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

By James Ransom-Wiley

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]

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