(November 22, 2005) — The generation of games is officially over as Microsoft kicks off the next-generation battle tomorrow. Dubbed the “Xbox 360,” the new console will be Microsoft’s follow up to its highly successful Xbox system. With millions of units sold, the Xbox 360 has an extremely high success rate with its already installed loyal fan base. This is Microsoft’s second game console so Microsoft no longer fills the role as “new kid on the block.” The Xbox 360 improves upon the original Xbox in almost every aspect, most notably with its change in design. The 360 evolves from a hulking 20 lb. box into a sleek, compact body with chrome trim that graces the smooth and shiny console. The Xbox 360 also has a brand new interface that is perfectly integrated with games and media players alike. The console can synchronize with any MP3 player, including the iPod. The 360 then copies the MP3 files onto its built-in hard drive and has the ability to play your favorite songs during any game. Want to listen to Britney Spears while slaughtering intergalactic, earth threatening aliens? The Xbox 360 has you covered. The previous Xbox has proved to be a huge failure to Microsoft in Japan, the third largest gaming market in the world. With slow and dismal sales, the big black box is only selling numbers in the double digits in a month. The Xbox’s poor sales can be attributed to the lack of Japanese third-party developers making games for the system. Microsoft is pulling out all the stops to prevent this from happening again. It has acquired contracts with many Japanese third party developers such as Tecmo, Namco, Capcom and the all-important Square-Enix. Surely, contracts with these prominent Japanese developers will not only please a select fan base in America but will also propel sales overseas as well. Recently in the video game industry, a large emphasis has been put on the control method of video games. Nintendo is taking the unique and innovative approach with the unconventional one handed Revolution controller. Microsoft takes the approach of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The controller is not a revolution but an evolution of the current Xbox controller. The sleek, white body of the controller has a glowing green “X” in the center, which acts as a button that will return to the home screen of the Xbox 360’s interface. This will allow you to manage console preferences any time in the game without restarting the system. The controller is absolutely perfect, and it fits exactly in any pair of hands. This should really make gamers rethink Nintendo’s approach. If this is not innovative, if this is not revolutionary, nothing is. So now I shall restate my previous question, what really is it that you don’t like? No really, feel free to let me know; you can always send a letter to the Chronicle staff expressing your views, or, for you non-handwriting types, you can email me (el.phisho@gmail.com), confront me in the boys’ bathroom (3rd floor), or attack me on my way to calculus (2nd floor, by the window). Just get me your opinion, and I’ll be sure to delegate. The worldwide launch will be huge, and the Xbox 360 will launch with a full arsenal of games spanning every genre. These games include a highly anticipated first-person shooter from the exclusive Microsoft developer, Rare. The shooter is named “Perfect Dark: Zero.” Almost every person buying an Xbox 360 has plans to buy Perfect Dark, the successor to the hit title on the Nintendo 64. Junior Josh Robins said, “I’m pretty interested to buy an Xbox 360 just because of Perfect Dark: Zero and eventually Halo 3.” For a game to sway a consumer shows Microsoft’s power and advantage of this generation. Microsoft will stop at nothing to be positioned number one this generation and from what has been seen so far, they mean business. The lineup of great games with the perfect controller and competitive pricing make the Xbox 360 real competition for the current throne holder Sony with its Playstation 2. Surely, Xbox 360 will be the hit of the decade.