Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console was the first next-generation game console to hit the gaming market in November 2005, beating the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii by a full year. Like its peers, the Xbox 360 initially suffered from some anemic game lineup and somewhat annoying hardware and software limitations. Since its launch, however, the Microsoft Xbox team has implemented an assortment of high tech improvements and released an updated version of the game console. The result, released in late 2007, is the best version of the Xbox 360 game console to date. The current model of xbox 360 features the HDMI output with 1080p video support that was missing on the previous version, as well as a host of other improvements to the system's underlying software. Best of all, the Xbox 360 gaming console now boasts the largest and many would argue, the best game lineup in the global market. In addition to great xbox games such as Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty 4, the Xbox 360 is the only game console where you can play such must-have exclusive titles as BioShock, Gears of War, Halo 3, and Mass Effect. Add to that a host of impressive latest digital media features, including an add-on HD DVD movie player and a huge list of online selection of downloadable pay-per-view TV shows and HD movies.