We’ve got “Harry Potter” opening tomorrow, but the news around our house is the Xbox 360 launch next Tuesday (11/22/05).  Launches in Europe (12/2/05) and Japan (12/10/05) will follow.  According to Microsoft, this is the first time a game console will be launched in three territories in the same time frame.  Am sure these launch dates are planned to get this goodie into as many stores as possible in time for the all-important holiday shopping season.

Promising to be more than a game box, with the Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live service players can play online, connect with friends for voice and video chat and download new content.

Xbox 360 is also being called “the ultimate amplifier” for music, movies and photos stored on MP3 players, digital cameras and Windows® XP-based PCs.  The systems comes with a 20GB detachable Xbox 360 Hard Drive for storing music, video and games, an Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, an Xbox 360 Media Remote control, an Xbox 360 Headset, a Component HD-AV Cable for connecting to component and composite television inputs, an Ethernet cable and batteries.

The recent Tokyo Game Show marked the first time that consumers were able to experience the Xbox 360 firsthand.  While more than 200 games are currently in development, games on display in the Microsoft booth included:

• Bomberman — Act Zero
• Call of Duty® 2
• CHROMEHOUNDS
• Dead Rising
• Dynasty Warriors 5 Special
• Everyparty
• Far East of Eden
• FINAL FANTASY XI
• Frame City Killer™
• Gears of War™
• Kameo™: Elements of Power™
• Need for Speed Most Wanted
• NINETY-NINE NIGHTS
• The Outfit™
• Project Gotham Racing® 3
• Resident Evil 5
• Ridge Racer 6
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Saint's Row™
• Test Drive Unlimited
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™
• Wrestle Kingdom
  

Will it look good under the tree?