Xbox Addict

27 For Broadband

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 (E3) 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.