Blue Bell (Halo) Original Xbox - Rare Variants - Adam Koralik

It's Adam Koralik here and today we're discussing the rare Canadian exclusive blue Bell (phone) Halo Ice Edition OG Microsoft Xbox. It's a bizarre console, and not quite the same as its Asian Dead or Alive and Halo counterparts.
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[@DisneyVideoArchive]

The could have called this Xbox the Mountain Dew Voltage Xbox.

[@wizardorlegend]

I can remember when the Crystal Xbox went on sale in the uk. People were selling the box alone with no console for several hundred pounds. Good to know nothing has changed in almost 20 years.

[@lukelax1717]

I wonder how many total we're actually made of the Bell Canada blue. You would think even less total than the asia halo 2 bundle, or even the dead or alive bundle. Because of the convoluted way of obtaining them. I love my crystal blue xbox, glad to see some love given to it!

[@Riful]

Very nice have always wanted one of these. My two notable rare consoles would be a Yellow and a Blue Automotive Edition PS2.

[@1Soniccool]

I want to see that PS2

[@Riful]

@@1Soniccool I should get around to making a video, or just post pics on twitter.

[@GaffsNotLaffs]

The rarest console I have is the ACNH Switch, so count your blessing hahaha

[@Chicomite]

Man, I remember when they were marketing those, they never really made it clear that the point was using that cool, automotive paint for cars. I would kill for the red one right now. Wasn't the marketing tied into Auto Modellista or was it a different racing game? The consoles are beautiful, that's for sure, love me a fat PS2.

[@IAMBrenner]

The fact that Nintendo and Microsoft did really cool textured transparent consoles in the late 90s/early to mid 2000s really makes me wish that they'd do that again. Sure, a black box is cool looking but man...those transparent colorful things really pop! I also hope that we'll get some clear consoles this generation again.

[@Riz2336]

I've never heard of or seen that type of og xbox, good rare unit you got there

[@nimrodlevy]

Sooo interesting! Your the only one in the retro community that not just review and rank. I love that! Thank you! I still remember the supid yet blessed effort of documenting the dental jaguar molds. Love it! Thank you! Big fan of your channel!

[@shazkhan9295]

Whoa that was a heck of a way to find out Terry Diebold passed away. Can't believe I missed that. Anyway RIP, met him at some conventions before, he seemed like a nice guy.

[@MetalGreggNY75]

Hey Adam. This video was awesome. I remember seeing one eBay listing YEARS ago a blue XBOX from Canada. Your info on Bell is correct. My dad is an Italian born Canadian (Montreal, Quebec to be exact). I haven’t been to Canada since 2004-2005. My parents got divorced in ‘88. For a long time my dad and his side of the family has been distant and at one point became estranged. It’s only been in the last 4 years my dad and I have been in contact...but I digress. As far as Bell goes, Bell used to sponsor the huge Arena in Montreal (prior to it being known as Olympic Stadium). It then changed sponsorship and ended up being renamed Molsen Ice Center Arena (where the Montreal Canadians NHL team plays). I also remember here in the states when Bell was Bell Atlantic the telephone company.

[@SuperNicktendo]

Not to mention there were a TON of 3rd party shells at the time and it's pretty easy to make them indistinguishable from special translucent ones.

[@JAGO_Tech]

Sucks the current transparent shells are so fragile & cheaply made.

[@ThePrimo80s]

Great video Adam. Your videos always come packed with tons of information and great story’s.

[@ScottCastle]

I am a huge Halo fan. 2 being my favorite, I had no idea about the Japanese Halo 2 Blue Ice console.... I wish I still didn't haha. $$

[@aaliguy9986]

I have the Halo 2 blue console. I got it off a friend without the box, and for almost a decade I didn't even know it was a special edition. :D

[@DisneyVideoArchive]

Bell=AT&T (Bell system was owned by AT&T before having to spin them off. The ultimately bought back some parts of Bell, but others were bought by competitors such as Verizon. Bell Canada remains independent or is owned by a Canadian company.)

[@THE_VictoryPictures]

I blame Terrance and Philip for not making this available outside of Canada, it looks great.

[@Millenium-Mige]

I'm a bit envious over that Dead or Alive Ultimate box style. Here in Europe it only had a standard case.

