Keynote at Tokyo Game Show Reveals Major Xbox Details
TOKYO - March 30, 2001 - In his keynote address today at 2001 Spring Tokyo
Game Show, Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates
revealed the company’s plans to bring the XboxT video game system to Japan.
During the keynote, Gates underscored Microsoft’s commitment to the
Japanese market and announced that more than 70 Japanese game companies,
including Sega Corp., have declared their support for Microsoft" Xbox.
“With Xbox, our goal is to create the future of video gaming, and our work
in Japan will play a key role in achieving that,” Gates said. “We’re
extremely excited to be working with Japanese games artists on Xbox to
pioneer new dimensions of creativity in video games.”
Microsoft and Sega Team Up on Xbox
Gates revealed that Microsoft and Sega have struck a long-term, strategic
alliance to bring future versions of great Sega" games to Xbox. Sega will
premiere 11 of its future titles on Xbox, including “Jet Grind Radio
Future(tm)” (tentative title), the latest version of “Panzer Dragoon(tm),”
“GUNVALKYRIE(tm)” and the latest version of “Sega GT(tm).” Sega will also
explore opportunities to harness the Ethernet port and hard disk drive
inside every Xbox console to create new online game experiences.
Xbox Games Without Frontiers
On the heels of Microsoft’s announcement yesterday of a strategic alliance
with NTT Communications Corp. to build a broadband online gaming service
for Japan, Gates also outlined a vision for online video games, in which
Xbox gamers can connect to a high-speed, high-bandwidth, always-on game
network.
“Broadband online video gaming is on the verge of becoming as revolutionary
as 3-D gaming was just a few years ago,” Gates said. “The broadband
connection in every Xbox is the key that unlocks new worlds of play, where
friends and opponents are everywhere.”
Gates discussed many scenarios for Xbox online gameplay in the future,
including these:
Boundless gaming. Xbox video game players will have the potential to
instantly connect with online gaming communities to compete in social
environments. Another scenario Gates discussed was one in which Xbox video
game players will be able to participate in episodic and dynamic games that
extend their game experiences beyond what comes on the game DVD.
Simple, fast and predictable experiences. Online video gaming will be
made easy on Xbox because of the broadband connection on the console.
Microsoft Announces Xbox Japan Division
Microsoft today also announced details on its Xbox Japan Division in Tokyo.
The division is responsible for managing third-party relationships with
Japanese games companies, and for managing Xbox operations, marketing,
research, sales and support in Japan. The division also houses the Xbox
Games Production Group, dedicated to developing and publishing exclusive
Xbox games under the Microsoft label.
Toshiyuki Miyata, senior group manager of the Xbox Games Production Group,
formerly managed the Development Department at Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc. (SCEI) in Tokyo, where he directed the creation of Sony’s PlayStation
games. During the keynote, Miyata demonstrated his team’s latest creation,
currently code-named “Project K-X,” an Xbox fighting game.
New Xbox Game Controller for Japan Unveiled
In addition, Gates showed the custom Xbox game controller, which will come
with every Xbox in Japan. Based on feedback from Japanese gamers, the
controller is slightly smaller than the North American and European
controller, and the buttons have been positioned to best accommodate the
styles of gameplay popular in Japan.
The Japanese Xbox game controller is built for maximum control and comfort.
It features an eight-way directional pad (D-pad), left and right analog
sticks, left and right shoulder triggers, six pressure-sensitive
multicolored analog buttons, dual slots for memory cards and other
peripherals, and a built-in “rumble” feature to increase gaming realism.
The controller also features a cord more than 9.5 feet long to give gamers
the freedom to sit nearly anywhere they want during gameplay.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game
system that delivers new and unforeseen gameplay experiences. With more
than three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game
systems, Xbox unleashes game designers’ creativity to produce games that
are challenging, exhilarating, surprising and fun.
About Sega Corp.
Sega Corp. is a nearly $2.5 billion company recognized as the industry
leader in interactive digital entertainment media, offering interactive
entertainment experiences both inside and outside the home. Sega’s World
Wide Web site is located at http://www.sega.co.jp/.
About Sega of America
Sega of America is the American arm of Tokyo-based Sega Corp., and is
responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega video
game systems and video games in the Americas. Sega of America’s World Wide
Web site is located at http://www.sega.com/.
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.