LOS ANGELES, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- With the goal of offering console, PC
and online game players the most powerful games experiences available,
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) will showcase great action-adventure, strategy,
sports, sci-fi, fantasy and simulation games this week at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3) 2001 in Los Angeles.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"We're committed to creating world-class PC and Xbox(TM) video game system
games that excite the imaginations of all game players," said Ed Fries, vice
president of the games division at Microsoft. "Xbox will revolutionize video
games in living rooms around the globe, and the PC will continue to be the
hotbed of innovative gameplay experiences."
At this year's show, Microsoft is exhibiting some of its most anticipated
Xbox games for 2001 -- all Xbox exclusives.
Xbox
Unleashing the creativity of the world's top games artists, Microsoft's
future-generation video game system will deliver some of the most powerful
game experiences that blur the lines between fantasy and reality like never
before. Some of the first Microsoft(R) games to be published for Xbox include
the following:
-- "Halo." One of the most highly anticipated games coming to market this
year, "Halo" is set against the backdrop of a mysterious alien
ring-world. This sci-fi shooter invites players to uncover its horrible
secrets and to destroy mankind's sworn enemy, the Covenant. Players
choose from a variety of missions where a breadth of experiences awaits
them -- on foot and in vehicles, inside and outdoors, with human and
alien weaponry.
-- "Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee." The latest in the best-selling franchise
brings Oddworld to life in full 3-D, weaving a journey through a
changing world of strange creatures, off-the-wall action and outlandish
goons. Players guide Mudokon champion Abe and his aquatic Gabbit
partner Munch in their third adventure using special psychic powers,
cool power-ups, way-out vehicles and other special abilities to deliver
payback as they rescue Abe's captured mommy. Oddworld's new intelligent
cinematic camera, auto-targeting system and no-stick navigation system
make playing a breeze.
-- "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding." This is the first snowboarding game
focused on freestyle riding down runs from real mountains. The game's
goal is simple: achieve enough international exposure to become one of
the world's snowboarding media superstars. Jib and spin off of a huge
variety of jumps and rails for a different ride every time. Players
pull insane tricks in front of roaming sponsors and camera crews to get
their face on magazine covers and in videos.
-- "Azurik - Rise of Perathia." This is one of the deepest, most immersive
3-D action-adventure games developed for Xbox. Players assume the role
of Azurik, a young apprentice sworn to protect the sacred elements
-- fire, water, earth and air. As Azurik, players travel the vast
realms of the elements on a mission to stop the progress of an
apocalyptic prophecy already in motion.
-- "Fuzion Frenzy." A nonstop party game with an edge, combining the
continuous, frenetic action of a futuristic street sport with the
action-packed fun of minigames set in a dynamic 3-D urban environment.
With six arenas and more than 45 minigames, "Fuzion Frenzy" provides
competitive fun for up to four players.
-- "NFL Fever 2002." Designed exclusively for Xbox, this sports sequel
combines fast and hard-hitting action with deep-season and career
modes. Stadiums from all 31 NFL teams are re-created, and gamers can
participate in up to 25 seasons. Players can amass both individual and
team trophies and build their own dynasties, season after season. The
fast-playing NFL tempo lets gamers explode through the holes and break
loose, just like real NFL players.
-- "Nightcaster." A fast and furious action-adventure game featuring
intense real-time spell combat and exploration. Players take on the
role of Arran, a young boy chosen by the force of Light, who grows in
age, skill and magical powers as he progresses throughout the game.
Throughout his quest, Arran must find and learn over 40 different
spells for combat against more than 30 different types of enemy
creatures. His ultimate goal: to defeat the forces of Darkness and
bring Light back into the world.
-- "Project Gotham." A future-generation racing game where fun and reward
come from focusing equally on speed, flair and risk-taking. Enjoying
circuit-based racing in photo-realistic downtown environments, players
can race against up to three friends* at a time through realistic
time-of-day and weather conditions. Players can choose from
20 different cars and compete on more than 300 city-based circuits.
With more than 100 individual and wheel-to-wheel racing challenges and
a separate arcade mode, gamers can expect hundreds of hours of
gameplay.
-- "Blood Wake." This is a fast-action vehicular combat game fought with
powerful boats and big guns. Boats engage in combat with other boats,
forts and shore batteries in exotic locales. Players assume the role of
a naval lieutenant who is betrayed by an evil kingdom. With the help of
an outlaw band of sea-raiders they must overthrow the devious army and
restore order to the land.
PC Games
Strengthening its goal to become the world's top PC games creator,
Microsoft Games brings a slate of titles to E3 that includes both fresh
content and extensions of best-selling franchises:
-- "Dungeon Siege." This action-fantasy role-playing game combines the
immersive elements of an RPG with over-the-top intensity, awe-inspiring
vertical landscapes and nonstop action. Seamlessly traveling from
wind-swept castles to secret underground lairs without interruptions
from loading screens, players embark on a quest to stop an army of
evils. Beginning with a single fully animated 3-D character and
gathering a maximum party of eight, players can enjoy the experience as
designed or customize their own characters, spells, dungeons or entire
worlds. Scheduled availability is fall 2001.
