NEWS - Tuesday, August 13, 2002

Xbox Live Launch Date Announced
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday said it will launch Xbox Live™, the online gaming service for its video game console, in North America on Nov. 15, the Xbox game machines one-year anniversary. The service will require a $49.95 starter kit, which includes 12-months access, a game and a headset kit for voice communications with other players. At least six online-enabled games will be available for the console at launch, with about 16 by the end of the year, Xbox spokesman David Hufford told Reuters. He said initial tests of the underlying network for the service will begin with about 10,000 people at the end of this month, though he said the network will be able to handle far in excess of the usage it will actually get in the early going. "We will definitely be able to support multiples of what we bring in on day one," he said. As for how many of the starter kits will be available that first day, Hufford said "that number will be dictated by (retailers)." More information will be announced once the full press release is issued.Source: http://www.yahoo.com/