Sony's announcement last week that their pre-E3 unveiling of the would be scant hours before Microsoft's previously scheduled 2 press event must have had their executives chuckling to themselves in self-satisfaction. Well now it seems Redmond will have the next laugh, as they are going to beat Sony's timing by revealing the Xbox's successor to the entire globe in a simultaneous world-wide special on the network. Getting the jump on the press event by a matter of days, the half-hour long program will be hosted by the LOTR actor Elijah Wood on May 12th. Rock band The Killers and a clutch of other celebrities and athletes will join the fresh-faced star in extolling the virtues and capabilities of the new games console.

"It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event. We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first," said Peter Moore, corporate VP of worldwide marketing and publishing for Xbox. He also added that the launch was intended to "captivate the masses." With an unveiling on MTV offering a "signal of the strong change in the way we do business." This last comment may unnerve some gamers who fear that the Xbox 2 will swing too far into the realm of the mass market consumer entertainment device. Nevertheless, this announcement, possibly moved forward by Sony's movements last week, ends the mystery concerning the countdown clock on the viral Xbox 2 marketing site, Ourcolony.net. May 12th is MTV day.

By Sam Gibson