LADYDRAGON.COM - Starting Nov. 8, 2001, Xbox will be available for purchase at retail outlets across Canada at an estimated retail price of $459.99* Cdn

Friday August 17, 2001

Starting Nov. 8, 2001, Xbox will be available for purchase at retail outlets across Canada at an estimated retail price of $459.99* Cdn

Microsoft Canada Co. today announced updates to the Canadian launch plans for Microsoft Corporation's highly anticipated Microsoft® Xbox(TM) video game system. Starting Nov. 8, 2001, Xbox will be available for purchase at retail outlets across Canada at an estimated retail price of $459.99* Cdn. Microsoft Canada anticipates its launch library of 15 to 20 games will contribute significantly to building consumer excitement and driving sales of 1 to 1.5 million units across North America by the end of the holiday season.

Microsoft aims to spark widespread interest in Xbox titles with its diverse launch line-up across a variety of genres. Halo introduces gamers to an exciting new world where humans battle aliens on a mysterious ring-world with the objective of uncovering Halo's horrible secrets and destroying mankind's sworn enemy.

In Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, players embark on an adventure using the special powers of two characters, Abe and Munch, to cooperatively make their way through the trials of Oddworld.

Project Gotham Racing is a circuit-based racing game where players can compete against up to three friends in photo-realistic downtown environments.

In Amped, players experience freestyle riding down real mountain slopes with the goal of becoming one of the world's snowboarding superstars. "Xbox, the most powerful and easiest game platform to design for, allows game designers to finally realize their true creative visions for games," says Ryan Mugford, Marketing Lead - Xbox, Microsoft Canada Co. "The combination of power and creative talent means that on November 8th and beyond, Canadian consumers will experience a new level of game play."

Additional launch titles for Xbox include Dead or Alive 3 from Tecmo Ltd., an exclusive fighting title showcasing impressive new environments and characters from the popular series. Mad Dash Racing from Eidos Interactive, Inc. is an original title for Xbox combining high-speed combat racing and 3D adventure action in a thrilling scramble for the finish line. In NASCAR Heat from Infogrames Inc., players can experience the power of driving a 750 horsepower NASCAR Winston Cup car on their favorite racetrack. "Microsoft is setting a new standard for video games with Xbox," said Kevin Layden, president and COO, Future Shop Ltd. "We expect Xbox to be one of the must-have items for the holiday season based on heavy consumer demand for cutting edge gaming technology."

"Xbox will have the most exciting games created by the industry's best talent," adds Mugford who explains that more than 200 of the world's top game artists and publishers have signed on to create Xbox games including powerhouse console game studios: Capcom Co. Ltd., Sega Entertainment Inc., Konami and Electronic Arts. These relationships further solidify Microsoft's support from the world's best game developers and will help to ensure that only the best video games will appear on Xbox.

"We are overwhelmed by the interest from our consumers who have been eagerly awaiting the launch of Xbox in Canada," says Jim Tyo, Electronic Boutiques' recently appointed VP of Canadian Operations. "Microsoft will help drive growth in this competitive industry with Xbox. Its future-generation features and price point will offer gamers significant value. We are thrilled to be partners with Microsoft to launch this exciting new system into Canada."

About Xbox

Xbox is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation (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.