MS: Originals service coming Dec 4, Orange Box was timed 360 exclusive


Recommended Posts

A MS India press release says that the Xbox Originals service will be available in the country on December 4, and that Xbox LIVE will cross the 10-million user mark by June 2008. Each Xbox original will cost 1200 points, and range from 2GB to 7GB, which as one site points out will take much longer than the 4-8 hours MS say it will take, as users in India have internet speeds of around 256K. Also the Official invite for Microsoft India’s Gamers’ Night event claims that The Orange Box is a “timed Xbox 360 exclusive”. Is it a conspiracy theory brought to light or a PR mistake?
Official Press Release:

Xbox 360 Muscles Up in Asia with Launch of Xbox Originals

A red-hot year for Microsoft’s superior video game and entertainment system across the region

New Delhi, 14 November 2007 - Classic hard-to-find Xbox version one games are back on the menu of Xbox 360 gaming connoisseurs in India, as Microsoft today announced the global launch of its milestone Xbox Originals on Xbox LIVE. By offering this new service to the 8-million strong Xbox LIVE global community - the number one online video gaming platform - Xbox 360 provides strong impetus for the mass adoption of digital distribution in the video games and entertainment industry in India. With the launch of the online gaming service in India this month, Xbox LIVE has expanded its worldwide footprint across 26 countries. By June 2008, Microsoft expects the Xbox LIVE community to cross over the 10-million member mark.

Rolling out on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on December 4, Xbox Originals will unveil with a launch portfolio of popular and cult favorite Xbox 1 games such as “Halo”T, “Fable”?, “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge”?, “Psychonauts”? amongst others.

Xbox 360 gamers will be able to purchase these Xbox Classic Games at 1,200 Microsoft points, or approximately Rs 590 a piece. Each game - ranging from 2GB to 7GB in size - will take about 4 to 8 hours to download. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Xbox LIVE , all current Xbox LIVE members will be able to download a free Xbox LIVE Arcade game*, within a 48 hour period starting 15 November 1:30 PM.

“The gaming industry in India in on an upward trajectory and Xbox 360 is committed to sustain it by giving Indian consumers more choices in the way they buy and play video games. Xbox Originals will serve as a one-stop shop where they can buy hard-to-find classic Xbox games to play on their Xbox 360,” said Mohit Anand, Country manager, Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division. “Titles have been handpicked from a list of 250 backward-compatible Xbox games in Asia to be made available in this new service to ensure a high quality and balanced portfolio.”

Xbox Originals is the latest in a series of innovative online gaming services from Microsoft, which is pulling out all the stops to draw people of all ages into Xbox 360 and its premier online gaming platform. Xbox LIVE Arcade continues to introduce recreational and casual players to the world of high-def, next generation console gaming with new and classic retro games in bite-sized offerings. “Word Puzzle”, the brain-busting game created by Interserv of Taiwan, made its global debut last week to become the first Asia-developed Xbox LIVE Arcade title. Microsoft expects the Xbox LIVE Arcade portfolio to grow from over 70 to nearly 100 games by the end of the year.

It’s All About Games: Biggest-ever holiday lineup

As the year-end approaches, Indian consumers will see Xbox 360 churning out the biggest and greatest holiday lineup in video game history. Xbox 360 is releasing 70 new games in Asia over the holiday period. This will grow its portfolio to a total of 270 games in the region by the end of the year, 40 of which are available only on Xbox 360.

“We are out to win holiday 2007. We have a bountiful harvest with an unprecedented string of titles that cater to wide-ranging tastes and are designed to whet the gaming appetite of every family member. We have an expanded portfolio of broadening titles this season -”NBA 2K8″ from 2K Sports, and “Viva Pi?ata: Party Animals” from MGS and Krome Studios, “Spiderman - Friends of Foe” and “Lego Star Wars: Complete Saga” from Activision - that are designed for recreational and casual gamers,” said Alan Bowman, General Manager, Asia Pacific and Greater China, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division.

Xbox 360’s irresistible holiday lineup also includes exclusive Xbox 360-only games such as the record-breaking “Halo 3″, “Project Gotham Racing 4″ and “Mass Effect” from MGS, “Bioshock” from 2K Games, “Guitar Hero 3″ from Red Octane/Activision, and “Call of Duty” from Activision.

Xbox 360 also has special offers for the Indian market as it brings home in partnership with Panasonic the “Super Stylish Super Saver offer” -a Xbox 360 Core console, and two popular games - Viva Pi?ata & Forza Motorsport 2 with Panasonic 32” LCD TVs. The offer is available at Ezone and Big Bazaar Stores. Priced at Rs 49,990, Indian consumers can save over Rs 24,000 on the entire deal!

