XBOX

Finally a date!

Microsoft In a communiqué published by AFP, Microsoft has announced that the upcoming launch ofXboxGame Console should take place around the 8th of November 2001 in North America, at a price of 299 dollars. As we announced in our news of 8th February 2001, the computer giant, after having honed its arms on software territory, is today attacking the market for games consoles. The World number one in the software market, notably thanks to the “Windows” operating systems (more than 90% of PC’s use one of the versions), Microsoft is now entering into a highly competitive market sector in which Sony, Nintendo and Sega have up to now been battling. NB : The Xbox will initially be a rival to the PlayStation 2, which has already sold more than 10 million units since its launch in Japan, and shortly with the Nintendo Game Cube which will be released in Japan in July 2001, and in the USA in the month of October 2001.

In any case, in order to unseat the virtual monopoly by Sony, the Xbox disposes of the most sophisticated characteristics:

- 10 MB Hard Disc,
- 64 MB RAM,
- Pentium III processor running at 733 MHz,
- DVD Player
- Possibility or connection to a games base via Internet where Sega (who are pulling out of console construction) are developing a mass of new material for E-gamers.

In total, there are no less than 30 companies slaving away over the development of new video games, including: Infogrames, Electronic Arts, FOX Interactive and LucasArts Entertainment ...

Furthermore, Microsoft are planning to launch the Xbox in Europe and Japan in the months following its launch in the USA, some saying it should be available in Europe during the first half of 2002.
Microsoft have indicated that they’re prepared to supply sufficient quantities of the machines to different distribution circuits, which is something Sony had problems doing with the PSX2.

The X-box project is a gamble for Bill Gates, because despite his concern for diversification, the professionals consider this as “risky”, despite the power of Sony and Nintendo.

See the Public Presentation of the X-Box.