I was poking around GameStop's website, checking out the upcoming releases across all systems, when it struck me that December wasn't shaping up to be a good moth for game releases. Browsing through upcoming titles I only noticed one or two that really looked all that interesting. Looks like the changing of the console guard going on with Sony and Nintendo is taking its toll on releases, as well as the original Xbox entering its final death throes. While things are looking grim for the consoles over the holidays, hand held gamers look to have a plethora of choices to put on their Christmas lists.

Xbox 360 - 4 titles, including a poker game, a fishing game, Pimp My Ride, and Star Trek, which is making my geek sense tingle just a bit.

Xbox - Only 1 game is slated for release before Christmas, and that's Capcom Classics. Rest in peace my big black boxy friend.

PS3 - 4 titles, 3 of which are already out on other consoles. Full Auto 2 is the only original title coming out before Christmas.

PS2 - 9 titles before Christmas, including Barbie 12 Dancing Princesses, which I have preordered for Crecente. The rest is repackagings, already out, or kids games, with Brave: The Search for Spirit Dancer being the exception.

Wii - The Wii has 11 titles coming up. Five are based on children's CG movies, 3 are previous releases on other systems retooled, with Poker, Elebits, and Super Swing Golf rounding out the list. I was bummed when Elebits slipped from launch day, but I won't have to wait much longer.

GameCube - DK Bongo Blast and a Zatch Bell title. Gonna miss that lil' cube.

PSP - 13 titles slated for release before the 25th of December, including Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

DS - DS owners win this Christmas, with 21 games listed for release leading up to the big day.

So tallying things up, I come up with 65 games coming out before Christmas, which sounds impressive until you take into account that over half of them are hand held titles and many of them have been released on other systems previously. Then you have to figure in the GameStop margin of error, as some of the titles they list are just wishful thinking. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles DS in December? Don't think so.

I'm going to miss running out of cash in mid-December this year are trying to convince my girlfriend that I am borrowing the games from friends instead of purchasing them. Hopefully next year, once the PS3 and Wii pick up some steam, we'll again be blessed with too many games and too little money. Which titles are you looking forward to this Christmas, if any? Michael Fahey