The system launched in Europe on November 10, opens in Asia on Thursday, and Japan on Saturday. Microsoft says the system will by the holiday sales period be available at upwards of 60,000 retailers worldwide in 38 countries, accompanied by "up to 17 Kinect games."

Will pressers like these keep the Microsoft hype train rolling? We'll see in January.

In the meantime, steer clear of comparisons between Microsoft and Sony "motion control" numbers. Sony claimed it shipped 3 million PlayStation Moves worldwide during the motion-controller's first month on sale. They also failed to clarify what that meant. Bundle units? Standalone PlayStation Eyes? Individual controllers? The number of units actually sold-through?

Don't hold your breath waiting for apples to apples comparisons. Crack marketing teams get paid to ensure that kind of intel's intelligible as sludge.

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