'Halo 2,''Fable,' 'Forza Motorsport,' 'Jade Empire' and 'Dungeon Siege 2'
Highlight Mixture of Established Franchises and Future Blockbusters
LOS ANGELES, May 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Game Studios today
unveiled its product lineup at this year's Electronic Entertainment Exposition
(E3), featuring games for the Xbox(R) video game system and Windows(R)
operating system. Highlighting the portfolio is one of the century's most
anticipated video games, "Halo(R) 2" from Bungie Studios. Today, Microsoft
Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced "Forza Motorsport(TM)," an advanced, fully
customizable racing simulation developed by Microsoft Game Studios that will
be playable over the Xbox Live(TM) service. The lineup also includes three of
the most eagerly awaited role-playing games (RPGs) in development: "Fable"
for Xbox from Big Blue Box Studios and Lionhead Studios, "Jade Empire" for
Xbox from BioWare Corp., and "Dungeon Siege 2" for Windows from Gas Powered
Games Corp.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
Microsoft's portfolio is a compelling lineup of 13 Xbox and Windows games
developed by some of the video game industry's brightest stars, including
"Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict" for Xbox from Epic Games Inc.;
"Conker(TM): Live and Reloaded" and "Kameo(TM): Elements of Power(TM)" for
Xbox from famed developer Rare Ltd.; "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes," a new Windows
massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) from Sigil Games
Online Inc., founded by the original executive producer and co-creator of
"EverQuest"; "MechAssault(R) 2: Lone Wolf" for Xbox from FASA Studio and Day 1
Studios LLC; "Sudeki(TM)," the soon-to-be-released role-playing game for Xbox
from Climax Studios Ltd.; "BC" for Xbox from Lionhead Studios and Intrepid
Computer Entertainment; and "Zoo Tycoon(TM) 2" for Windows from Blue Fang
Games.
"At Microsoft Game Studios, our mission is to create excellent and
innovative franchises that customers love," said Shane Kim, general manager of
Microsoft Game Studios. "Our focus on developing amazing entertainment
experiences with the best creative talent in the world is the most important
aspect of our strategy to become the premier publisher of interactive
entertainment."
Ambitious Xbox Games Lineup
Microsoft Game Studios offers a prominent lineup of the most anticipated
Xbox and Windows games, including the hottest new Xbox exclusives:
-- "Halo 2" is the sequel to the highly successful and critically
acclaimed game "Halo: Combat Evolved." At the heart of "Halo 2" is a
compelling, movielike saga, on par with the great stories told in
film. In "Halo 2," the battle moves home to a war-torn Earth, where
players utilize new vehicles and weapons to destroy the Covenant.
"Halo 2" will utilize Xbox Live in a way that will completely redefine
online gameplay. (Bungie Studios, for Xbox, November 2004, rating
pending)
-- "Forza Motorsport" revs up Xbox gamers who are passionate about cars
and racing. "Forza Motorsport" is the ultimate car-lover's playground,
letting gamers buy, sell, trade, tune, modify and race their
customized car collection. On the track, players experience an
impressively accurate simulation, putting their performance-tuned
creations to the test against the best the online world has to offer
on Xbox Live. (Microsoft Game Studios, for Xbox, winter 2005, rating
pending)
-- In "Fable," the groundbreaking role-playing adventure game from Big
Blue Box and Peter Molyneux's Lionhead Studios, every action
determines characters' skills, appearance and morality. Gamers choose
the path of righteousness or a life of evil, and watch themselves
transform into a reflection of their actions and decisions. (Big Blue
Box, for Xbox, fall 2004, Mature)
-- From BioWare, the developer of "Star Wars: Knights of the Old
Republic," comes "Jade Empire," a martial-arts-influenced action role-
playing game set in the ancient, mysterious world of mythical China.
