Longest. Blog. Entry. Ever.

I'm coming to you live from Barcelona, Spain (I wish), giving you the latest and greatest from X06, Microsoft's annual gaming event that's like E3 but for the Xbox 360. There's enough news coming out of Spain to choke a matador, so here are the bullet points on a busy past few days.

Hobbit Love - A partnership was announced between Academy Award-winning writer, director and producer Peter Jackson, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Fran Walsh (I just love to write the phrase Academy Award-winning), and Microsoft Game Studios will create two new interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. The first series will be a collaborative effort with Bungie Studios to co-create the next chapter in the Halo universe. The second series will be an entirely original property targeted at bringing new audiences into the world of interactive entertainment. (What does that mean? I don't know.) In addition, Microsoft Game Studios will partner with Jackson and Walsh to establish Wingnut Interactive, a studio dedicated to the creation of interactive entertainment.

Not enough Halo - Halo Wars is an all-new real-time strategy game based on the world of Halo and designed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Ensemble Studios, creators of the Age of Empires franchise.

Rockin' and Rollin - Rockstar and Take-Two announced they will provide Xbox 360 gamers with exclusive access to two downloadable, episodes of Grand Theft Auto IV via Xbox Live, each with hours of new gameplay and available only on Xbox 360 just months after the release of the title.

Ubiwhat? - Ubisoft confirmed that the next Splinter Cell title, the next installment in the series after Splinter Cell Double Agent, will be a console-exclusive on Xbox 360.

The Shocker - 2K Games confirmed that BioShock will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows next spring. I'm beginning to sense a theme here.

I wanna go fast! - Project Gotham Racing 4, the racing franchise from Bizarre Creations, was unveiled. Unfortunatly little details were given on a release date or vehicles for the car. It will only be on the 360.

My son will be happy about this - The Banjo-Kazooie franchise will join the 360 parade of games as an Xbox 360 exclusive from developer Rare.

Excelsior! - Microsoft Game Studios announced its new massively multiplayer online game, Marvel Universe Online for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista operating system. Its being developed by Cryptic Studios, creators of City of Heroes.

Arcade Me - Two additions to Xbox Live Arcade were announced: the first-person shooter that pioneered the network-gaming era, DOOM (800 Microsoft points) from developer id Software and Activision, was available starting yesterday for download via Xbox Live Arcade. The game includes the original four-episode, single-player game, four-player split screen (cooperative and deathmatch) and four-player cooperative and deathmatch over Xbox Live. Also coming to Xbox Live Arcade soon is Sensible World of Soccer from Codemasters, based on the 1994 Amiga title. But where the hell is Cyberball?!?

Creed, the game not the band - Microsoft and Ubisoft confirmed that Assassins Creed, the eagerly anticipated action title set in medieval times, is also coming to Xbox 360. It will be released in 2007.

I want my HD DVD! - Arriving at retailers in North America, the U.K, France and Germany in mid-November 2006 (Why not Japan I wonder?), the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player will retail for $199.99 in North America and £129.99 in the U.K., France and Germany. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player comes with Peter Jackson's King Kong (Surprise!) on HD DVD for a limited time and with an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote.

PC gamers need love too - Windows Vista will be getting Halo 2, playable with mouse and keyboard or an Xbox 360 controller. The game comes with a map editor, allows for PC to 360 gaming connectivity and allows gamers to earn Xbox 360 Achievement Points (How? Once again, I don't know.). It'll be available first quarter of 2007.

Air Guitar - Guitar Hero will be coming to the Xbox 360. I don't know when, I just know it is.

Tons of videos and trailers (including a very cool one for Halo Wars) are viewable at www.xbox.com.

But wait, there's more!

Calling all field generals - Think you're a Madden stud? Prove it in the Xbox Live Madden 07 tournament. Any Xbox Live Gold member (Ha! I said Goldmember!) ages 13 and older are free to enter. Head to this link, http://www.clash.cc/madden07tourney to get signed up. Deadline is October 10th. The first round of play starts October 14th.

And finally - EA announced yesterday that Madden 07 and Need for Speed Carbon will available on the Nintendo Wii's launch date...A FIFA 07 demo will be available for download early in October, the game comes out in late October.

Whew! Okay, I'm toast. I feel like I just ran a marthon. I need a gatorade, two hot pockets and to get the hell away from this computer monitor for a few days. Peace out!

terry.terrones@gazette.com