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Knight
09-10-2002, 06:20 AM
Xbox to Debut in Korea in December





By Kim Deok-hyun
Staff Reporter


The game console Xbox is expected to be put on sale in Korea from the middle of December, according to Microsoft¡¯s Korean unit yesterday.

The introduction of the Xbox, which can be connected to a multi-player gaming environment on the Internet, is hoped by the distributors to open another front in the battle for the electronic gaming console market.

``We will launch an ad campaign for Xbox from early December, but the exact timing has yet to be decided,¡¯¡¯ said an official at Microsoft¡¯s Korean unit on condition of anonymity.

Given the seasonal factors such as Christmas and the winter school holidays, he confirmed the Xbox would be introduced in the middle of December.

The Xbox is likely to be priced at 256,000 won ($199) before value-added tax, the same price as one of it rival console platforms Sony¡¯s PlayStation 2.

Both the Xbox and the PlayStation 2 can play digital versatile discs (DVD), but Xbox buyers are required to invest an additional 43,000 won ($29) for a controller needed to play DVDs.

Microsoft¡¯s Korean unit has already selected a local public relations agency and advertising firm to promote the game console.

Microsoft¡¯s Korean unit is also conducting a research in marketing and distribution ahead of the sale of Xbox.

SK Global, a general trading arm of SK group, and an unidentified contender are competing to become the local distributor for the Xbox, according to sources.

http://www.hankooki.com/kt_tech/200209/t2002091017261545110.htm