Game on as Xbox fever hits home

The launch of the Xbox games console sparked a buying frenzy across Britain with industry experts predicting it could overtake Sony rival PlayStation2.

Fans queued outside shops in London, Liverpool and Glasgow to be the first to buy the new Microsoft machine when it went on sale in the early hours of yesterday.

Nearly 1,000 were sold at the Virgin Megastore in London alone.

About 1.5million of consoles are being shipped to Europe but Microsoft believes they will sell out quickly.

However, experts predict the company will find it tough to break into a market dominated by Sony, which has sold 25million PS2 consoles worldwide. Competition will intensify with the launch of Nintendo's Gamecube in May.

Xbox is a more sophisticated machine than PS2 but, at £299, it costs about £150 more. Games cost about £45 each.

Michel Cassius, head of publishing for Xbox Europe, said: 'It has got the latest technology and there is so much more in the box for your money.'

Justin Calvert, deputy editor of gaming website GameSpotUK, predicted Xbox would overtake PS2. 'Xbox is a high-quality product and, with 20 games on offer, gives the consumer an amazing choice,' he said.

A 17-year-old waiting for a bus was robbed of his Xbox minutes after buying it from the Virgin Megastore in Oxford Street. Four police officers gave chase and recovered the console. A man was arrested.