[@HKgaming86]

Bell is actually named after the famous "Canadian" Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the Telephone (Alexander Graham Bell was actually born in Scotland and considered himself a naturalized citizen of the UK, Canada & the US )

[@Foxstar1387]

Also where the phrase " Give us a Bell " comes from

[@CharlieandCelina]

I miss your store walkthrough videos so much, Adam-they give me nostalgia from when I was still in university. I can’t wait for those to start up again, great video as always!

[@electricboltz9028]

Dude!!! I remember like around 6 or 7 years ago I found a few of the blue og Xbox at value village here in Canada for $20-50 and just never bought them because where I lived it wasn't worth a whole lot. So I never bought them (looking back now I obviously regret it) But eventually I ended up finding a really rare Green Xbox it was the non Halo edition which was far rarer in Canada for $30 at Value Village. I never saw another non Halo edition for sale for years, it still hard to find to this day because the one with the halo badge is more common and the same color. Sadly I no longer have it I don't exactly remember if I sold it or traded it for something else rare.

[@MetalGreggNY75]

My Dad now lives an hour outside of Ottawa in a town called Cornwall....He used to live in Barre but then he and his g/f moved. Toy Ratt sounds like a cool store. I have looked up there website on Google....hope to visit it one of these days after the pandemic ends.

[@AdamKoralik]

I've been to Barrie. There was a Game Swap event up there a couple years back.

[@Klippenschubser]

Thank you Adam for this fun and informative video.

[@Systematix]

I just picked up this console in box. It still has the plastic cover on the power buttons. It was just on the shelf at a local games store. I do not think they knew what they had. I got it for a reasonable price as well. This is awesome to see! Thanks for doing a video on this!

[@xxrodneyxx]

Awesome find Adam. One of my favorite systems.

[@AaronHendu]

Southern Ontarian here, and I really hope the games stores make it through the pandemic...I'm sure you've been to a few of them in my city (Kitchener-Waterloo).

[@nicmonberg5974]

In the UK they was selling those blue controllers with white jewel retail but not the blue console. (I had one swapped it with a friend for crystal one) At end of XB life the left over stock of the console shells could be purchased I had a few friends that picked up smoke black for about £40. (A friend also picked up which never seen any one mention halo green but the front was smoke black console)

[@gavin555666]

You just made my crystal Xbox more exciting to have lol. I wish my green one was the halo one but it’s just the transparent green one which is still cool too lol. Now I’m going to be on the look out for one of these blue ones now lol thanks.

[@bdillmore40]

Great video Adam! Loved it! I have seen both the translucent blue Dead or Alive edition Halo console (on line), and the crystal edition Xbox console at my local flea market years ago. I wish I would've bought that crystal edition Xbox console. The guy who was selling it, was selling it loose console only (no cords, or controllers) for $50. I thought that was too much. The guy wouldn't negotiate, and that's the story.

[@bdillmore40]

I also wanted to say that in the footage you showed in the video of ToyRatt, that is the second time I've EVER seen a Coleco Gemini. Aside from looking it up on eBay. Talk about an obscure rare console.

[@AdamKoralik]

I did a video on one of you want to see a bunch of close ups.

[@bdillmore40]

@@AdamKoralik Yeah sure! That'd be cool. I meant to say that I own a Coleco Gemini, so that is the 2nd one I've ever seen.

[@AdamKoralik]

@@bdillmore40 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZSoemmhgNSee6s

[@stevenbenson9976]

@adam - the offer thru bell outside of Ontario and everything east of Ontario was thru the bell satellite service, expressvu. It may have also been available via satellite service. At the time that this deal was going on, Microsoft was partnered with bell for dial up service. It was called Sympatico, and yeah, this was an extension of their partnership.

[@AdamKoralik]

Interesting, thanks!

[@RealNonsonic]

Great video, I actually went to school with the owner (Ivano) he still has the store going, ads on Facebook etc. There is also insane game stores out in Oshawa area with retro games as a focus. Outside of the stores during regular non-covid life, Ontario has a ton of collectible shows coving toys and of course gaming. I have the clear Xbox, a halo version, and some others as I collect the original Xbox.

[@jameshartley95]

i never knew about this! thanks for the upload adam!

