Stunning Exclusives, More Than 200 Games, New Online Game Service,
And $2 Billion Commitment Fuel Future of Xbox Platform
LOS ANGELES, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today kicked off the Electronic Entertainment
Expo (E3) with a bang as it previewed some of the 200 games that will be
available worldwide this holiday season for the Xbox(TM) video game system.
Showing its vision for the future of the industry, the company also detailed
its plans for Xbox Live, the first online console gaming service fully
dedicated to fast-action, always-connected broadband gaming experiences.
Microsoft also announced a $2 billion commitment for Xbox Live,
next-generation content and ongoing innovation of the platform.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"Xbox is driving the future of interactive entertainment," said
Robbie Bach, senior vice president and chief Xbox officer at Microsoft. "With
so many great Xbox games from our partners, the right global vision for online
games, and an irresistible price for Xbox around the world, the real fun
starts now."
Coming Soon: Tons of Great Xbox Games
Ed Fries, vice president of Xbox game content at Microsoft, provided an
overview of the potent Xbox games lineup. The great holiday exclusives
include:
-- "Star Wars(R): Knights of the Old Republic(TM)" (LucasArts
Entertainment Company) presents a deep, engaging
story-/character-driven role-playing game (RPG) set long before the
Galactic Empire. The era, unexplored in any previous "Star Wars" game,
is dominated by an enduring conflict between the Jedi and the Sith.
Developed in conjunction with BioWare Corp., the game will feature
customizable male or female heroes and evolving playable characters, as
well as dynamic lightsaber combat.
-- "Brute Force" (Microsoft Game Studios) is an action-packed sci-fi
squad-based shooter that lets gamers experience the intensity of a
shooter game with the cunning strategies of team-based tactical combat.
-- "Panzer Dragoon(TM) ORTA" (SEGA(R) of America, Inc.) empowers gamers to
take command of a powerful dragon and experience intense aerial combat
in the most visually breathtaking game on Xbox.
-- "NFL Fever 2003" (Microsoft Game Studios) continues the award-winning
football game series for Xbox. Easy to pick up and start playing, "NFL
Fever 2003" delivers all the action and excitement of the National
Football League, allowing gamers to create, play and control their
ultimate NFL team.
-- "Unreal Championship" (Infogrames) is built from the ground up by
Digital Extremes, part of the team responsible for "Unreal" and "Unreal
Tournament, Unreal Championship." The latest addition to the "Unreal"
universe will provide console gamers with an adrenaline-packed,
first-person action experience designed specifically for Xbox and the
Xbox controller.
"The pipeline of Xbox games is jammed with new titles in every category,"
Fries said. "With 300 Xbox games in development and 200 games slated for the
holiday season, gamers will have a mountain of quality titles to choose from
this year. No other console has ever accomplished these types of numbers in
its first year."
After showcasing many of the 200 games that will be on the market by the
end of the year, Fries previewed two future Xbox games that demonstrate how
Xbox game designers are reaching for the stars:
-- "Ninja Gaiden(R)" (Tecmo(R), Inc.) was announced as an Xbox exclusive
game. Created by legendary game designer Tomonobu Itagaki and his team
at Team Ninja in Japan, Ryu Hayabusa returns as the famous, deadly
Ninja assassin in the new "Ninja Gaiden," coming in the spring of 2003.
This neo-classic adventure will feature extraordinary new worlds,
deadly new weapons, Hollywood-style movies, and interactive 3-D
environments, creating the most action-packed adventure of all time.
-- "Project Ego" (Microsoft Game Studios) is Peter Molyneux's
ground-breaking, role-playing adventure game in which players' actions
determine their skills, appearance and morality. Gamers can create
their life story from childhood to death. They can grow from an
inexperienced child into the most powerful being in the world. Players
can choose the path of righteousness or dedicate their lives to evil.
Microsoft Unveils Xbox Live - The Next Frontier in Video Games
J Allard, general manager of the Xbox platform, detailed Microsoft's plans
to lead the way in online gaming with Xbox Live. Leveraging the Xbox system's
built-in hard drive and Ethernet port to facilitate online play right out of
the box, Xbox Live is a game universe where gamers can find their friends
easily; where they can talk to other players through the Xbox Communicator
headset; where gamers can download new statistics, levels and characters to
their Xbox hard drive; and where game players have fun together. The standard
Xbox Live game features that work across all Xbox Live multiplayer games
include the following:
-- Gamertag. Gamertag is a player's unique online ID for all games across
the global gaming service.
