D-Day for Xbox 360 nailed

We knew the Xbox 360 launch was going to be pre-Christmas but Microsoft has finally named the date - December 2 in Europe including Ireland (bloody Americans get it 10 days beforehand but the Japanese must wait until a week after us).

Slightly worrying is the fact there will be only seven games on launch in Japan. US and Europe totals have not yet been revealed but let's hope they'll hit double figures at least. In all cases, the number is not likely to ramp up until January at the earliest.

Earlier this week, MS unveiled the pricing structure for the 360 Live online service, pegging a full year at €60 but removing the need to use a credit card. If you're plastic-less, you can buy subscription cards at retailers for as little as one month at a time.

If Microsoft has any sense it will include a couple of months' free with every 360. Because once you've tasted Xbox Live's attractions (multiplayer gaming, voice chat, etc), you'll be hooked.