Xbox 360 official launch lineup: meet the "Big 18"

by James Ransom-Wiley { Nov 14th 2005 at 12:15PM }

Microsoft is finally ready to commit to an Xbox 360 launch lineup, unveiling the official North American list earlier this morning:

Amped 3 (2K Sports)
Call of Duty 2 (Activision Inc.)
Condemned: Criminal Origins (SEGA Corp.)
FIFA Soccer 06 Road to 2006 FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts Inc.)
GUN (Activision)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios & Rare Ltd.)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA 2K6 (2K Sports)
NBA LIVE 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
NHL 2K6 (2K Sports)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios & Rare Ltd.)
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie (Ubisoft)
Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft Game Studios & Bizarre Creations Ltd.)
Quake 4 (id Software and Activision)
Ridge Racer 6 (Namco Ltd.)
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 (Electronic Arts)
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision)

All but eight of the games have current-gen counterparts; two of those eight are also available on the PC. So which titles scream "must-buy"? Which are throwaways? What's your overall impression of the lineup?

European launch lineup (15 games)

[Thanks Sean & Brandon & JamesO]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

lightdarkness @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

None of them really shout out must have, but I'm probably going to pick up Amped 3 and Perfect Dark Zero.

Of course only if I get an xbox 360 after waiting 10 hours at walmart :-)

akira @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

this lineup sucks. Everyone wants doa4, yet at he final hour, oops, we don't have it anymore. I played the system, and it is the best I have ever seen in my life. Call of duty looks and feels REAL, but the game Kong's controls are sluggish enough to make you feel like you're playing in soup. But for the price, and knowing that this is a beta that will be improved once the initial stock sells out, I'm gonna have to wait till I see some games worth the price.

Sense @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I pre-ordered Kameo (in fact it's sitting in my apartment right now). I'm banking on it being surprisingly fun, as many game journalists have claimed it to be. I originally ordered Elder Scrolls IV because it seemed to be the best demonstrator of a "next gen" experience. Now that it's gone Kameo's open world seemed like the next best thing.

PDZ will be fun and I'm definitely picking up Call of Duty at some point, but I just couldn't bring myself to get yet another FPS.

yay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I'm going to pick up Kameo, Perfect Dark, and Condemned. A lack of DOA saddens me, but it's just as well. I don't thing there is an arcade cotroller available for 360 yet, and I can't imagine playing a fighting game with a controller.

ChimpManZee @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Hmmmm....none scream "must-buy"...

fable2323 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

The launch line up stinks. Out of the 18 games there are 5 first person shooters, 3 racing games and 12 games that are available on either the PC or existing hardware. Where is the diversity? And besides, Project Gotham Racing 3 nothing screams next gen in the visuals department. Where are all the next gen titles Microsoft?

Neil Christie @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I've ordered Perfect Dark, Kameo and Project Gotham. All impressed me when I tried them earlier this month.

Phil @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Its a launch lineup, i havent seen a good one since the dreamcast days, but either way it will get better as time goes on....Im definetly picking up CoD2, PdZ, Tiger Woods 06, and mabye Condemened and/or Kameo oh and cant forget about PgR3

Nodnetni @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Musthave: Condemned: Criminal Origins and Perfect Dark Zero.

Chris @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Where's J ALLARD: BALD HEAD OF DESTINY?? That game could be hip.

Ken @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I've decided to simply pass. No DoA, no Elder Scrolls IV. After playing King Kong on a kiosk and being thouroughly unimpressed, I decided tojust pick up Dragon Quest VIII tomorrow and reconsider and X-box 360 purchase again next year.

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

This launch line-up sucks? Oh how soon we forget the PS2 and Gamecube launch lineups. DOA4 and Oblivion dropping in the release date did hurt though but both are still going to be very popular when they are released (soon for DOA4 and a few months for Oblivion).

Off this list though - PDZero, PGR3, Kameo, and Condemned all look like winners to me. I want to like COD2 but I am so burned out on WWII shooters right now.

Clarence Smith @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

That is the sorriest line up of games for a console launch I think I ever saw.