-- "Zoo Tycoon." Lions and tigers and ... pandas? This easy-to-learn
strategy and resource game challenges players to design and build the
most healthy and vibrant zoo possible, working to ensure animal
happiness, customer satisfaction and profitability. Gameplay includes
building habitats, adopting animals, hiring staff and monitoring guest
satisfaction. A freeplay mode allows players to build the zoo at will
with few constraints, while the scenario mode provides a variety of
challenges and objectives. Scheduled availability is fall 2001.
-- "Sigma: The Adventures of Rex Chance." Set in the 1930s, this 3-D
real-time strategy game pits players against an evil madman in a
fast-paced campaign across a chain of remote and diverse islands. More
than 50 familiar animals can be combined into a huge number of mutant
creatures, which together create a formidable army. A variety of
ecosystems determines which animals are available and the performance
of the units deployed in each environment. With more than 15 missions,
single or multiple players can engage in unprecedented, streamlined and
intense gameplay. Scheduled availability is fall 2001.
-- "MechCommander(R) 2." Waging strategy from above, players take command
of an entire company of mercenary MechWarriors and wage a battle of
supremacy against three warring noble houses. This real-time 3-D game
of power, combat and treachery is set in the venerable BattleTech
universe, providing ample new challenges and thrills. Packing the heat
of up to 16 BattleMechs -- from the nimble Raven, equipped with sensors
and electronic countermeasures, to the massive Atlas, bristling with
deadly firepower -- players must leverage the unique strengths of each
'Mech and MechWarrior to create advantages. Scheduled availability is
July 2001.
-- "Freelancer." Adventure, intrigue and opportunity await in this
intensely epic and fascinating universe. Set in the dawn of the
30th Century, the game provides an environment in which humanity
focuses its efforts on expansion into frontier worlds. Four houses vie
for territory and control of frontier worlds, each seeking survival as
the ultimate prize. Billed as an action and space simulation game,
"Freelancer" combines a fully immersive, 3-D space flight system with
real-time 3-D interaction, giving players complete control over buying
and selling of commodities, accepting missions for hire, and
customizing spacecraft. Scheduled availability is spring 2002.
-- "Age of Mythology." Ensemble Studio Inc.'s new 3-D engine adds a deep
richness of graphical detail to the acclaimed real-time strategy
features of the "Age of Empires(R)" series and creates a unique new
title based on the fabled history of the Greek, Norse and Egyptian
cultures. Transporting players to a time when people believed gods were
real and a well-placed meteor could devastate a massive army, mythology
enters the game when players call upon the gods to act on their behalf.
Whether petitioning Zeus to rain bolts of lightning upon approaching
enemies or persuading Thor to trap opponents in a snow squall, players
face new and intriguing gameplay strategies in nine detailed
civilizations. Scheduled availability is spring 2002.
-- "Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002." The professional edition of
Microsoft's best-selling PC flight simulator gives players the most
realistic experience ever. Players can climb into the cockpit of a
Boeing 747-400 and fly in real time across the ocean or engage in a
bush pilot adventure in a Cessna Caravan on amphibious floats. Veteran
fliers will feel right at home in 3-D cockpits replete with working
instruments and interactive Air Traffic Control and can test their
skills through a new flight analysis feature. All players will
appreciate the auto-generated scenery and other amazing visual details.
Scheduled availability is fall 2001.
-- "Microsoft Train Simulator." Why should Casey Jones have all the fun?
Players can harness the power and romance of the world's most famous
railroads in this detail-packed simulator that allows them to be
engineers, passengers or bystanders. The terrain covers six routes
across nearly a century of rail travel -- from the Orient Express steam
train of 1930s Europe to America's ultra-modern Amtrak Acela "bullet
train." While working the fully functional controls and choosing from
a variety of scenarios, players can enjoy carefully re-created
landscapes and hear distinctive train and track sounds. Scheduled
availability is spring 2001.
About The Zone
The Zone ( http://www.zone.com/ ) continues to evolve while maintaining
its position as the largest multiplayer gaming site on the Internet, with
18 million registered members around the world, more than 123,000 concurrent
users at peak times, and in excess of 130 games available for play.
Responding to the expected growth of the casual gaming audience, to exceed
55 million by 2004, this month the Zone will unveil a new interface while
retaining the edge that has earned the loyalty of hard-core gamers. New
features will include quick links to popular gaming categories, or "hubs";
easy-to-use game indexes; organized links to Zone-sponsored tournaments,
online events, multiplayer game matchmaking and more; and an entirely new
"Kids Hub," a safe online environment featuring dozens of exciting new games
for children, sponsored by The Lego Group.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company
offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people
through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.
* Additional controllers sold separately.
The information contained in this press release relates to prerelease
products which may be substantially modified before first commercial release.
Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the
products when first commercially released. This press release is provided for
informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or
implied, with respect to this press release or the information contained in
it.
NOTE: Microsoft, Xbox, MechCommander and Age of Empires are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States
and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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CONTACT:
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