This Week in Xbox — 5/16

Xbox 360 Hits 10-Million Milestone

This horse race is far from over, but Microsoft announced that it has moved 10 million Xbox 360 units in the US, with a total of more than 19 million worldwide. Xbox Live members are at around 12 million. In other words, take that, PS3.

VERDICT: Microsoft is first to 10 million if you conveniently ignore the Wii’s 24.5 million global sales — but hey, Nintendo’s machine doesn’t output 720p, so Microsoft amended its boast to note that they meant “high-definition consoles.” Meanwhile, everybody loves to play the numbers game and will always turn things to their advantage, but 10 million is a great milestone no matter how you spin the digits. It speaks well for the health of the platform.

Gears of War 2...and 3, 4, 5, and 6?

Microsoft showcased a bunch of upcoming games to the press this week, including Gears of War 2. While showing the game's second level, Epic's Cliff Bleszinski noted that the game might be the final chapter, it might not. It might be part of a trilogy, it might not. It might stretch into four, five, or six games. Who knows?

VERDICT: And of the people who know, who’s telling? We think Gears has enough interesting backstory and charismatic characters to stick around for a long time, and we like the idea that Epic might like to tell a story that’s, well, epic. As long as Cliff and the team don’t run out of creative gas, we’re up for several tours of duty.

Battle of the Bands

Rock Band has drums. You may have noticed. Guitar Hero 4, according to Game Informer magazine, will add drums this year. And this week at a press event, Konami introduced its own drum kit for Rock Revolution (seen above), which is also shipping this year.

VERDICT: Who has room for three fake drum kits? Unless someone pulls off a compatibility miracle, two of these three are going to lose. There just isn’t enough space in the living room. One of our editors has stronger views on this topic.

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