Xbox 360 in a league of its own

If there's one thing you can say about the Xbox 360, Microsoft's next-generation video game console, it's that it's impressive.

For all the talk about whether there will be enough games available when the Xbox is released on Nov. 22, few doubt that the games that will be ready will be a cut above anything available for current-generation consoles.

And after seeing a handful of Xbox 360 games Monday, I can say with confidence that it's true.

Over plates of olives, endives, red peppers and other snacks at Dogpatch Studios in the somewhat rundown San Francisco Dogpatch neighborhood Monday, Microsoft finally pulled back the curtains on the new Xbox for a small crowd of journalists and invited us to try our hands at 12 titles expected to be ready in time for the console launch next month.