27 Leading Video Game Companies to Unleash Broadband Gaming on Xbox

LOS ANGELES, May 16, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that more than 25 top game companies are propelling video games to new heights by taking advantage of the high-quality, high-speed broadband capabilities built into every Microsoft® Xbox™
video game system. The news was made in advance of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E 3 ) 2001, one of the world’s largest annual games industry trade shows.

Acclaim Entertainment Inc., Activision Inc., ArtDink Corp., Atlus Company Ltd., Bandai Company Ltd., Capcom Co. Ltd., Codemasters, Crave Entertainment Inc., Electronic Arts Inc., Eidos Interactive, FOX Interactive Inc., Gathering of Developers, INFOGRAMES Inc., Interplay Entertainment Corp., Konami Company Ltd., LucasArts Entertainment Co., Midway Games Inc., Namco Ltd., Rage Software, Rockstar Games, Sega Entertainment Inc., Sierra On-Line Inc., Taito Corp., Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., TDK Systems, THQ and Ubisoft are the industry-leading publishers committed to supporting the Xbox online experience.

Sega Sports’ entire 2K3 lineup (including
“NFL 2K3”
and
“NBA 2K3”
),
“Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3,” “Unreal Championship”
and
“Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon”
will be among the first online-enabled games available. In addition, Microsoft’s own Xbox game studios has more than a dozen online-enabled games in development in the United States and Japan. In fact, Bungie Studios, developer of the highly anticipated Xbox game
“Halo,”
will only create future games that take advantage of the broadband capabilities of Xbox.

“Online console gaming over broadband will change the face of video games forever,”
said Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer at Microsoft.
“When the Xbox online experience goes live next year, our development partners will have games ready that demonstrate how broadband online video games will have as dramatic an impact on the industry for the current generation of games as the move from 2-D to 3-D graphics did for the last generation.”

“Sega is extremely excited about the potential that Xbox brings to online console gaming,”
said Peter Moore, president and COO of Sega America.
“Obviously, the inclusion of a hard drive and Ethernet port in every single box is very important. Moreover, Xbox is building a world-class gaming platform on a global basis. This assures players a safe, fun and fast experience and allows developers to focus on creating great games. We at Sega intend to take full advantage of that.”

Video gaming on Xbox will expand beyond the walls of gamers’ homes as they connect to other gamers throughout the world for more powerful experiences. As on as game console, Xbox online experiences will be easy, fast and safe. Game players will never know they are going online.

The following are some examples of how games may change as a result of the Xbox online console experience:

  • In a basketball game, 10 players can play five on five, each controlling their own player. Players will be able to easily find their buddies and team up with them against other teams. They will be able to communicate and
    “talk trash”
    via voice chat.

  • Gamers will be able to download episodic content. For example, racers will be able to download new tracks, cars and even real-time weather conditions from the city they are racing in.

  • Player histories can automatically be tracked, including stats, level of accomplishment, tournament record and customized attributes the player has defined or earned. Players, teammates and opponents can then own bragging rights or measure the caliber of other players to ensure that multiplayer games are more evenly matched.

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 will be available in North America on Nov. 8, 2001, at the estimated retail price of $299.99* (U.S.).

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) 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.

* Reseller prices may vary.

Internet access and broadband service and hardware (acquired separately) are required to play broadband-enabled Xbox games on the Xbox console. Broadband capability is scheduled to go live in the first half of 2002.

The information contained in this document relates to prereleased products that may be substantially modified before first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the products when first commercially released. This document is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to this document or the information contained in it.

Microsoft and Xbox 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.

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.

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