Game On!

Xbox LIVE tops 12 million members globally as Xbox 360 console sales hit
> more than 19 million worldwide
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> REDMOND, Wash. - May 14, 2008 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that the
> Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has sold over 10 million
> units in the U.S., making it the first current-generation gaming console
> to break the 10 million mark in the U.S. The U.S. install base
> contributes to global sales of over 19 million, more than any other
> current-generation console.
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> "This year will be the largest in the history of the video game
> industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad," said
> Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment
> Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.
> "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in
> console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to
> set a new benchmark for the industry."
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> This announcement comes on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment
> launches in history, "Grand Theft Auto IV," on April 29, 2008. Gamers
> eager to experience "Grand Theft Auto IV" online helped boost Xbox LIVE
> global membership to over 12 million this month. Fueled by an
> unparalleled combination of access to friends and family, the best
> online gaming features, and the best entertainment content, the Xbox
> LIVE service has doubled in membership in only one year's time.
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> "Reaching an installed base of 10 million consoles in the U.S. is a
> significant achievement and an essential milestone on the road to market
> leadership," said Billy Pidgeon, research manager at IDC. "Perhaps more
> important is the Xbox 360 worldwide online base - 12 million Xbox LIVE
> gamers is the largest community in the connected console games sector,
> which represents the greatest growth opportunity in the console market
> and where Microsoft has been the leader for two generations."
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> Xbox 360 leads with the industry's highest software attach rate, more
> than any other console this generation, and is home to the best-selling
> games. With the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV in April, Xbox 360 is now
> the home to more than 16 platinum titles that have sold through one
> million units or more including hits like "Halo 3," "Madden NFL 07" and
> "Madden NFL 08," "Gears of War," "Guitar Hero II" and "Guitar Hero III:
> Legends of Rock" and "Call of Duty(r)2, Call of Duty(r)3 and Call of
> Duty(r)4: Modern Warfare(tm)," giving Xbox 360 two times more
> platinum-selling titles than the Wii and a 16:2 lead over the
> PlayStation 3 in game titles topping one million in sales.Games not only
> sell better on the Xbox 360, they play better, too: Xbox 360 has 91
> titles with a Metacritic review score of 80 or higher, compared with
> just 22 titles for Wii and 50 titles for PlayStation 3.
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> About Xbox 360
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> Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering
> the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online
> gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of
> nearly 400 games in 37 countries. More information can be found online
> at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
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> About Xbox LIVE
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> Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online
> entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire
> console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games
> and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360
> system. Xbox LIVE connects more than 12 million of members across 37
> countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via
> Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV
> shows and movies in the United States as well as new game levels,
> characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More
> information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.
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> About Microsoft
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> Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in
> software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
> their full potential.

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