It's interesting to note that Microsoft loses money every time you buy an Xbox 360 -- what kind of business model is that? A fairly common one, in this industry. So where, exactly, does the truckloads of cash we know they're making come from?

Halo. Halo 3, precisely -- which Microsoft says will not only increase console sales, but as a first-party title, net Microsoft a few hundred million. Wait a minute -- now, if they lose money on console sales, but gain money on game sales, and the sales of this game will cause the sales of consoles to increase...won't that just leave them in the same position they were when they started? I'm guessing not. It's a good thing that I'm a writer and not an accountant.