REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 12, 2002 — Piloting a futuristic massive battle tank while in the living room has never been so thrilling. Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the breakthrough action game
“MechAssault (TM)”
is in stores for the Xbox (TM) video game system and Xbox Live (TM) , Microsoft Corp.’s premier online game service scheduled to launch in North America Nov. 15. Subscriptions to the service, including the Xbox Live Starter Kit, are available for the estimated retail price of $49.95 (U.S.).
“MechAssault,”
developed by Day 1 Studios LLC, is one of the most highly anticipated games of 2002 for the Xbox video game system and Xbox Live service.
With
“MechAssault,”
players pilot the most powerful weapon of the 31st century, a 40-foot-tall walking tank known as a BattleMech. In this third-person action game, players can destroy every structure in the world. Players choose from 10 BattleMechs, ranging from quick 30-tonners to menacing 100-ton war machines, all with different weapon configurations and armament. There are also variants of the 10 BattleMechs, each containing an alternate weapon loadout.
“With ‘MechAssault’ launching this holiday season, players will find a brilliantly designed single-player game and the rush of nonstop action,”
said Ed Fries, vice president of Xbox Game Content at Microsoft.
“‘MechAssault’ also launches as one of the premier titles on Xbox Live. Gamers can enjoy an onslaught of high-intensity multiplayer action, with enough downloadable content to keep the destruction fresh for a long time to come.”
Combining the rich 19-year BattleTech history with engaging heroic characters and nonstop action,
“MechAssault”
features advanced graphics technology that highlights a gorgeous 3-D world with jaw-dropping graphics and amazing special effects. Players will battle it out in intricate cityscapes, massive war-torn battlefields and beautiful natural environments.
“Day 1 Studios and ‘MechAssault’ have benefited from a collaborative relationship with Microsoft Game Studios, and I can’t thank them enough for their support,”
said Denny Thorley, executive producer at Day 1 Studios.
“We’re very proud of everything that we’ve done with ‘MechAssault’ and are confident that the collaborative efforts have produced an outstanding game that is not only great fun to play, but shows off Xbox and Xbox Live in amazing ways.”
“MechAssault”
offers players incredible multiplayer experiences available only on Xbox.
“MechAssault”
will ship with complete Xbox Live software (subscription sold separately), System Link and split-screen multiplayer capabilities. Players who have subscribed to Xbox Live can find friends online, interact with the competition or strategize with a teammate using the real-time voice communication feature found on the Xbox Communicator. Utilizing the
“MechAssault”
multiplayer matchmaking system, up to eight players can play together via QuickMatch or OptiMatch (TM) system on Xbox Live, or on a local area network (LAN) via System Link.
“MechAssault”
also will allow subscribers to Xbox Live to download new content through the service after the game is released. By providing fresh game content periodically, Xbox Live brings players new, action-packed worlds of excitement. Players across the world can update
“MechAssault”
with new multiplayer environments, game types and BattleMechs. With the Xbox Live service , players have access to
“MechAssault”
updates that will continually expand their gameplay experience.
More information on
“MechAssault”
is available online at http://www.xbox.com/mechassault/default.htm .
“MechAssault”
is available in stores at an estimated retail price of $49.95 (U.S.).
About Day 1 Studios
Day 1 Studios is an independent developer dedicated to the craft of creating revolutionary, interactive entertainment through superior design, artistic and technical processes. With a heritage spawned from premier development houses, Day 1 operates studios in Chicago and Hunt Valley, Md.
About Xbox Live
Xbox Live is the first comprehensive, online game arena fully dedicated to fast-action broadband gaming experiences. Xbox Live will allow gamers to play multiplayer Xbox games with other gamers everywhere via a high-speed Internet connection. With a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port, the Xbox console was built from the ground up to be an online gaming system.
Xbox Live will enable all gamers to find and play with their friends easily; talk to other players during gameplay through the Xbox Communicator headset; and download current statistics, new levels and characters to their Xbox hard drive.
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, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico .
About Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the PC, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for the PC ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/ ), including such franchises as
“Age of Empires® ,” “Flight Simulator”
and
“Zoo Tycoon (TM)”
; Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/ ), including such franchises as
“Halo (TM) ,” “Project Gotham Racing (TM)”
and
“NFL Fever”
; and Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/ ), the official games channel for the MSN®
network and home to such hits as
“Bejeweled”
and
“OutSmart (TM) .”
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.
Microsoft, MechAssault, Xbox, OptiMatch, Age of Empires, Zoo Tycoon, Halo, Project Gotham Racing, MSN and OutSmart 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. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