[@pauldoake6188]

So glad I watched. This is is great information about the blue Xbox. Guru Xbox knowledge. Thanks.

[@CCH3900]

An exclusive Canadian Blue Xbox, how did I miss this. Also, a Canadian Exclusive Xbox and it's not Red, hmmm? Good work finding this beauty Adam! R.I.P. Terry

[@CCH3900]

I should clarify not getting it. Just not hearing about this at all, at the time.

[@vxconsulting]

awesome. shoutout from southern Ontario. Blows my mind how these small video game stores make any profit being as nice as they are.

[@sophisticated]

I sold my Crystal Xbox on ebay in 2020. It's one of the nicest looking xbox.

[@Whenitraveltheworld]

Great round up Adam, I was thinking the same thing about people switching the plates when you were taking about as the Crystal is fairly common, I was surprised you have not picked up a crystal console when you had been in Europe, they are typically no more than 50 with a working controller etc. Hope all is well. Looking forward to your 2021 4 years in switch video in March.

[@trevormorgan9084]

Telecom Technician here.... "Bell" is named after Alexander Graham Bell - who invented the telephone, and was also Canadian. Most would be surprised to learn that what we know today as modern-day AT&T was actually created by Alexander Graham Bell. "Bell" as a company was relevant even in the States until the split of companies as you mentioned due to Monopolies and what was known as "Bell Systems" or "Ma Bell" were formed, springing several different companies that we know today or have known in the not to distant past like US West, Qwest and so forth. Then companies like Qwest became at least in my region of the upper-midwest, Century Link in the midwestern region of the United States. It's amazing to think that the man that created the telephone, which spurred a plethora of companies as "Telephone companies", that are now becoming known to modern society as ISP's or Internet Service Providers. Not sure how much of that actually matters, it's just interesting that comapnies are still using the "Bell" name considering that the creation of the telephone was well over 100 years ago and the prominence of the telephone as we once knew it and as it was intended is essentially becoming more and more obsolete and inexistent as the years go by... Oh yah....I LOVE the blue console! Would accompany my Grape Purple N64 perfectly side-by-side!

[@SupaBubbaMusic]

I haven’t played video games in many years yet I always come back to see this man talk about them, what is this phenomenon

[@AdamKoralik]

Love.

[@lorddavinci5468]

I never knew this. Thank you for doing the research and telling us the story!

[@techninefan90]

I enjoyed learning the history behind this xbox. thank you, Adam.

[@HedgehogY2K]

Who knew Xboxes can have big stories.

[@lordcanti]

Yes! Love these videos!! Keep em comin

[@chaospoet]

Adam: "If you're around my age you might remember Bell." Me: "Good old Ma Bell!" I've seen this version of the console once and until this video I thought I hallucinated it or it was a dream.

[@robfly]

Props for mentioning 'Future Shop'. Eventually bought out by BestBuy in Canada. Nostalgic for me for sure!

[@Cimone90]

Was a great company. Enjoyed working for them since 2008

[@SlipKnoTfreak1456]

holy shit, Limited Edition Halo 2 that hasn't rusted into oblivion...now I need to find myself one 😂

[@dyland9209]

Southern Ontario still does have alot of video game stores. Every small city is worth stopping in :) the large ones too!

[@jtlovescodelyoko]

I don't know if it's just a Texan me but I first thought that this was a Blue Bell Ice cream variant Xbox console, then I saw the Halo and I facepalm at myself

[@dmtenor]

Nah same here, you can’t say Blue Bell lightly around here! Never forget the Blue Bell Listeria drought of 2015...

[@EvaFull]

What an interesting story about a rare variant. Hopefully you find out more for a future update video.

[@darthv72]

Awesome. One day I hope to have the Mt Dew, Crystal and this blue xbox. I shared this to the xbox collecting group on fb so hopefully it gets more views.

[@raidendigital1003]

I'm glad they took out the copy of Halo 2. My experience of playing that game for the first time was in 2015 was; Having a Microsoft employee coming into my house about 5/8 of the way through the game, smacking the controller out of my hand and yelling at me "Hey stupid! Go buy a 360 and Halo 3!!!" Cus that's literally how that game ends. I have yet to comply, I've been too busy hording big speakers, and throwing my money away into payphones.

