British video game fans will mark the UK launch of Microsoft Corp's Xbox console by taking the day off work, according to a survey on Wednesday. A poll of 3,000 people who pre-ordered an Xbox at online shop Amazon.co.uk found three quarters were planning to stay at home on Thursday with their new console. "We didn't envisage just how many people would skive off work," Amazon's head of video games Chris Harris said in a statement. The survey comes as Microsoft prepares to launch its first games console in a blaze of publicity across the UK. Broadcaster Jonathan Ross and Virgin Entertainment Group chief Richard Branson will be at one of 300 stores due to open at midnight in Britain.
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