IT'S GOING TO BE AN XBOX-GREEN CHRISTMAS AS EUROPEAN PRICE REDUCED TO ESTIMATED STREET PRICE OF €249.99/£159.99
Posted by Ben on Wednesday, August 28 2002

LONDON, 28th August 2002 –European gamers have even more to be celebrating heading into this Christmas shopping season as Microsoft today announced that the European price of its Xbox video game system will be reduced to an estimated street price of €249.99/£159.99, effective from Friday, 30th August.

"The video games industry is more robust than ever this year, and new consoles and games are expected to dominate Christmas wish lists," said Sandy Duncan, Vice President, Xbox Europe. "Xbox is extremely well-positioned to be at the top of those lists because it's the best value. The intense power and gaming experiences consumers get with Xbox is simply unsurpassed."

Duncan pointed out that only with Xbox this holiday can consumers get a choice of over 200 game titles (with over 300 currently in development) representing the most advanced movie quality graphics, sound effects and music ever experienced on a video game console, plus a built-in hard disc for the most intense gaming experiences and a built-in broadband adapter for instant online gaming with Xbox Live, a new online gaming service launching soon in Europe. "Best value is not just about price," said Duncan. "It's price, plus the most advanced hardware features, plus a killer games portfolio all in one package."

Among the growing library of exclusive new game titles for Xbox from Microsoft and its publishing partners this Christmas are:


Blinx from Microsoft Game Studios – uniquely features time travel, possible only with the console's built in hard disc


Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell from Ubi Soft – putting the gamer into the shoes of an anti-terrorist commando, Splinter Cell features incredibly realistic environments and deep gameplay that push the Xbox hardware in new directions


Toejam & Earl: All Funked Up from Sega – bringing a much-loved 16-bit franchise into the next-gen console arena, Toejam & Earl offers massive worlds to explore as the funky pair use "funk-fu" to battle their way on a quest for 12 sacred funk records – and all in glorious Dolby 5.1 sound


Panzer Dragoon ORTA from Sega – combining beautiful graphics with a compelling story and next-gen gameplay, Panzer Dragoon ORTA brings the popular Sega Saturn series back to life only on Xbox


Brute Force from Microsoft Game Studios – an intense action game that delivers the intensity of a shooter but requires the cunning of team-based tactical combat, Brute Force uses the Xbox hardware to deliver startling graphics and advanced enemy AI that puts gamers right in the action

The specialist press are highly anticipating the Xbox Christmas line-up. The Official Xbox Magazine UK said about Blinx, "We know what your top 10 most wanted Xbox games looks like, but our own personal chart? It's just received a blinding new high entry thanks to the time we've spent with Blinx…Blinx is looking to be the kind of game that'll remind you why you play games in the first place." And, regarding Splinter Cell, OXM UK said, "Think of all the cool things you've ever wanted to do in a game...you'll be able to do them in Splinter Cell…Counter Espionage, geopolitical intrigue and conspiracy thwarting – you haven't seen anything like this."

Duncan added that in review after review, multi-platform games are deemed best on Xbox. Xbox offers the definitive versions of multi-platform titles such as:


Spider-Man: The Movie (Activision): Detailed city environments and smooth character models show why Spider-Man swings the most on Xbox


FIFA 2003 (Electronic Arts): The Xbox hard disc makes accessing favourite teams a snap, and the detailed graphics make gamers feel like they're about to lift the cup themselves


Colin McRae Rally 3 (Codemasters): The Xbox horsepower allows an advanced damage engine, meaning that the supremely-detailed cars get realistically dented in this amazingly realistic rally simulation


Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (Activision): Tony's huge environments get a boost on the Xbox, and only-on-Xbox lighting effects and other details bring the action home


Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Electronic Arts): Young Xbox fans will see Harry's world come to life as on no other platform, as Xbox brings the magic of Hogwarts to gamers this Christmas

"The Xbox Christmas line-up is hotly anticipated by gamers and specialist press alike," concluded Duncan. "With this new price, Xbox is the clear choice."

About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers never before seen gameplay experiences. With more than three times the graphics performance of the latest generation of game consoles, Xbox empowers game designers with the technology to realise their vision of great games that are challenging, exhilarating and fun. Xbox is now available in Europe for an estimated street price of €299/£199 (€249.99/£159.99 from Friday 30th August).

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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