NEWSWORTHY TRENDS

Families Embrace At-Home Entertainment

(NAPSI)-'Tis the season to give, and while Americans are watching their holiday spending more closely, they still plan to purchase and bestow gifts. However, as shoppers head to the stores, they will be checking their lists twice--nearly 90 percent will be looking for gifts that "keep on giving," while 71 percent will be searching for a single gift that appeals to everyone in the family, according to the Xbox 360 Holiday Entertainment Survey.

Entertainment remains at the heart of American culture, with the home becoming the center of holiday entertainment plans. According to the Xbox survey, the rising costs of travel have prompted three out of five Americans to plan to spend the holidays at home or close by. And four in 10 adults say they will make fewer trips to the movie theater than last year, with nearly one-quarter of Americans planning to watch more films at home.

For the three-quarters of Americans who say they are looking to find a gift that brings their family together, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system is a great option. Whether you love games, music, movies or TV shows, Xbox 360 has something for everyone. From the thousands of movies and TV programs available on Xbox LIVE to the 12,000 movies and TV episodes you can stream from Netflix, Xbox 360 brings it all together with your music and pictures to give you instant access to more entertainment than any other device connected to your TV.

Innovative new video games such as the singing game "Lips" are highly entertaining and can provide hours of fun while bringing your family together through song--it comes with two wireless microphones and a multigenre, 40-song list. If cousin Sue always wanted to be a film star but uncle Mike just wants to be a living-room star, "You're in the Movies" allows them to play mini-games in front of the Xbox LIVE Vision camera and then watch their highly entertaining acting talents in a fun B-movie trailer. The final movies can then be shared with the world.

For parents who want to manage their children's entertainment choices, Family Settings on Xbox 360 allow Mom and Dad to control their children's access to games, movies, television content and online activities. Plus, the Family Timer is a great tool that enforces parental limits on the amount of time spent on the console.

So, while budget is top of mind for many Americans this holiday season, some gifts will serve multiple purposes and can be enjoyed year-round. For those looking for an entertainment gift that keeps on giving, a video game console such as the Xbox 360 can spread a lot of joy.

Many look for a gift that brings the family together.