Is it possible to dump iso game images onto the xbox and play from them without having to extract or burn first ?

Thanks.

Use DVD2Xbox to rip the original game disc to your hard drive. No annoying ISO images required.

Of course, that begs the question:
From where do these ISO images come?

You have to extract the ISO to get them to play off of the drive or you have to burn them to compatible media to make them play at all. And yes you pose a very good question Greenday, would you mind sharing Gothic_hobbit?