US electronics retail chain Circuit City experienced a huge spike in traffic to its online store after it started offering the next-generation Xbox 360 gaming console on Friday. 

The units quickly sold out, but the company did not disclose how many units it had made available.

While other retailers have been taking pre-orders for Microsoft's Xbox 360, Circuit City was the first one to make actual sales.

The console is scheduled to go on sale in high street stores in the US this Tuesday morning at just past midnight. Eager gamers are expected to camp outside stores to be able to get their hands on one.

Microsoft has predicted that it will sell three million of its new gaming computers in the first three months.

The European launch for the Xbox 360 is scheduled for 2 December.