Gates hypes Xbox 360 saying 10 million lead on PS3

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 10 May 2006 12:54

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Microsoft founder Bill Gates has put the wind up Sony, claiming 10 million Xbox 360 units will be sold, with more than 160 games available, by the time PlayStation 3 hits the market. Realising that his company has a six month window of opportunity to steal the march on its rivals, Gates and company have turned up the volume on the games hype machine to full blast.
Making a surprise visit to open the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Gates outlined Microsoft’s vision to connect millions of Xbox 360 gamers with hundreds of millions of Windows-based PC and mobile gamers around the world through the Xbox Live online entertainment network.

Microsoft's “Live Anywhere,” initiative aims to put gamers at the center of a ubiquitous always-on world where their digital identities, games, friends and digital entertainment are always accessible through the Xbox Live interface, regardless of location or device. The plan is for participants using PCs, mobile phones and Xbox 360 consoles to play together simultaneously.

By this time next year, Microsoft aims to have more than 6 million gamers connected to the Xbox Live network. Gates outlined next steps to bring the Live Anywhere vision to fruition:

·        Xbox Live experiences come to Windows-based PCs early 2007, making its debut on Windows Vista operating system and the game “Shadowrun” this winter.

·        Microsoft’s mobile offering will be available on Windows Mobile, Java and BREW-based handsets, by this time next year, giving users the ability to send messages, access friends lists, download mobile game content, and sample, purchase and play favourites such as “Bejeweled,” “Zuma” and “Hexic” as part of the integrated gaming world.

“By opening the Xbox Live entertainment network to the entire universe of Windows and mobile gamers, we’re creating unparalleled gameplay opportunities that will drive incredible growth of the online community,” said Gates. “Our vision is to deliver consistent, compelling experiences that make it easy for consumers to jump in and play, from any device at any time. It’s a vision that only Microsoft can deliver.”

Gates, making his first appearance at E3, joined Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division, on stage to announce a barrage of new game titles coming to the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista platforms.

Microsoft announced that it will have 160 Xbox 360 titles by end of 2006.

Gates and Moore gave the crowd an initial look at Halo 3. Its predecessor, “Halo 2” — launched by Microsoft Game Studios in 2004 — has been the company's biggest gaming success to date, with $125 million in sales.

Microsoft Game Studios also showcased exclusive Xbox 360 titles “Gears of War” (Epic Games Inc.), “Fable 2” (Lionhead Studios) and “Forza Motorsport 2” (Turn 10). Ubisoft’s next-generation version of “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent” will also debut on Xbox 360. In addition, Microsoft Game Studios showed “Alan Wake” (Remedy Entertainment Inc.) and “Shadowrun” (FASA Studio), both slated for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista.

“Shadowrun” will be the first cross-platform Xbox 360 and Windows Vista-based game.

Microsoft is playing up the launch of Windows Vista in January 2007 as being an integral part of the gaming experience, promising that the introduction of the DirectX 10 API will provide enhanced graphics and performance, better hardware integration and new ways for developers to make the most of the Windows game platform.

Microsoft also highlighted several games from major publishers that will support Windows Vista and DirectX 10 technologies: “Crysis” (Electronic Arts), “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” (Funcom) and “Flight Simulator X” (Microsoft Game Studios).

In addition to the blockbuster titles on Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, several new games are coming to Xbox Live Arcade.

Microsoft and its partners announced a significant expansion of the Xbox Live Arcade catalog, adding classics such as “Pac-Man,” “Galaga,” “Dig Dug” and “Rally-X” from NAMCO BANDAI Games America.; “Frogger,” “Track & Field,” and “Contra” and “Super Contra” from Konami; “Defender,” “Paperboy,” “Root Beer Tapper” and “Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3” from Midway Games Inc.; “Sonic the Hedgehog High Speed” from SEGA; and new titles such as “Lumines Live” from Q Entertainment Ltd.

Microsoft has also announced new cross-platform accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, which will enrich game experiences on Xbox 360 and Windows. The new Xbox Live Vision video camera will allow consumers to customise their gamer picture, send photo messages, and video chat over Xbox Live.

Microsoft obviously intends to make the most of its six month window of opportunity until PS3 and Wii arrive on the scene and is frantically planning launches in seven new countries. Launches in Chile, the Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Poland, Slovakia and South Africa are planned.