[@retroandmoderngaming493]

Really nice looking xbox, perfect for the 20th annivesary of both the console and halo 1

[@zpushy633sora8]

Awesome Sega Genesis Collection in the Background

[@PacMaster]

Just snagged this rare variant for a pretty good price considering how expensive they are! Came in the mail yesterday! I paid about $560 U.S for it not great but also not terrible either. But then again I got like 3 controllers with it one being with the silver jewel on the controller and quite a few games with it to. Now to put it alongside my Crystal Xbox.

[@frankspanoudis7944]

Oh bro I am in love with this console... man thanks for Sharing this video... one off the best man.. watching from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@BirdMan00]

That's a surprisingly good looking console, I want one now lol

[@joaolopes9165]

Also there is a white one released with Panzer Dragoon Orta in Japan . It is my favorite xbox .

[@johsonug92]

Great Video!

[@DEFGI]

Dad jokes....is there something you're not telling us Adam?

[@theshadowman1398]

Can girls get pregnant through zoom these days ?

[@AdamKoralik]

Ha, no.

[@mraaron1584]

back in 2004-2005 bell or rogers would have been the 2 main choices for isp unlike now were there is a bunch of smaller ones to pick from on top of them albeit the smaller guys still have to use bell and rogers network. also back then both of them were huge on forcing u to sign contacts for 2-3 years to get "deals" on the price of service so someone signing up for that 2 year contact would not have been uncommon back then but for someone to have been signing then and also wanting to spend 250 or 150 on an xbox at the same time would have been pretty slim.

[@FRANKENBERRY.]

cool console that's a cool color scheme that i would love to own some day but wouldn't get actual use just keep it as a show piece

[@GAMINGMATRIXXX]

We got some very cool variants of the Xbox OG up here in Canada🇨🇦 I have the Crystal Clear version.

[@iliketurtles4869]

I like turtles

[@michaelmoratto]

Hey! Hows the covid recovery going?

[@iliketurtles4869]

@@michaelmoratto hey thanks for asking! I'm doing great now, I still can't really smell or taste much but I don't have any other symptoms anymore.

[@NaestyNaes]

Quite.

[@ctg8563]

I also like turtles.

[@hudsongold2080]

Hello Adam... I Had The Crystal One & The Green Halo One.... I Have To Say Though, That Blue One's The Nicest I've Seen... Another Great Video,.. 👍

[@1stfloorguy59]

I got one of those about 6-7 years ago my buddy bought a house and the owners must have run out of room or didn't care much for a collection of old consoles and games. When i got there I was like "wow matt this stuff is cool why is it on the front porch" then he told me it was there and I'm free to take all of it

[@GoldenPickaxe]

these videos are a blessing

[@Cimone90]

Still lots of retro game stores in Southern Ontario. Support your local game stores people. Barrie area folks check out power up gaming. They're great.

[@henfjo]

I saw the Panzer Dragoon one go on sale once. It was ludicrously expensive

[@drummer4hire12]

Was playing Shenmue III today and found the guest book with your entry......I was not aware of it and thought it was pretty cool seeing your name in the game. Sa-Weeeet!!!!!

[@drummer4hire12]

@NikolaiPumpkin Just a note of appreciation and signature. You can find it in the guest book in the hotel room 201. It had notes from other people as well. Pretty cool!

[@drummer4hire12]

@NikolaiPumpkin That is awesome to hear, Bud! I am obessed with Shenmue III. They did such a great job making it 'feel' like it came out right after #II. A lot of people do not get it, but the true Shenmue fans do. I wouldnt change a thing.....and the graphics are just beautiful! It was cool to see the guest book in the game. Adam is a really cool dude. I still have a DC NIB.......I have the complete library. My all time favorite console. I picked up a ton of games back when Toys R Us had them on clearance.......Thanks for the trip down a positive memory lane!!!!

[@AdamKoralik]

I'm also a capsule toy.

[@AdamKoralik]

I'm also a capsule toy.

[@drummer4hire12]

@@AdamKoralik REALLY?!?!?! Now THAT is total badassery!!!!