Two more mega offers from Xbox 360 this holiday season:

1. Buy an Xbox 360 Core console and get 2 blockbuster games worth Rs 4,405 absolutely free [Viva Pi?ata & Forza Motorsport 2]

2. Buy an Xbox 360 Pro console and get 4 blockbuster games worth Rs 8,614 absolutely free [Viva Pi?ata, Forza Motorsport 2, PGR 3 & Yuvraj Singh International cricket 2007].

Mohit Anand, Country manager, Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division said, “We are happy to bring to Indian consumes offers like these that not only give a boost to gaming in India but also is reason to cheer for gaming fans and novices alike with such super saver deals.”

Strong Momentum Worldwide

Microsoft is banking on this biggest holiday line-up and its two holiday bundles to propel Xbox 360 to the top of the next generation gaming market worldwide. Almost half of all console and game sales for the year are historically made during the crucial holiday quarter.

“Games drive console sales and we have the recipe to ensure Xbox 360 is at the top of the game with the latest blockbuster games available in the Indian Market,” said Mohit Anand.

Xbox 360 is showing strong momentum this year. At the end of September 2007, total number of Xbox 360 consoles sold to date reached 13.4 million units globally, achieving a more than 90% quarterly increase driven by the record-setting launch of “Halo 3″ and an early ramp-up to the holiday season in anticipation of the greatest holiday lineup in video game history.

“Halo 3″ has proven to be another unprecedented blockbuster, contributing about US$330 million to Microsoft revenue at the end of September. However, it is not only Xbox 360 games by MGS that are making the grade in the last several months. Microsoft has also seen Xbox 360 driving third party video games sales. According to the latest figures from market research firm NPD Group, independent game publishers are selling more games on Xbox 360 than on any other platform. Over the last 12 months, they have seen their titles for Xbox 360 hit the top ten 27 times.

“Xbox 360 is the number one console in the market. We are undoubtedly the market leaders in India - number one in consoles’ sales, number one in game sales and number one in the online space. We expect Indian consumers to go all out this holiday season with all the great offers available in the market,” said Mohit Anand.

Source: http://www.maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=22809

Going to need a bigger hard drive if I purchase any titles.

I wonder if you can "install" your own hard :whistle:hi:shifty:shifty:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's all the info on Orange Box being timed exclusive? I call BS until there is more info.

The way it has turned out so far is a timed exclusive, because EA can't get their s*** together (N) Either way, sucks for PS3 owners waiting for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The way it has turned out so far is a timed exclusive, because EA can't get their s*** together (N) Either way, sucks for PS3 owners waiting for it.

EA? You mean Valve, right? Pretty sure any delays are more than just publishing issues.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

EA? You mean Valve, right? Pretty sure any delays are more than just publishing issues.

No, it's pretty much just EA. Valve handed over the PS3 Orange Box to EA to sort out, since Valve didn't want to code the PS3 version. Why do you think it's on every platform except PS3 atm?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, it's pretty much just EA. Valve handed over the PS3 Orange Box to EA to sort out, since Valve didn't want to code the PS3 version. Why do you think it's on every platform except PS3 atm?

It's only on PC and 360 :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I said every platform except PS3, what part of that statement isn't true? Bloody hell! Talk about splitting hairs.

PS2, wii, PSP, DS, etc.

Tho I do realise you meant "next gen platforms".

Regarding saying orange box was a time exclusive. Maybe a bit cheeky, but it is true.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't completely rule out it was a timed exclusive. Valve and MSFT did make some exclusive deals during 2006 although I forget the details of them. But this sounds more like an excuse why EA haven't shipped the game on PS3 yet, otherwise, why are we only now finding out about it :/

And the Q is, if it is timed exclusive, when is it coming to the PS3 :s

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, but he's correct in what he said. Valve did both the PC and 360 versions, EA did PS3.

And Valve wrote and designed the game for the PC, on an engine that was built for it (by them) and that they've had years of experience developing for.

The 360 has reportedly been also a dream to develop for with lots of support from Microsoft.

EA has never used the source engine before and it's well known that the PS3 isn't exactly the easiest thing to design games for. That's why Valve didn't want to do it, so give EA a bit of a break just because it takes them longer to port an unfamiliar engine to a newer platform. One thing you have to give EA, even though their support sucks, even though their customer service is useless, even though a lot of their games just plain suck, they very rarely delay anything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@ Kushan

The way you replied to DrunknMunky the first time sounded like you just thought EA were only publishing it for PS3.. whatever way you cut it, the delay is down to EA (and well, secondly I suppose down to Sony, for making the PS3 hard to develop for. Hell, the only reason Valve didn't want anything to do with it is for that very reason).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, it's pretty much just EA. Valve handed over the PS3 Orange Box to EA to sort out, since Valve didn't want to code the PS3 version. Why do you think it's on every platform except PS3 atm?

lol

Because Gabe Newell (like the majority of people around the world) thinks the PS3 is an overpriced piece of junk.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.