Microsoft Delivers More Fun, More Experiences and More Choices to Its Ever-Expanding Games Library
Posted by: Aaron Lockard on August 24, 2006 10:14:03 AM
Even more Xbox 360 and Pc Games revealed by Microsoft.
At the opening of the show doors for the 2007 Games Convention in
Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft Corp.'s booth was set to supply gamers with
access to more than 130 playable game stations spanning more than 40
titles for Windows, Xbox 360 and the premier online gaming service,
Xbox Live. Attendees had a chance to try out upcoming releases that
are poised to top the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade charts, such as
"Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent," "Viva Pinata" and "Texas
Hold 'em," as well as playing soon-to-be-released Windows games
including "Flight Simulator X," "Hellgate: London" and "Crysis." The
show floor also provided playable action for numerous other titles from
first- and third-party publishers:
Games for Windows
"Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs" (Microsoft Game Studios)
"Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures" (Eidos Interactive Ltd.)
"Broken Sword: The Angel of Death" (THQ Inc.)
"Company of Heroes" (THQ)
"Crysis" (developed by Crytek; published by EA)
"Flight Simulator X" (Microsoft Game Studios)
"Halo 2 for Windows Vista" (Microsoft Game Studios)
"Hellgate: London" (Namco Hometek Inc.)
"LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy" (LucasArts)
"Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar" (Turbine Inc.)
"Rail Simulator" (Electronic Arts)
"Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania" (Microsoft Game Studios)
Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade
"Bomberman Act: Zero" (Konami Digital Entertainment Inc.)
"Crackdown" (Microsoft Game Studios)
"F.E.A.R." (Sierra Entertainment Inc.)
"Fuzion Frenzy 2" (Microsoft)
"Just Cause" (Eidos Interactive)
"LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy" (LucasArts)
"Lost Planet" (Capcom)
"Marvel: Ultimate Alliance" (Activision)
"Moto GP '06" (THQ)
"NBA 2K7" (Take 2)
"Need for Speed: Carbon" (EA)
"NHL 07" (EA)
"Ninety-Nine Nights" (Microsoft)
"Oblivion" (2K Games/Take 2)
"Phantasy Star" (Sega)
"Pro Evolution Soccer 6" (Konami)
"Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis" (Rockstar Games)
"UNO" (Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox Live Vision camera, Microsoft)
"Virtua Tennis 3" (Sega)
"Viva Pinata" (Microsoft Game Studios)
The Windows Vista Games By
the time Microsoft Windows Vista is launched in early 2007, an
impressive lineup of titles will be available for gamers looking to get
next-generation features, including quicker installations and increased
platform stability. In addition, Windows Vista will feature DirectX
10, which, combined with hardware provided by graphics processor
creators, will result in the most graphically intense games experiences
ever seen in a computer or video game. DirectX 10 games and video
hardware will be available with the launch of Windows Vista.
Adding
to what is one of the largest game libraries available for any gaming
system, Microsoft announced two additional family-friendly titles
optimized for Windows Vista, from first- and third-party publishers:
"LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy"
(LucasArts) is the sequel to the best-selling "LEGO Star Wars: The
Video Game," combining the fun and endless customization ability of the
LEGO play pattern with the epic story, characters and action from the
revolutionary "Star Wars."
"Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania"
(Microsoft Game Studios), the latest expansion pack for the
award-winning "Zoo Tycoon 2" franchise, allows gamers to turn their
dream zoo into an aquatic extravaganza with 20 new marine animals and
the ability to create extraordinary aquatic shows.
Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade The
anticipated titles for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Arcade continue to drive
momentum and excitement worldwide for the next-generation gaming and
entertainment system and add to the growing library of next-generation
titles of approximately 160 titles by this holiday season.
Xbox
360 will be the only place players can experience the next generation
of football games this Christmas. "FIFA 07" from Electronic Arts will
take you to the pitch with an all-new football engine and online
technology allowing you to play with and follow your favourite teams
from around the world. Also, Konami will bring "Pro Evolution Soccer 6"
to Xbox 360, which will have gamers controlling their favourite teams
in matches spanning the globe. Xbox 360 is the premier place to
experience the best football games this Christmas.
Xbox Live
Arcade is also set to introduce the electronic versions of three of the
top board games from Germany. "Settlers of Catan," "Carcassonne" and
"Alhambra" are sure to be popular across continents.
"Settlers of Catan."
This stunning take on one of the best-known board games around the
globe will offer the whole family a chance to establish settlements on
the island of Catan.
"Carcassonne." Designed
for two to five players, "Carcassonne" is set in a medieval landscape
made up of 72 tiles. Players start from a single tile and then draw
from a pool of remaining tiles to create a growing landscape and gain
points for ultimate victory.
"Alhambra."
Expanded from the popular stock-market-themed game "Stimmt So!,"
"Alhambra" provides an Arabian theme to the card-based game where
players score points by drawing currency cards and building tiles to
place next to their Alhambra.
"Xbox Live Arcade has
brought developers a whole new way to produce games," said Martyn
Chudley, managing director of Bizarre Creations Ltd., the U.K.-based
developer of "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved," the No. 1-selling title on
Xbox Live Arcade to date. "Now developers of any size can bring
downloadable-sized games to the public through an instantly-accessible
marketplace. This “instant' gaming is going to attract a whole new type
of gamer to Xbox 360, and the ease of development will mean a wider
variety of games on the market too." Xbox Live Arcade is also set to
continue to deliver amazing classics as well as original game titles.
With more than 65 percent of all connected consoles already downloading
and playing Xbox Live Arcade titles, gamers can access a regular
schedule of new titles with the Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays program.
New and upcoming game titles set to debut on "Xbox Live Arcade
Wednesdays" include these:
* "Texas Hold 'em"
(Aug. 23). "Texas Hold 'em" offers multiplayer support for up to eight
gamers, and three modes of gameplay: Standard Games, Scenarios and
Tournaments. Gamers can enjoy poker night every night with friends,
family and gamers around the world. Note: This title may not be
available in some countries. Can be downloaded for 800 Microsoft Points.
* "Time Pilot" (Aug.
30). This futuristic fighter-pilot classic from Konami lets gamers
fight through different eras as never before. High-definition graphics
and enhanced gameplay designed specifically for Xbox Live Arcade make
this version even better than the original from 1982. Can be downloaded
for 400 Microsoft Points.
"Scramble" (Sept.
6). The classic side-scrolling shoot-'em-up coin-op title from Konami
takes off on Xbox Live Arcade. The 1981 classic is widely considered
the first multilevel shooter. Can be downloaded for 400 Microsoft
Points.
From Windows to Xbox 360, Microsoft and its
industry partners are working across the globe to provide all types of
gamers, from the hardcore to the casual, with a variety of great
platforms and games.