The new Xbox 360 gaming console went on sale at 12:00 AM today, and if you didn't pitch a tent at Best Buy about 24 hours ago, you probably won't get your hands on one before February 2006. The $399.99 device was available at all the usual major retail players (Best Buy, Circuit City, Target...) but in very limited numbers, so don't expect to wander in after work, or on a Black Friday shopping trip and pick one up. There's also a stripped down model for $299.99 but it comes without the external hard drive, and the wireless controller and remote control.

While Ebay (and shopping mall parking lot black markets) will soon be flooded with Xbox 360s at ridiculously inflated prices, better to console yourself (or those on your holiday gift list) with the knowledge that the initial game line-up isn't all that impressive and by the time the real flagship games like Halo 3 are out, the shelves will be crawling with Xboxes- right around the time people will be clamouring for a Playstation 3. Be calm, and buy an Xbox 360 controller, with an IOU, attached.