At one minute after midnight, Xbox madness ensued at the new flagship Toys "R" Us store in New York's Times Square. Thousands of gamers came to celebrate the North American launch of the most powerful video game system ever. And they came for the chance to be among the first in the world to get their hands on an Xbox.
Times Square had the sheen of green everywhere. Green spotlights and strobe lights shining into the New York night, lighted video billboards displaying the green Xbox logo, green doughnuts and green glow necklaces were being handed out all over the place. Even New York's hot dog vendors sported Xbox green.
Celebrities, executives and the media were out in full force to help usher in a new era in video gaming. Bill Gates said "The future of gaming starts today, and it starts with Xbox". Then he faced off against The Rock in a friendly game of DOA3. The Rock took two rounds, but BillG manhandled the Rock in one round. Remember, it was a video game, not a wrestling match.
Once midnight arrived, the spotlight shifted to the first lucky person to get an Xbox. Edward Glucksman of Keansburg, New Jersey was presented a signed Xbox by Bill Gates. Edward and the rest of the crowd in New York and around North America are saying, "Now it's time to play."
