Are we having fun yet?

SCRIPPS HOWARD
Oh, yeah. They do have games to go with that Xbox 360.
Earlier this month, Microsoft said more than 200 games will be available by Christmas.
The following titles help make up one of the strongest launch-day lineups in gaming history:
U"Amped 3" (2K Sports)
U"Call of Duty 2" (Activision)
U"Condemned: Criminal Origins" (Sega)
U"FIFA Soccer 06" (Electronic Arts)
U"GUN" (Activision)
U"Kameo: Elements of Power" (Microsoft Game Studios and Rare)
U"Madden NFL 06" (Electronic Arts)
U"NBA 2K6" (2K Sports)
U"NBA Live 06" (Electronic Arts)
U"Need for Speed: Most Wanted" (Electronic Arts)
U"NHL 2K6" (2K Sports)
U"Perfect Dark Zero" (Microsoft Game Studios and Rare)
U"Peter Jackson's King Kong" (Ubisoft)
U"Project Gotham Racing 3" (Microsoft Game Studios and Bizarre Creations)
U"Quake 4" (Activision)
U"Ridge Racer 6" (Namco)
U"Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06" (Electronic Arts)
U"Tony Hawk's American Wasteland" (Activision)
WHAT'S HOT
During a recent preview event at Microsoft, gamers had a chance to test drive a few of these games.
"Perfect Dark Zero" is the "killer app," or must-have game, in the absence of a Halo title. "PDZ" is a hectic first-person shooter from Rare, the company that did the original "GoldenEye" and "Perfect Dark" games for Nintendo. They aced the futuristic "PDZ." Two-player cooperative mode is especially fun.
"Call of Duty 2" is the spitting image of the PC game and looks fantastic in high-definition mode. It's a loud, intense first-person shooter that puts players in the midst of World War II battlefields in Russia, North Africa and France.
"Kameo: Elements of Power" is another Rare gem. A third-person adventure, it allows players to transform into various elemental creatures and use their powers to solve puzzles and destroy enemies. You'll spend as much time gawking at the gorgeous graphics as you will playing.
"Project Gotham Racing 3" may be the most perfect racing game ever devised. One area has you racing on a track that winds around the Las Vegas strip. At one point, you can see from the stratosphere all the way down to the light beam shooting out of the Luxor. It plays even better than it looks.
"Peter Jackson's King Kong" is one of the most visually stunning console games around.
"GUN" wasn't available for a test drive, but if it's anything like the GameCube, PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions, it'll steal some thunder from "PDZ."
WHAT'S MISSING
"Halo 3" isn't among the launch games. That's because Bill Gates has said the game will make its debut in time to confront Sony's PlayStation 3 this spring.
Oddworld games and characters were among the best on Xbox. But the focus of producers at Oddworld Inhabitants has shifted toward animated movies. So maybe we'll see a 360 movie later on.
"Dead or Alive 4," an awe-inspiring fighting game, should be available before Christmas. Don't miss it.
"Oblivion: The Elder Scrolls 4" was supposed to have been a launch title -- and it would have been a doozy. But the game has been delayed until next year.
THE CONTROLLER
Aside from the ergonomic redesign and the big X button (the one that whisks you to a jillion online activities), the 360 controller has two other notable upgrades. First, in addition to the left and right trigger buttons, it has horizontal left and right shoulder buttons. Second, it comes in a wireless model. For this controller, you can also get a Play & amp; Charge kit to keep the batteries juiced up.
FULL ON OR SCALED DOWN?
The $400 Xbox 360 is the one you want. It'll save you money in the long run. The package comes with the console, 20 GB hard drive, one wireless controller, one headset, a universal remote control, component high-definition audio/video cable and an ethernet cable. For the scaled-down Xbox 360 Core System, you'll spend $300 on the console, a wired controller and composite audio/video cable. Here's something else to consider: The Core System won't play your old Xbox games.
TO MARKET WE GO
The Xbox Live Marketplace will start out as the spot for simple online purchases such as wallpaper and icons for your 360's menu screens and new bite-size games for the Xbox Live Arcade. Spend real money on Microsoft Points, and then spend those points in the Marketplace. Eventually, you'll see gamers creating items for trade and sale.
This is also the place for downloading game demos and movie trailers -- and perhaps music in the future.