe FACE, for Full Action Center? Yeah, I thought so.

The names were recently revealed via an interview by Edge with one of the members of the original Xbox team, Seamus Blackley. The ‘naming guys’ of Microsoft apparently wanted the console to be called the 11-X. But Blackley thought that name, and along with all the other acronyms were “crap.”

One of the other names for the console was DirectX Box. According to Blackley, this name was frequently shortened to xbox in emails. Turns out that nickname stuck, because the team eventually decided to just risk it and go with Xbox. And whatever you think about the name right now, I have to say I’m glad they did. I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I had to say something along the lines of, “Hey, wanna play Odyssey of the Mind?”

Here’s the complete list of names that were suggested by Microsoft’s naming guys:

– MAX (Microsoft Action Experience)
– AIO (All In One)
– MIND (Microsoft Interactive Network Device)
– FACE (Full Action Center)
– MITH (Microsoft Interactive Theatre)
– XON (Experience Optimised Network)
– MVPC (Microsoft Virtual Play Center)
– TAC (Total Action Center – discs/games could be called TACs)
– MARC (Microsoft Action Reality Center)
– LEX (Live Entertainment Experience)
– M-PAC (Microsoft Play and Action Center)
– RPM (Real Performance Machine)
– MOX (Microsoft Optimal Experience)
– E2 (Extreme Experience)
– MTG (Microsoft Total Gaming)
– VIP (Virtual Interactive Player)
– PTP or P2P (Powered To Play)
– VIC (Virtual Interactive Center – disks/games could be called VICs)
– MARZ (Microsoft Active Reality Zone)
– TSO (Three, Six, Zero)
– EHQ (Entertainment Headquarters)
– O2 (Optimal Ozone or Optical Odyssey)
– MIC (Microsoft Interactive Center)
– R&R (Reality and Revolution)
– MEA (Microsoft Entertainment Activator)
– AMP (Active Microsoft Player)
– VPS (Virtual Play System)
– MAP (Microsoft Action Play)
– MEGA (Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Attendant or Microsoft Entertainment & Gaming Assembly)
– CPG (CyberPlayGround)
– VERV (Virtual Entertainment & Reality Venture)
– OM (Odyssey of the Mind)
– P2 (PowerPlay)
– IS1 (Interactive System In One)
– MET (Microsoft Entertainment Technology or Microsoft Entertainment Theatre)

What do you think was the worst name in this list? Share it with us in the comments!

[via Edge]