Brave move by Namco to move the Ridge Racer series, the once Sony exclusive title (Ridge Racer V was one of the PS2's old launch titles.) over to Xbox maybe Namco felt pity on them, but they shot themselves in the foot doing that.

notlwonk @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I think that the loss of Elder Scrolls is disappointing, but I have to say that the PS2 launch was much worse- I bought a bunch of games right around the launch window and only SSX was worth playing until Gran Tursismo 3 A-spec came out. Yes, there was an RPG for the Sony launch, and I don't even remember the name, it was absolutely atrocious. I don't remember playing much besides Halo and the funky off-beat (if I recall the name correctly) Munch's Oddity for the Xbox launch, and I remember buying 9 games (Azurik? Ugh. Fusion Frenzy- weak.) So far I think PGR3, PDZ, CoD2, Kameo, and Condemned all look very promising, so I am pretty hopeful. Xbox live out of the box (instead of a year later with no Halo support), and particularly Xbox arcade are real pluses. There doesn't appear to be a Halo or Soul Calibur (Dreamcast), but there seem to be some pretty solid games. Let's give MS a chance, since PS3 appears to be a year off...

Scott @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

And for those crying about DOA4....it is being released a whole two weeks later. Oh boohoo.

Embassy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

yall are friggin stupid..compared to other launcheds this is a pretty ill line-up...

and all my games made it to day-ne thank god
PGR3 - def a must buy
Call of duty - will hold me over till gears of war
NBA2k6 - easily the best looking game ever....

and im sorry i played kameo and those graphics looked horrendous...it really looked like a high res xbox1..that game didnt impress me at all...but king kong looekd amaizng but like someone else said controlling king kong is wayyy to sluggish...

over all the only launch lineup better than this was dreamcast...arugbaly 64 just because mario 64 turned the gameworld upside down...but by sheer numbers and quality games...only dreamcast has a more solid launch...

Gusx @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

DOA comes on Dec 1st so, its only 1 week late

Andy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I've got Kameo.
I'm picking up all my preorders this week...
COD2
PDZ (collector's edition)
NFS Most Wanted
Also have a recharge kit on pre-order, don't know when i will get that, probably with the console.

BTW: DOA SUCKS! It's a PSX game with new graphix.

XD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I have the premium package, an extra wireless game pad, a wired game pad, DOA4, FIFA, Ridge Racer 6 and Quake 4 on pre-order. After playing Kameo, I decided not to get it because as cool as it is, I don't see myself finishing it.
It hurts not having DOA4 on the day of, but its no delayed that much. What I realy want is Teasure's new Ikaruga'ish shooter, but that will be out late 2006. There doesn't seem like there's much else that's official to look forward to which is a bit dissapointing, but that will change. The hopeful non-official games I'm looking forward to are NHL 2007, House Of The Dead 4 and Street Fighter 4. As much as i'm excited to get the X360, i'm looking forawrd to Final Fantasy 4 Advance this Dec. on GBA even more. They just don't make them like they used to!

Dark Morford @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Pre-ordered and paid for DoA4, but since that'll be a couple of weeks late, I'm thinking I'll pick up Kameo when I go to get my console. That is, of course, assuming that the local GameStop hasn't already sold out their Kameo shipment.

tprzepiorka @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I will hopefully be picking up PDZ and FIFA.

JDH @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I'm getting the 360 on the 22nd with Call of Duty 2 and NBA2k6. I've set up my Gamefly Q to get Madden 06, Condemned, and PDZ.

Other than that, I'm waiting for Oblivion, Mass Effect, Too Human, and Gears of War.

Actually, the only reason I'm considering getting a 360 on the 22nd, now, is because of the original xbox games it will play. Otherwise, I would have waited until next year when the true "next gen" games are released.

I plan on getting Fable: Lost Chapters and Ninja Gaiden Black to supplement the 360 games just in case they are cheaply developed.

gh0st @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

"pretty ill line-up"

Big snickers. My sad-ass middle 30's grew up rockin' to Vanilla Ice overly white cracker butt wouldn't even write that. Priceless.

Just would like to inject a little logic. First, to the "compared to other launch line ups" argument. Very wize man say, "Less stinky pile of poo, still a pile of poo."

