REDMOND, WASH., SEPT. 10, 2001 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the addition of five world-class design studios to its already distinctive list of developers creating titles for the revolutionary Xbox (TM) video game system. The new companies will design and create exclusive game titles to be published under the Microsoft®
label. Available in stores across North America on Nov. 8, Xbox is the future-generation console system that has attracted the involvement of hundreds of talented industry professionals.
“We are as committed as ever to providing gamers with experiences that were never possible before Xbox,” said Ed Fries, vice president of Xbox Games Publishing at Microsoft. “One of the first steps to success is gathering top industry talent that share our creative vision. These new studios enable us to continue to publish incredible Xbox games.”
As the only video game console that comes with a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port for online broadband games, Xbox is able to deliver more powerful game experiences. Bringing their creativity, skill and unsurpassed expertise to future Xbox titles, the new developers join the list of creative forces already at work on Xbox, including Oddworld Inhabitants Inc., Bizarre Creations and Microsoft’s own in-house development teams such as Bungie Studios. Always expanding the breadth and depth of the Xbox experience, these new studios will develop titles in a variety of genres, including action, sports and adventure.
The excitement of being the newest members of the Microsoft team was reflected in a statement from Mike Ball, founder and technical director of Just Add Monsters Ltd.: “We’re excited to be a part of the Xbox team because they’re as passionate about making great games as we are. And they’ve created the only console that enables us to bring our visions to life.”
The five design studios are these:
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Argonaut Games plc has produced numerous hit games such as “Croc: The Legend of the Gobbos,” and new technologies such as the Super FX chip.
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Just Add Monsters Ltd. (JAM) , based in Cambridge, England, was founded and is staffed by former Sony Computer Entertainment developers whose respective artistic, development and design talents have been instrumental in the production of numerous blockbuster titles, including “MediEvil,” “MediEvil2” and “Frogger.”
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Mesa Logic Inc. , located in a suburb of Dallas, has developed such arcade hits as “Area 51,” “Maximum Force” and “Site 4,” each published by Atari Games Corp. The three award-winning games went on to set sales records in the arcade industry.
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Presto Studios
Inc. was founded in 1991 in San Diego. Presto has grown into a cutting-edge entertainment software development company known for its engaging, photo-realistic games, including “Myst III: Exile” and the Journeyman Project series of time travel adventures. -
Studio Gigante Inc. , in Chicago, has produced such games as the widely popular “Mortal Kombat” and WWF series, “NBA Showtime 2000” and “NFL Blitz 2000.”
About Xbox
Xbox 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.*
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.
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