Last May Microsoft unleashed the beast, better known as the Xbox 360. Since that time we've learned about a decent amount of the games and accessories that will be available during the launch window. We still have a few months left until the next generation of gaming begins, but it's never too early to take a look at how things are shaping up for the launch. As we draw closer to the launch we'll get down and dirty with our exclusive Xbox 360 Launch Guide, providing a detailed look at every aspect of the launch. But for now we'll give you a brief look at how each genre is shaping up, and what accessories you may need to budget for come November.

Gamers who like to get behind the wheel are in for a treat when the Xbox 360 takes center stage in November. There are currently five titles that are shaping up quite nicely for a launch window release. Microsoft's first party will offer the third installment in the Project Gotham Racing series, Atari will be extending their Test Drive series with Test Drive Unlimited, Sega will have an offering in the way of Full Auto, and from EA we've got Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Burnout: Revenge.

All of these games will appeal to slightly different audiences. Online gamers will want to lean toward PGR3 and Test Drive Unlimited, while fans of EA's two racing game powerhouses will be pleased with their first next generation incarnations. Rounding things out, Sega will be offering Full Auto for racing fans who are looking for a little something new to test out their next generation consoles with.

What's a new console launch without a nice helping of shooters to go along with it? Xbox 360 owners will be pleased to find a solid assortment of both first- and third-person shooters. Rare, Epic, Activision, Ubisoft and THQ all have top quality offerings being prepared for the launch window. In fact, with so many shooters to choose from, gamers may have a tough decision to make.

First-Person Shooter fans will have the long-awaited Perfect Dark Zero as the marquee launch title, but if you're not digging on Rare's oft-delayed shooter, Activison will have Call of Duty 2 and Quake IV ready to go within the launch window. Meanwhile, third-person shooter fans will have one of the best looking 360 games, Gears of War from Epic, hitting late in the launch window. In addition, Activision's Gun will offer a touch of the old west, Tom Clancy will make an appearance with Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, and THQ will round things out with their squad-based shooter, The Outfit.

Fighting game fans may feel a bit left out when the Xbox 360 launches later this year. The sole fighting game offering available within the launch window will be Tecmo's long-running Dead or Alive series. The DOA4 trailer shown off at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo looked very promising. However, many changes have been made to the game since the trailer debuted in May.

Team Ninja head honcho, Tomonobu Itagaki, has spoken to the media many times since E3. The new information Itagaki has revealed has indicated that Dead or Alive 4 could be a new beginning for the series. If you haven't been a fan of the DOA series in the past, you may want to at least give DOA4 a rental if you're a fighting game fan. We don't know when the next true fighter will be available for the system. But having DOA4 as your only option for a fighting game may not be a bad thing.

There aren't a lot of games that will be releasing alongside the Xbox 360 that would fit into the family-oriented category. In fact, few would even fit into the platforming genre. However, what is being offered should appease fans of the action/adventure and survival horror genres.

Rare's second Xbox 360 launch offering, Kameo, will finally make its retail debut. As the only true platformer among the bunch, Rare's aging title should be fine-tuned to perfection come November. THQ will be offering a GTA-clone in the way of Saint's Row, and since it could be awhile before GTA hits the 360, Saint's Row is in a league of its own. Rounding things out and filling in for the lacking survival horror genre is Condemned from Sega.

Electronic Arts and 2K Sports have both pledged full support to the Xbox 360, and that's good news for sports fans. Almost all of the most popular sports franchises will be available at, or around the launch of the Xbox 360. Everything from Madden to Tiger Woods to Top Spin 2 to Tony Hawk will make a showing on the next generation hardware.

Basketball fans will have NBA Live 2006, NBA 2K6 and College Hoops 2K6 to keep them occupied. Meanwhile, football, golf, tennis, snowboarding and skateboarding will only have one offering each. Luckily each offering looks to be one of the top contenders in their respective genre. Sports fans definitely should not feel limited with the Xbox 360 launch lineup.

The RPG outlook for the Xbox 360 launch window is a little foggy. Elder Scrolls is looking to make the launch window, but Final Fantasy XI and N3 could end up well outside of the three month launch window. While Elder Scrolls may be enough to satisfy some fans, the lack of a true turn-based RPG could leave fans of the genre wanting more in November.

Several RPGs were recently announced at the Xbox Summit in Japan, but it may be awhile before they reach the US. In the meantime, the slim pickings of the launch RPGs will have to suffice for hungry fans. On the bright side, MMORPG addicts will have a graphically enhanced version of Final Fantasy XI heading to the Xbox 360 at some point relatively close to launch.

Microsoft has yet to reveal a complete list of accessories that will be available when the 360 launches. What little we do know could easily change before the launch, but we'll give you the rundown of how things are currently shaping up. A wireless controller is currently planned to ship with the console, but fans wishing to stay grounded will still be able to pick up a wired game pad. It currently looks as though two chargers will be available for the wireless controllers. One that will charge while the controller is in use, and one that can only be used when the controller is inactive.

Xbox 360 owners who are also into the HD gaming scene will likely want to pick up a component video cable, and optical audio cable for their home theater needs. Microsoft will be selling a component video cable, but it's currently unknown if standard component cables will work with the 360, or if a propriety cable will be required. Since the Xbox 360 is starting the HD Era of gaming, we're hoping for an HDMI port, but we'll have to see what MS decides upon.

While this isn't everything the Xbox 360 will have to offer during its three month launch window, this should give you a good idea of what games you'll have to choose from. As we draw closer to the launch of the high anticipated console, we'll have more detailed information available. Until then, stay tuned to GameDAILY for our extensive coverage of the Xbox 360 launch.