[@darktetsuya]

haven't heard of either of those blue variants, wow! would be awesome to have the DOA Ultimate one, though. IDK if its the same bell but I remember a 'bell & howell' variant of the old Apple II computer that had a slick black case I think the fans nicknamed it 'darth vader'? but this story kinda reminded me of that.

[@chrisdoiron991]

I bought one of these a few years ago, definitely my favourite original Xbox.

[@colinroberts9544]

Yet again another cool video about something I did not know ever existed. 🍺👌

[@ShanGamer1981]

Enjoy your content Adam

[@taylormartin6638]

Love this kind of stuff! ME WANT MOAR!!!

[@Wlwyatt3]

I have two of them a buddy of mine had one when he moved from Canada and the second one I got from visiting up there

[@cesarprado6943]

Nice!!! I got one of these beautiful console unfortunately i dont have the original blue controllers like u

[@saunders017]

That Xbox is absolutely beautiful and I need it

[@Alfenium]

Darn... It's beautiful.

[@Groglor]

thanks for the info one has come up where im researching before I by it. It also has the silver gem on the top. Most videos i see have black gems which i think was the halo 2 asian version?

[@AdamKoralik]

Yep, I show it in the video.

[@shoeflaps]

Here in the UK (and the rest of the PAL territory I'd assume) we got the separate blue controller, but it's not nearly as common. The crystal console is pretty common here, and strangely our version of the translucent green console doesn't have the 'Halo 2' logo it, even though it was bundled with Halo 2. I'd imagine it was so they could change the bundled game in other PAL countries without having to change the shell.

[@333darthste]

I have several of the Crystal Xbox, which I 'saved' after seeing them at car boot sales in the UK. If you're ever in the UK and do a meet-up like you did a few years ago, I'll see if I can get to it and you can have one of them.

[@AdamKoralik]

Oh I'd definitely take you up on that. I'm supposed to go to London whenever travel is possible again.

[@333darthste]

@@AdamKoralik Sounds like a plan when some sort of reality resumes!

[@CortinasAndClassics]

That's really cool. I have the Crystal Xbox.

[@JJop123]

you know, I've been watching your videos for a while adam, always wondered, what exactly do you do for work or is youtube your full time job

[@AdamKoralik]

KZbin, though in the COVID world that's been a bitch and a half.

[@YTcommenter712]

Fun fact, I sold a sealed one of these in 2006 for about $300 :( Also fun fact, I had a modded version with a X3LCD and X3 chip that got lost during a move :( Pretty sure replacing both of those would cost $2000 now :|

[@Viper-jr4sp]

I found the blue Xbox controller in a game store in good condition I bought it really love the blue colour

[@MrNicholas7]

I picked up a Blue Xbox many years ago (I think I paid $40 with a bunch of games), but unfortunately, it came with just a regular blue controller. At the time, I knew it was sought after, but didn’t actually realize it was so hard to find. Definitely one of the jewels of my collection.

[@califaern3sto]

Lucky you

[@cax1175]

Picked up a Model 2 Sega Saturn in St. Paul, MN today, I'm planning to get the MODE for it soon. Is it overly difficult to install? I saw your video on it, did not seem too bad.

[@AdamKoralik]

It varies from console to console. It wasn't too bad, except adding the power cable. That made me want to strangle a puppy.

[@pbvader1]

FYI the green traslucent Halo version and Crystal clear version were also sold in Mexico, but as far i remember not the blue traslucent one shown in this video.

[@AdamKoralik]

You mean the ones I showed?

[@pbvader1]

@@AdamKoralik yep, if i remember correctly that Crystal clear one (white/traslucent) was sold around Xmas (there were a lot of adverts and tv spots for this) 2004/2005 at big department stores like Liverpool, Palacio de Hierro, Sears and Sanborns. And the green traslucent Halo version, around the release of Halo 2. So on those days you could get 3 different versions of the original Xbox in Mexico. I think those 3 were the only versions available for Mexico (while the console was relevant at least). You could have a look on 2nd hand sales sites like mercadolibre.com or segundamano.com if interested in any of those. Good luck.

[@TheAlphaWoomy]

I've seen this variant in the USA at a local mom and pop game store, they wanted an absence amount of money for it though. Guess they someone traded it in, this was a few years back wish I would of grabbed it now.

