The Killers' Brandon Flowers at the Xbox Party
Photo: Getty Images

HOLLYWOOD — Playing video games at a party might normally be considered antisocial, but at the star-studded Avalon theater on Thursday night it was encouraged.

Omarion, Wilmer Valderrama and Linkin Park's Joe Hahn were among the celebrities facing off in a first-person shooter as their friends downed free drinks around them.

(Check out photos from the party.)

"Joe just kills it," Linkin Park vocalist Mike Shinoda boasted of his bandmate.

Thursday's party was held to celebrate the launch of the highly anticipated new Xbox. The console was revealed to dozens of celebrities and VIPs at the event, which was taped for the global revealing scheduled to air on MTV next week (see "New Xbox To Be Unveiled By Elijah Wood, Serenaded By Killers").

"I've been gaming for a while," Omarion said before picking up the new controller. "We've got the double TVs with 'Halo 2.' "

Ryan Cabrera tried out the new system, but he mainly came to check out the entertainment. Wearing a bright pink jacket, singer Brandon Flowers and the Killers kicked off the party with a short hits set that included "Somebody Told Me," "All These Things That I've Done," "Mr. Brightside" and "Smile Like You Mean It."

"I love the Killers," said Cabrera, who sported a "Vote for Pedro" pin on his sport coat. (Coincidentally, Efren Ramirez, who plays Pedro in "Napoleon Dynamite," was in the other room.) "It's fun music you can be an idiot and dance around to. Hooky songs you can sing along to."

	Ashlee, Elijah, Wilmer And More At The Next Generation Xbox Revealed Launch Party

As the Killers began playing, No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal and skateboarder Tony Hawk grabbed their dates and rushed toward the stage. Elijah Wood, who hosted the event, caught the show from a private balcony, while Tenacious D's Kyle Gass sang along from nearby the stage.

As for Cabrera, he also stuck around for the second band, England's Snow Patrol, for which he was joined by girlfriend Ashlee Simpson, sporting a strawberry blond wig.

Speaking of wigs, "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" actress Bai Ling sported a curly blond hairpiece, although it was her very revealing dress that had passersby in the VIP area doing double takes.

Ling, who had to ask a man next to her who Snow Patrol were, mingled with Scarlett Johansson, while Alyssa Milano and Rachel Bilson took over booths with their entourages.

Meanwhile, near the open bar, Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland and producer Ross Robinson admired the new Xbox graphics, while Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille admired the bartender, pleading with her to call him later.

Just before the party came to an end, Lil Jon showed up, pimp cup in hand, on a mission: "I want some free games!"

"MTV Presents: Next Generation Xbox Revealed" will premiere May 12 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT in North America and on May 13 in other regions around the globe.

• Omarion
• Lil Jon
• Killers

• Franz Ferdinand
• Wilco
• Ghostface Killah
• Dizzee Rascal
• The Streets

Beastie Boys (file)
Photo: Capitol

Ch-check out this week's batch of new releases: a little bit of country, pop, rap — and a lot of rock and roll.

In July of 1998, a Brooklyn-bred rap trio said Hello Nasty to its fans after a four-year absence, and then bid them goodbye for the next six years. Bringing the music back To the 5 Boroughs, the Beastie Boys make their long-awaited return this week, fueled by the single "Ch-Check It Out."

Phish phans get some music to mourn to this week, as the band releases its final studio album, Undermind. Sixteen years after Phish put out their debut album, the kings of modern jam bands are releasing their last album and completing their last tour, then calling it a day.

For fans of pint-sized pop star Christina Milian, It's About Time she released her sophomore album, because it's been three years since her first.

What happened in a Las Vegas garage beginning in late 2002 didn't stay there. Sin City indie-rock outfit the Killers release their debut album, Hot Fuss, this week, while legendary British band the Fall release The Real New Fall LP, Formerly Known as Country on the Click.

Patti Scialfa, the first lady of New Jersey rock and roll and an E Street Band member, is branching out this week as she releases 23rd Street Lullaby.

Former "American Idol" contestant Josh Gracin, whose pop-country style put him at fourth place in the competition, releases his debut self-titled album. Also out this week are albums from Seether (Disclaimer) and Pink Grease (This Is for Real), and finally, weighing in with a live album is Cali-born mixmaster DJ Shadow, with Live! In Tune & on Time.

Out Tuesday, June 15:

• Dave Alvin - Ashgrove (Yep Roc)
• The Beastie Boys - To the 5 Boroughs (Grand Royal/Capitol)
  Read:"Beastie Boys Album Preview: Political Bleats And Old-School Beats"
  Buy Now: To the 5 Boroughs (Grand Royal/Capitol)
  
• Bond - Classified (Decca)
• Lori Carson - The Finest Thing (Meta)
• Communiqué - Poison Arrows (Lookout!)
• Chris Cook - Small Town Gone (Gaff Music)
• Larry Coryell Trio - Tricycles (Favored Nations)
• Celine Dion - A New Day ... Live in Las Vegas (Epic)
• DJ Shadow - Live! In Tune & on Time (Geffen)
• Emerson Drive - What If? (DreamWorks Nashville)
• The Fall - The Real New Fall LP, Formerly Known as Country on the Click (Narnack)
• Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston (Reprise)
• Eddie Gale - Afro-Fire (Black Beauty)
• Josh Gracin - Josh Gracin (Lyric Street/Hollywood)
• Imperanon - Stained (Nuclear Blast)
• Killers - Hot Fuss (Island)
• Joseph Malik - Aquarius Songs (Compost)
• Christina Milian - It's About Time (Island)
  Read: "Christina Milian: Monster's Ball"
• Orphanage - Driven (Nuclear Blast)
• Philly's Most - Ring the Alarm (Universal)
• Pillar - Where Do We Go From Here (Flicker)
• Pink Grease - This Is for Real (Mute)
• Phish - Undermind (Elektra/Asylum)
• Patti Scialfa - 23rd Street Lullaby (Columbia)
• Seether - Disclaimer (Wind-Up)
• George Shearing - Like Fine Wine (Mack Avenue)
• Chris Stamey - Travels in the South (Yep Roc)
• Johnny Winter - I'm a Bluesman (Virgin)
• Various artists - Neurot Recordings I (Neurot)
• Various artists - What's Love? A Tribute to Tina Turner (Versailles)
• DVD: Cheap Trick - From Tokyo to You (Big 3/Cheap Trick Unlimited)

June 22:

• Mobb Deep - Amerikaz Nightmare (Jive)
  Read: "Mobb Deep Blinded With '80s Science For 'Twisted' Beat"
• Wilco - A Ghost Is Born (Nonesuch)
• Brian Wilson - Gettin' in Over My Head (Rhino)
• Stevie Wonder - A Time 2 Love (Motown)

June 29:

• Lloyd Banks - Hunger for More (Interscope)
  Read: "G-Unit's Lloyd Banks, Young Buck Recording Solo Albums"
• Brandy - Afrodisiac (Atlantic)
  Read: "Brandy On Growing Up: A Candid Chat"
• The Cure - The Cure (Geffen)
• Pixies - Wave of Mutilation: Best of Pixies (4AD)

July 6

• Ray Manzarek - Golden Scarab (Lemon Records)
• Angie Stone - Stone Love (J Records)

• Beastie Boys
• Phish
• Christina Milian
• Josh Gracin
• Killers