At the time of writing this I have been awake for about 36 hours, more or less (other than a couple of cat naps outside in the freezing cold while sitting in a folding chair and a short snooze when I got home). As James Fudge, GameShark.com’s managing editor, will tell you, I don’t make a lot of sense on the phone right now. But I’m going to try to tell you of the odyssey to gaming nirvana as best I can in my bleary-eyed condition and try to string together some sentences that at least resemble English. And why only 20 hours as the title indicates? Because I don't think I’m going to make it to 24.

In the big scheme of video game journalism, I'm what you might call a "small fish." I did not get a free Xbox 360, early or otherwise. To stay on top of the cutting edge of gaming and ply my craft on the latest and greatest, I had to go forth like so many other gamers and wait on a November night to even get a chance at obtaining an Xbox 360.

I chose my local Rhino Video Game store for this quest. Rhino because: a.) the manager Ray and his crew run the tightest gaming ship in the area with straight facts and honest dealings; b.) they attract some of the best and friendliest gamers in the area; and c.) I’ve always liked rhinoceroses (yes, that is the plural of rhinoceros) as animals and fellow travelers on this great blue ship of ours.

I arrived at approximately 8:45 p.m. Monday evening to begin my wait--number six in line. None of us knew how many systems Rhino had or how many of them were core or premium packs. Of course, we were all hoping for the best-value premium pack. Now in the Deep South, where I live, it does not get overly cold and definitely not to the temperatures I endured while getting my GameCube on day one at a Target store in New England back in 2001. But last night temperatures were hovering around the freezing mark here and we were not the most comfortable guys in the world. Spirits were kept up by – what else – swapping information, stories and reminiscences of video gaming past. One in our enterprising group even brought an Xbox with a small TV and Halo 2 set up in the cargo area of an SUV to pass the time. I have to admit that I was too tired at that point to play much (Yeah, I know, BLASPHAMY!), and in the one game I did play, I got my head unceremoniously handed to me.

Anyhoo, Ray showed up at 8 a.m. Tuesday to give out the tickets for the systems he had gotten: just six. The first four guys got the premium systems and a guy known only as Osama and I were left with the core systems. No biggie. At least I’d be playing. That was better than could be said for the three folks behind me, one of whom had been waiting since 3 a.m. The store opened at 9 a.m., we got our systems and left happy.

When I arrived at home, the bags containing my hard-won prize were deposited into the middle of my game room floor with all the respect of a sack of garbage. I then promptly passed out for an hour and a half, waking only because I had a cat sitting on my very full bladder. No matter, it was time to check out the cutting edge of video gaming anyway.

Leading up to the Xbox 360 launch there were many pictures of the system from all angles, but it seemed like the photos never showed the nuts and bolts of what it is to live with a 360. I’ve tried to take a few pictures of things Microsoft probably did not want to show you because they do not look pretty. Like photo #1. This is the Xbox 360 without a faceplate. All of the various front ports are clearly visible; ugly, but enlightening. The faceplate comes off without using any tool. Very convenient.

The controllers are as comfortable as Microsoft promised. Since I got a core system, it came with a wired controller. I also purchased a wireless controller. This is the intermediate step to getting the four controllers I will ultimately want. After playing with both, I think I’m going for a mix of two wireless and two wired controllers. Here is my reasoning: keeping four wireless controllers feed with batteries or recharged is a logistical nightmare. Since it is generally just one or two players on my systems at a time, keeping two wireless controllers up and ready should be more manageable. I’ll have the two additional wired controllers when I need a full compliment. Little has been said of the wired controllers, but they are actually lighter than the wireless model (note the large battery bulge on the wireless controller in photo #2) and sport the same generous-length cord with break-away linking as the original Xbox. The two front USB ports (photo #3) in the small door to the right of the system make for easy connection access. (Photo #4 Controller faces. Photo #5 Battery Pack detail.)

If you’ve been reading anything about the Xbox 360, you know that Microsoft has made online support a cornerstone of the platform. Right out of the box, every Xbox 360 owner has a lifetime Silver-level membership to Xbox Live. Connection is easy – if you have broadband. For those of us who have been enjoying the benefits of Live on our current-generation Xbox, the migration could not be simpler. If you’ve obeyed Microsoft, you should have set up a Microsoft Passport e-mail that is linked to your gamer tag. (If you have not, I’d do it before turning on your system.) The first time you boot up the 360 it will take you through the process of getting online. Give the machine your Passport e-mail, password and gamer tag and – poof – instant migration to the new Xbox 360 gold service for the remaining months of your subscription. It is a mercifully simple and painless process for the sleep-deprived.

The remainder of the system set up reminded me of the Windows initial setup. I’ve got to admit that gave me the absolute willies. Guess this is just one more way Microsoft is converging the computer and the living room experience.