SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 10, 2000 - Bill Gates announced today at the annual
Game Developers Conference that Microsoft Corp. is entering the video game
world with the introduction of a future-generation dedicated video game
console, currently code-named X-Box, designed to deliver intense,
action-packed games. Building on the company's software expertise and
advances in PC technology - such as 3-D graphics and Internet connectivity -
Microsoft is developing a high-performance, easy-to-use platform that will
enable developers to create better games, faster.
"Building on our strengths as a software company, X-Box will offer game
developers a powerful platform and game enthusiasts an incredible
experience," said Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect at
Microsoft. "We want X-Box to be the platform of choice for the best and most
creative game developers in the world."
Unlocking New Gameplay Experiences
Familiar tools such as the Microsoft? DirectX? API will inspire
movie-quality rendering, enhanced Internet ***, and superior audio in
future-generation games. X-Box will catapult gameplay quality to new heights
by delivering the following:
More than three times the graphics performance of the newest-generation game
consoles
Co-developed with experts at nVidia Corp., the custom-designed graphics chip
will deliver more than 300 million polygons per second.
Rich, fast-action and realistic experiences enabled by the X-Box hard drive
Broadband Internet connectivity that extends the game experience
Combining the power of PC technology with the accessibility of its
cutting-edge DirectX development tools, Microsoft is providing game
developers with a maximum-performance creative medium to deliver better
games.
"The PC has always been the design center for high-end entertainment because
of the unlimited graphics power and the great tools that make programming
easier," said Robbie Bach, vice president of the Games Division at
Microsoft. "Our developer partners are e***d to apply Hollywood design
techniques to creating superior X-Box games."
Developer Enthusiasm
Microsoft is allocating significant resources in technology, developer
support and marketing to make X-Box and its developer partners successful.
X-Box is slated to launch in 2001, and numerous developers and publishers
have already expressed their enthusiasm for it, including industry leaders
Electronic Arts Inc., Konami Company Ltd., Acclaim Entertainment Inc. and
Eidos Interactive.
"We view Microsoft's entry into the console business as an important and
positive event for our industry. Electronic Arts is intrigued by the
opportunity to develop exciting new games for X-Box," said Larry Probst,
chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts.
"We welcome the development of the new X-Box platform because we expect it
will help the home game console industry to expand," said Kagemasa Kozuki,
chief executive officer of KonamiCo., Ltd. "We plan to organize an X-Box
development team and release new titles for the platform before anyone else.
We hope that the X-Box will be a successful platform and will help the game
console industry grow further."
New Games Division
To advance future-generation PC and X-Box games, Microsoft has formed a new
dedicated games division comprising world-renowned software engineers and
designers in the industry. Robbie Bach, vice president of the Home and
Retail Division, will oversee the Games Division. Further directing the
division's efforts are Vice President Rick Thompson, and General Manager Ed
Fries, who will oversee first-party software development.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
software 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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David G Fisher
Microsoft have software expertise? Well I'll be damned...
Software expertise...Microsoft...never thought I'd hear those words said in
context with each other...
Chris
"Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold
that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass."--Mark Twain