The 'not as bad as the other guy' argument is one of the weakest out there. Strength should be measured through merit and not guaged against a vacume of it.

The big point for me is this, last time around MS did two things wrong: they launched their product at the incorrect time and they failed to provide enough top-tier software for it.

Looking at where things are at right now and the fact that we are just now *barely* beginning to push modern hardware, and it becomes questionable whether MS addressed the first problem.

Looking at this line up, one should be very alarmed that the second may have been overlooked as well. I, for one, will not question the business gurus at MS for while I can find technical issues with the company's products, the fact that they are the unmatched business Sun Tzu of the past two centuries of US capitolism is without question. So, I will raise an eyebrow and wait.

...and wait. Until the PS3 solidifies a bit more. Then, assuming it launches with the current rumor-specs and assuming MS slashes their prices as a counter-assault, I may pick it up then.

syco @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Holy CRAP:
5 Racing games
5 Shooters (mostly first person)
6 Sports games
1 Movie-to-Game adaptation.
1 Adventure game.

Oh yeh. Sign me up.

Hushed Casket @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Before you hate on a game, be sure to at least play it. I recommend renting games from your local video game rental store. I've discovered several games that have great replay value that way.

Snap @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

"What�s your overall impression of the lineup?"

Crap. Completely uninteresting and pointless honestly. This just proves that the PC is still king of FPS and I have plently of other games to play.

Paul Atreides @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Number of original titles: 2!

Yes, 2 out of 18.

Could I have more cheese with those sequels, re-hashed formulas and upgraded graphics?

Gartner @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

HAHAHAHA~!!! That's is an EXTREMELY BAD launch list for a next gen console! OMG, their supposed to be screaming greatness for the next gen but somehow this list says volumes about how bad the Xbox 360 is going to be. It's a BAD show after trying to hype it up with all the laughable MTV shows and all that talk about being comparable with the PS3! The PS3 sounds better and better and the Xbox 360 is turning out to be a real dissappointment, even for people who didn't even expect much! The PS3 will definately dominate the Xbox 360 just as the PS2 dominated the Xbox.

MosquitoControl @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Nothing I'd want.
PDZ, NHL and PG3 maybe, but not jumping for them.

DOA... bah, the launch is stronger without it. The last few have been so dull.

Launches almost always suck. Is this one stronger than others? Probably. Doesn't mean it has anything I'd buy.

stagl @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

COD2 is just as impressive on my PC as the demo was at E3. seriously, this really isn't "next gen" hardware...

Free Speech @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

This launch extremely SUCKS. Wait for the PS3 and the Revolution.

Jeremy Wright @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Personally? I'll be picking up CoD2, Condemned, PGR3, PDZ, Kameo, and Tony Hawk at launch.

I figure most of those games are good enough that I'll play them for at least 6 months. And that's better than I've had with any console launch in history.

Yes, they're rehashes. But they're MY rehashes damnit!

Nome @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Scott, moron, Smash Brothers was a launch game, as was Wave Race. Maybe they're not to everyone's likening but if so then you might want to ask yourself why you own a nintendo console to begin with. PS2's launch was ass but GCN's was IMO quite good.

Truth @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I'll bet the PS3 will have a bad line up like the 360. It might even be worse. The Rev will take the cake.

XD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Gartner, you're a fan boy and not very bright.
While i'm not amazed at the lauch list, it is much better then most have been. People say DC and N64 were better, but they weren't so hot either. They both had 2-3 must have games and then things died down. Now if someone was comparing pre-32bit launches, then of course they were better back then. The US only really had 2 competators as the TG16/PCE wasn't nearly as big as it was in Japan, so everyone made games for them. PC back then was not what it is today; PC was saturated with Sierra sequels with the same 2 interfaces with different themes, plus a PC's cost was rediculous back then. Was PS2's launch so great? Hell no, I was in on it and it was nothing special either. Xbox and Game Cube were nothing worth looking twice at either. It's like you either forget or you just make things up for the sake of flaming. No launch was like OMG where am I going to find the $ to get everything I want?? You want to bash M$ and make $ony sound great, go for it. Let this topic become just at stupid as every other topic in here eventually becomes. I can't wait for the PS3 and Revo's launch so we can see how bad they all will be and then all the M$ fanboys will go nuts on you and you will deserve it. By the time the other 2 com eout, MS will have plenty of games out ad they will be rushing to not get too far behind. This has nothing to do wth favourtism, its comon scence which all flaming fanboys seem to lack. Maybe its time i find a new site to go to as Joystiq is looking worse on a regular basis.

