This article is from the original batch of Video Game Librarian articles I wrote for Gaming Target between 2005 and 2007. It was originally written on November 16, 2005.

New formats. They are the bane of media librarians everywhere. Which do you support? Do you support the nwe format and the old format in an attempt to please everybody? When do you drop the old format entirely? When do you start a massive discard project to clear shelf space for the growing collection of the new format?

With the Xbox 360 launching any day now it’s time to give a look at how building a game collection from start with this new format would work. Like what are the strongest launch titles? What will be replaced with a more “next-gen” product in the future? And, like any video game launch, which titles will be relegated to the dustbin of history?

You’ve also got to look at the numbers when it comes to the Xbox 360. Microsoft has confirmed that there will not be enough consoles for everyone who wants one for a very long time (some estimates place it around March for real regular shipments to begin). So you might want to ask yourself, will there by enough patrons walking through my front door to warrant adding 360 games to the collection? There’s also the fact that, aside from sports titles, every one of the 360’s launch titles will be rated Teen or Mature. There are no family friendly options at this point in the system’s life. Although general interest titles, like sport games and racers, are on the launch slate. So let’s look at those games. Continue reading →