-- Friends list. This feature allows gamers to find friends online and
invite them to a game no matter which Xbox Live game they're playing.
-- Xbox Communicator. Voice communication is integrated with all Xbox Live
multiplayer games, enabling voice interaction with teammates and
opponent. Key elements of this feature exclusive to Xbox include
voice-masking, global muting and parental control.
-- Matchmaking. QuickMatch is the ability to enter a multiplay experience
with a single button click, and OptiMatch, an Xbox Live exclusive,
helps players select games and opponents based on similar skill levels.
-- High-speed content downloads to the Xbox hard disk. Only Xbox offers
console gamers the ability to download and permanently store both free
and for-a-fee content, including new levels, characters, missions and
statistics.
"Online capabilities will change video games in more profound ways than
3-D technology has so far," Allard said. "We built Xbox Live to allow game
creators to focus purely on making the next great games. As the artists
create, Xbox Live will do the heavy lifting where cross-game services,
technology, customer service and billing are concerned."
Xbox Live launches in North America, Europe, and Japan this fall and
begins its steady rollout this summer with a consumer beta program in
North America. Allard said Xbox Live will support five Xbox Live exclusive
games this year, including "Unreal Championship" (Infogrames) as well as
"MechAssault(TM)," "Whacked!(TM)," "NFL Fever 2003" and "Midtown Madness(R) 3"
(Microsoft Games Studio). By the end of 2003, at least 50 Xbox Live-enabled
games are scheduled to be available worldwide.
At launch, U.S. consumers can purchase a starter kit for $49.95*. For the
estimated retail price of a single game, the consumer receives a year's
subscription to Xbox Live, an Xbox Communicator that plugs into the Xbox
controller and facilitates all voice communication with other players, and
"ReVolt," a fun, online racing game from Acclaim Entertainment. Pricing and
specific offers in regions outside of North America will be announced locally
at a later date.
As the grand finale to the Xbox Live unveiling, Allard announced a lineup
of games in the works for the future of the service, including "Star Wars
Galaxies(TM)" (LucasArts Entertainment), "Counterstrike" (Valve Software for
Microsoft Games Studios), and future versions of Xbox original blockbusters
such as "Halo(TM)," "RalliSport Challenge," "Amped(TM)" and "Project Gotham
Racing(TM)."
About Xbox
Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ) is Microsoft's future-generation video game
system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers
game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions
as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and
reality. Xbox is now available in North America, Japan, Europe and Australia.
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.
* Prices are estimated retail prices. Actual retail prices may vary.
The information contained in this press release relates to prerelease
products and services that may be substantially modified before first
commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe
or reflect the products and services when first commercially released. This
press release is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes
no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the release or the
information contained in it.
NOTE: Microsoft, Xbox, MechAssault, Whacked!, Midtown Madness, Halo,
Amped and Project Gotham Racing are either registered trademarks or trademarks
of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The "Star Wars" Galaxies massively multiplayer online game series from
LucasArts Entertainment Company is designed to immerse literally thousands of
players into the rich "Star Wars" universe. The first product, "Star Wars
Galaxies," will feature dynamic role-playing ground-based adventures across
multiple planets in the classic "Star Wars" timeframe. Game play will offer a
unique combination of combat, exploration, social interaction, specialized
missions and daring quests.
Officially Licensed Product of PLAYERS INC. The PLAYERS INC. logo is a
registered trademark of the NFL players. http://www.nflplayers.com/ (C) 2002
PLAYERS INC.
(C) 2002 NFL Properties LLC. Team names and logos are trademarks of the
teams indicated. All other NFL-related marks are trademarks of the National
Football League.
(C) 2002 NFL Properties LLC. Team names and logos are trademarks of the
teams indicated. All other NFL-related marks are trademarks of the National
Football League. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein
may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.microsoft.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, 1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840
CONTACT:
Tamara Otto, +1-206-679-8941, or
tamara.otto@edelman.com, or Kristina Kirk, +1-323-202-1039, or
kristina.kirk@edelman.com, both of Edelman Public Relations, for
Microsoft Corp.
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional
information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were
correct at time of publication, but may since have changed.
Journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response
Team for additional assistance.
|