calthaer @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

24 has it right - the PC is the king of FPSs. I'm enjoying Space Rangers 2 far too much right now to even think of any other hardware, let alone the Xbox 360 - which, especially after looking at this list of steaming manure, looks even less appealing than before.

Oblivion will be coming out for PC - so who needs the Xbox 360 at all?

Cyber Bob @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I concur, this launch is shameful when they're trying to hype the damn thing like it's godly... it's down right CRAP. The supply shortage is not a plan but a failure on Microsoft's part. The game list here sucks so bad that I'm already thinking that it's going to follow in the ways of the original Xbox or even worse if it wasn't for all the cheezy hype. The system is not comparable to the PS3 no matter what people are trying to serve you. The whole Xbox 360 in Japan is going to flop. And so on...

The Xbox 360 sucks and I think Microsoft should just stick to protecting their windows.

Truth @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

It seems like there are more Sony fanboys hating on MS than MS fanboys hating on Sony. What is up with that? Get off Sony's balls and admit defeat.

Will So @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

XD, I think you are out of place. Don't call him a fan boy if you are one urself.

The fact of the matter is that this is a next gen launch list so people shouldn't be comparing to the old launch lists or else you might aswell compare the system specs aswell which ends up being pointless. The next gen is the future, and hopefully people like you will learn to look to the future and not be scared to try understanding how and why the PS2 was such a success and not just because of the early launch. The PS3 will succeed above the Xbox 360 for reasons you still can't comprehend apparently.

XD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Here we go again,
Cyber Bob
while i agree that the shortage sucks, this is no different then any other launch so suck it up bitch. And this PS3 harping, there is no real PS3 yet so stop comparing the 2008 SL500 to the 2006 6 series. It makes no scence and are you on crack? The Xbox launch was much worse than this! What does the non-existant PS3 promise you compare to X360 which you can get a year in advance in the US? I'm not pro M$, but if you're going to bash them, say something that has a little thought put into it. Why don't you go complain that Sony's "Emotion Engine" hasn't procuded Toy Story in real time? I know why, you're a fanboy! I hope the PS3 and Revo are great, but why compare something you know nothing about game wise (PS3 and Revo) to something you know everything about(x360)? Stuipid people make me want to make a procreation law which cuts you out of the loop.

Truth @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

You know what is funny? Most of these Sony fanboys are going to buy an Xbox360.

Madthijs @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I'm getting the XBOX360 the day Halo 3 is released... Untill then I'll be playing current gen games like Brothers in Arms, COD2: Big Red One, Half-Life 2, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Fifa06, GTA SA, Far Cry, Doom3, Doom3 RoE... Yeah that should keep me busy for some time to come...

Oh and yeah, I'm a complete FPS fan. So to me, this line up isn't all that bad. If I had the money right now I'd be getting PDZ, Quake 4 and PGR3.

Mikhail Schukapper @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

#36, Truth.

It isn't about Sony fanboys or not, it's called opinion. Sony fanboys = Sony fans but that's their opinion. MS fanboys = MS fans, so don't talk like it's comparing testicles or penis size. The "Truth" of the matter is, that the PS3 is alot more promising than the Xbox 360 is, and the market surveys show that the PS3 will win the next gen wars aswell. Unless you disagree with that "Truth". It's a fact.
The PS3 is predicted to dominate with 73%-51% of the market share, with Xbox 360 with only 34%-15%. It's just too bad that this launch list is even more proof towards that trend.

syco @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

... Oh dear sweet GOD not this crap again.

