A fairly brazen statement, but then again, the man chosen to spearhead Microsoft’s next-gen console offensive was never one for modesty. Just about eight months later, we put Mr. Moore’s words to the test. But let’s back up a bit.

A lot has happened in the industry since the 360’s November 2005 launch. We’ve had another E3 that brought both new titles for Microsoft’s console to light, in addition to hashing out some details with regards to upcoming offerings from Nintendo and Sony. Despite some stumbling blocks around launch time, including hardware failure and lackluster sales in the Japanese market, the XBOX 360 has done wonders for Microsoft’s gaming business.

And all this time, I wondered about that fateful interview with Peter Moore. I wondered if what he said was a truism, or simply marketing talk in a pre-launch campaign to win over those typically not considered gamers. Then, it hit me: I have a mom. This could work.

The reason why we set out to perform and publish this feature is two-fold. First, we wanted to see if Peter Moore spoke the truth: Is the XBOX 360 really mother-friendly? We’ve taken everything into account here: the design and functionality of the unit itself, the bite-size XBOX Live Arcade offerings, and the diversity and appeal of AAA titles. We evaluate the whole package and see how alluring it is to your average 40-60 year old female.

Additionally, we feel that the gaming has hit a transitionary phase. This next-gen launch has so much more riding on it then pure consoles sales. By offering innovative offerings through online services, like XBOX Live Arcade, or even completely new ways to play, like the Nintendo Wiimote, events that have been and continue to unfold could finally draw the more elusive demographics into the gaming universe.

Has gaming evolved so as to finally reach a mainstream audience for all generations? The balance may rest in the hands of one woman…

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