[@cax1175]

Hey Adam, maybe a dumb question, but on the MODE, are you able to save directly to the mode itself now, to your storage media of choice? (I'm referring to like actual game save files, not like save states or anything), I thought I saw an update in the last few months about that. I'm basically just wondering if I get the MODE, if I will still need something like the official Saturn back up/Action Replay Plus

[@AdamKoralik]

The Saturn has some saving features that I'm not totally familiar with. The Dreamcast operates as it originally did.

[@cax1175]

@@AdamKoralik For your Saturn with a mode, do you also have a cartridge inserted or do you just have the mode by itself?

[@AdamKoralik]

Cartridge.

[@cax1175]

@@AdamKoralik And which would you recommend? Would the official Saturn back up be fine?

[@AdamKoralik]

@@cax1175 As I said, I don't really use whatever extra saving options the MODE has. It's basically a tool for transferring save files. Ultimately, I want to do an FRAM mod like my Rhea Saturn has. Frankly, the Saturn only has shitty saving features stock. :/

[@JolliAllGenGamer]

I have this Blue Halo Xbox as well. My favorite variant of the Og Xbox. I wish I could get one of the Japanese Variants like the Panzer Dragoon Xbox, but I would need to softmod it to play US games. Microsoft needs to bring these Translucent consoles back with the Series X!

[@spanishginger]

did you remove the clock capacitor? if its been manufactured late 2004 and later then there is no capacitor to remove but still good to know about when it comes to the xbox

[@AdamKoralik]

I'm on the fence about opening such a rare console to do that.

[@giles852002]

I have the Crystal Edition Xbox (UK). It used to be my sisters Ex, he gave it to me, he left her 4 years later & I heard he wanted back, nah! 😂

[@StewartLucrative]

This is purely an assumption, but I'm guessing the person that okayed this idea or came up with the idea knew nothing about video games

[@chimmyinfernape9189]

They also gave away a few of these to national defense at their family days. I remember specifically bell had a booth set up with these and you got to play halo 2 and then your name was entered into a draw for I think it was 5 consoles. I was like 10 at the time and seeing a blue Xbox was so weird to me. Dident win it but I did win a bike 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@banditkeithkingofduelmonsters]

I have this console. It is cool there was a halo 2 edition but I just wished it said halo 2 on it as that is my favorite xbox game. The blue color I could go without but it is unique. I wish we got the orange xbox live halo edition that was found at a garage sale in seattle by that guy who knows metal jesus, I would pay some money for that one.

[@duffman1876]

As gamers/collectors ya gotta grab what you want when you can😊great vid🍻🍺😎

[@kushcookie17]

I'd love to see you do this with the 25th anniversary Mario themed cherry red Wii that was sold during holiday 2010. That's the one I grew up owning.

[@AdamKoralik]

I don't have it, I don't really collect Wiis to be honest.

[@IanNewYashaTheFinalAct]

8:34 “could I go into a Best Buy in Canada or at the time, Future Shop, and buy this? No.” Does that mean *Future Shop* is _a thing of the past?_ A blue XBox would make a pretty nice present :P

[@AdamKoralik]

Correct, Best Buy absorbed them and changed their name.

[@richardfosterII7575]

Would love to get this xbox. I love the og xbox in my top5 systems. I want a full set too. I have 120 or so far. How close are you? Think one of your older videos you were at 400 or so. Great video

[@AdamKoralik]

Probably around 500.

[@richardfosterII7575]

Sweet that is awesome so like halfway

[@Mezmarr]

Hey mate, I have one of the Asian Editions (Black Jewel) - Still sealed in its bag. What do you think these are worth nowadays?

[@AdamKoralik]

No clue to be honest.

[@Mezmarr]

@AdamKoralik hey mate, I actually found out I have a MaxOnline Limited Edition Xbox Elite apparently only 500-1000 released

[@ichrismoku]

Dude did you get that info about the controller from Facebook because i discussed exactly that issue with jewel swapping like a month ago haha

[@AdamKoralik]

No? Google searches. Is it an Xbox group or something?

[@ichrismoku]

@@AdamKoralik yep found the link m.facebook.com/groups/ogxboxmoddingcommunity/permalink/1381530608875113/ we discussed this issue in depth, might be some useful info for you there.