Haven't any of you people grown up since 2001? We had to deal with this exclusivist crap for YEARS before it died down. Don't do it again. Oh, I did the same crap back then, sure, I'll admit, I was a Gamecube fanboy, but I was ALSO a stupid kid. 4 years should have taught you something, and if you're still a kid, listen up:

Words of Wisdom: Just because the launch sucks doesn't mean there's a need to hate the entire console forever. And you don't have to pick one platform and stick with it, defending it from derision with nonsensical arguments and insults against competing chunks of expensive hardware. Even if you can only afford one console, do yourself a favor and rent the others occasionally. Openmindedness is the most obvious form of maturity.

And if you're an adult and still pulling this crap, something's wrong with you.

I swear the juvinile console fanboys are going to drive me away from this site if it keeps up.

Misc monkey maniac @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

It's funny to see the Microsoft fans using foul language when the Sony fans try to talk with sense.

Stop with the foul language and insults. It's a joke. It makes things obvious that Xbox 360 fans are getting desperate after looking at this launch list.

XD and Truth seem to be holding hands in a very very small unpopular band.

I think Mikhail makes the most sense though, and I agree that the PS3 will dominate.

XD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Will So (round 3)
You need to learn how to read, preferably english! I am no fanboy, I have owned every system except NeoGeo and Jaguar back to the Atari 2600. My fave system of all time is the SNES because I had the most fun playing it's laibrary of games. Not because who made it or because of who didn't make it. You are more of a moron then the other 2 guys; where do I take credit away from Sony for the PS2? Up until May, I had a PS2 since launch. I hated Xbox but had one for a year or so and I had a Gamecube which I enjoyed but sold once games I wanted were only coming out on PS2. PS3 is not PS2, this round is fresh and MS is getting more support while developers complain about the PS3's internal design. Developers are showing new support for X360 and Revo due to the uniqueness of it. Sony is using the PS3 to help with the next-gen dvd format war as well as promot their cell chip for use in common electronics once it becomes cost effective. And where did you see me write that I'm not getting a PS3 and Revo or that you shouldn't? I'm discrediting morons like you who bash something for the sake of it. Think before you speak and read before you reply.

Truth @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

Mikhail Schukapper,

Well you might be right in some places. How do you compare the Xbox360 to a system that is not out yet. Yes it might show that Sony will have 73% to 51% of the market share, but all that is a prediction. Sony is losing support right and left. Currently the PS3 is not looking more promising than the 360. Sony still don't have a controller figured out. It might not play old PS2 & PS1 games. How is this promising?

Mikhail Schukapper @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

XD is a bitter person. Why bash people when it should be obvious that alot of people other than yourself have all the consoles you mentioned or atleast have the right of opinion for them.

You shouldn't post with all this aggressive attitude. I think you should be banned from this site.

Andy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

I'm no fanboy... I waited 6 and a half hours in line to make sure that I got a PS2 at launch, and i got it. The sad thing was, I was diappointed. Too many titles that were just plain crap. I liked Devil May Cry, Metal Gear, and... that's just it, i can't think of anything else produced by SONY that it all that great. HALO quickly became my favorite game when I waited around to buy an Xbox a while after launch. I was excited about the idea of Xbox Live, and MS actually delivered it, it wasn't just a promise. I will give PS3 a chance when it comes out, but I won't be in line day one to buy more promises from SONY. They will have to prove that they can deliver before I spend another dime on a SONY Console. I will have an XBOX 360 at launch! BTW, look at that piece of crap PSP that was supposed to browse the web and be a cell phone, mow your yard, do your homework, etc. IT SUCKS! It's great if you like to carry around movies and watch them, but just be sure you rebuy them on a useless new format first!

XD @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM

syco,
finally someone who gets what i'm saying and has something intelligent to say.

Misc monkey maniac,
you're just another trigger happy poster who fails to understand what is being said. Mikhail Schukapper make perfect scence; i agree ...BUT being a fan doesn't mean you trash the competition for the sake of trashing them. If you are going to trash something, make it something tangable. PS3 this and that...it means nothing yet as you have nothing to compare to. PS3 might pull another PS2, but no one know that and even less can guess what will happen because there isn't enough to mke a fair and relevant guess upon other than brand loyalty.

And why call me fanboy? I like Xbox the least out of the current gen; hell I even said I'm looking forward to a GBA game more than the X360 launch? I can't get over the dominence of stipid people.

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