Microsoft officially unveils Xbox 360

200 new titles
Microsoft has said gamers can expect 200 new Xbox titles by the end of the year, but hasn't said how many will be designed for Xbox 360 and whether the new machine will play games designed for the old model.

There's also no word yet on cost. The current Xbox sells for $149.99.

Many Xbox 360 features are designed for non-gamers: watching movies, playing music, viewing slide shows or holding video chats. It has three USB ports to connect digital cameras, music players and other devices.

While current Xbox owners need to buy an attachment to play DVDs, Xbox 360 supports DVD playback out of the box.

Microsoft is hoping its online gaming service, Xbox Live, will grow in popularity with Xbox 360.

Xbox Live gamers who can already talk to one another during game play will also be able to see their buddies and competitors in video-chat windows off to one side of the screen. A small video camera for such chats will be sold separately.

"Gamer guides" will let players introduce themselves to others, making it easier for people to find competitors at their skill level. That could make online gaming seem a lot less intimidating to novices, analysts say.

"We truly believe the future of gaming is online, ... bringing together massive communities from around the world to play or just to hang out," said Peter Moore, a Microsoft vice president in charge of Xbox marketing.

For casual gamers, Microsoft plans to include some free online games like checkers or bingo, though the company hasn't said how many will be offered.

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