Only by mastering the greatest fighting styles and defeating the most
powerful enemies will players earn their place as a master of martial
arts in the world of "Jade Empire." (BioWare, for Xbox, spring 2005,
rating pending)
Other titles in the Microsoft Game Studios portfolio include these:
-- "BC" (Microsoft Game Studios, developed by Lionhead Studios' Intrepid
Computer Entertainment division). "BC" is an original third-person
action-adventure game that hurtles players back millions of years to
the beginnings of humankind. Members of a tribe take part in an epic
journey of survival, battling against ferocious, prehistoric creatures
while exploring and exploiting vast natural environments. (Xbox, 2005,
rating pending)
-- "Conker: Live and Reloaded" (Microsoft Game Studios, Rare). Gaming's
notoriously naughty squirrel, Conker, lands on Xbox with a bang in an
all-new Xbox Live-enabled team-based shooter. Also included is the
critically acclaimed single-player game "Conker's Bad Fur Day(R),"
completely re-created for Xbox with stunning graphics and unparalleled
attitude. (Xbox, March 2005, rating pending)
-- "Dungeon Siege 2" (Microsoft Game Studios, Gas Powered Games).
"Dungeon Siege 2" returns players to the beautiful fantasy land of
Aranna, but it is a land scarred by civil war, where the lines between
good and evil are blurred. (Windows, holiday 2004, rating pending)
-- "Kameo: Elements of Power" (Microsoft Game Studios, Rare). From
legendary game developer Rare comes "Kameo: Elements of Power," a
larger-than-life journey full of intense combat, magnificent
exploration, and innovative morph-into-monster action that allows
Kameo to transform into incredible monsters to search out and battle
ever-present evil. (Xbox, January 2005, rating pending)
-- "MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf" (Microsoft Game Studios, FASA Studio and
Day 1 Studios). "MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf" continues the massive
structural damage, intense combat and addictive online multiplayer
gameplay on Xbox Live that Mech fans have been praising since
"MechAssault" first hit Xbox. And now for the first time players can
get out of the Mech. (Xbox, January 2005, rating pending)
-- "Sudeki" (Microsoft Game Studios, Climax). "Sudeki" pushes the limits
of what a role-playing game can be by providing bigger worlds, more
powerful heroes and sexier heroines, all set in the context of
fantastical real-time action. (Xbox, July 2004, Mature)
-- "Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict" (Microsoft Game Studios,
Epic Games). "Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict" brings the
"Unreal Championship" franchise to Xbox and Xbox Live with bold
enhancements to single and multiplayer gameplay, including all-new
superagile player acrobatics, a third-person camera mode and intense
melee abilities. (Xbox, holiday 2004, rating pending)
-- "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes" (Microsoft Game Studios, Sigil Games
Online). "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes" represents the next evolutionary
leap in massively multiplayer online role-playing games from the
original creators of "EverQuest." "Vanguard" is a high-fantasy-themed
MMORPG with a heavy focus on character advancement, an immersive world
and player interdependence. (Windows, rating pending)
-- "Zoo Tycoon 2" (Microsoft Game Studios, Blue Fang). "Zoo Tycoon 2,"
the newest addition to the massively popular and award-winning "Zoo
Tycoon" franchise, provides the ultimate zoo experience. The game now
allows players to step into their zoo, where they'll be face-to-face
with animals and guests in an all-new 3-D world. (Windows, holiday
2004, rating pending)
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of
games for the Xbox video game system and Windows and online platforms.
Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to
creating innovative and diverse games for Windows
( http://www.microsoft.com/games/ ), including such franchises as "Age of
Empires(R)," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon"; Xbox
( http://www.xbox.com/ ), including such franchises as "Halo" "Project Gotham
Racing(R)" and "MechAssault"; and Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/ ), the
official games channel for the MSN(R) network and home to such hits as
"Bejeweled" and "OutSmart(R)."
About Xbox
Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ) is the video game system from Microsoft that
brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment
experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games,
powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The tag line,
"It's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of
the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North
America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft, Xbox, Windows, Halo, Forza Motorsport, Xbox Live,
Conker, Kameo, Elements of Power, MechAssault, Sudeki, Zoo Tycoon, Conker's
Bad Fur Day, Age of Empires, Project Gotham Racing, MSN and OutSmart are
either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. or Rare Ltd. in
the United States and/or other countries.
Rare Ltd. is a subsidiary of Microsoft Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information at E3:
Visit Microsoft's booth in the South Hall, No. 1246.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
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NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
During E3, Heather Bott, +1-206-223-1606, or
heather.bott@edelman.com, or After E3, Jenny Majalca,
+1-323-202-1056, or jenny.majalca@edelman.com, both of Edelman
for Microsoft Corp.
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional
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at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were
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Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts
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