2005-07-14 05:38:01 UTC
http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh86269_2005-07-14_05-01-16_n7d495688_newsml
Microsoft and Marvel ink online game deal
Thu Jul 14, 2005 01:01 AM ET
By Lisa Baertlein
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it won
exclusive rights to develop and publish multiplayer online games starring
Marvel Enterprises Inc.'s super heroes, including Spider-man, the X-men and
the Hulk.
The deal covers massively multiplayer online (MMO) game titles developed for
Microsoft's upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console and published by the software
giant's game studio.
The deal is Marvel's first MMO pact. The first title is expected in 2008.
"This is our one and only," Tim Rothwell, worldwide president of the
Consumer Media Group at Marvel Enterprises, told Reuters, referring to the
MMO pact.
The MMO deal is Microsoft's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) first for a
console, although the company has previously had MMO deals for the PC.
MMO games allow players in various locations to compete. Such game play is
popular with PC gamers in Asia. Some analysts estimate that as many as 2
million people are MMO game players
Online capabilities will be central to new game consoles and Microsoft sees
MMO games as a large opportunity.
The Xbox 360, Microsoft's next-generation game console, is due out this
fall. The company launched Xbox Live, a fee-based online console gaming
network, in November.
"Online gaming is reaching a point of acceptance. We will use as many of the
Marvel characters as we can" in the MMO game, said Peter Moore, corporate
vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft's Xbox.
Microsoft and Marvel ink online game deal
Thu Jul 14, 2005 01:01 AM ET
By Lisa Baertlein
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it won
exclusive rights to develop and publish multiplayer online games starring
Marvel Enterprises Inc.'s super heroes, including Spider-man, the X-men and
the Hulk.
The deal covers massively multiplayer online (MMO) game titles developed for
Microsoft's upcoming Xbox 360 gaming console and published by the software
giant's game studio.
The deal is Marvel's first MMO pact. The first title is expected in 2008.
"This is our one and only," Tim Rothwell, worldwide president of the
Consumer Media Group at Marvel Enterprises, told Reuters, referring to the
MMO pact.
The MMO deal is Microsoft's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) first for a
console, although the company has previously had MMO deals for the PC.
MMO games allow players in various locations to compete. Such game play is
popular with PC gamers in Asia. Some analysts estimate that as many as 2
million people are MMO game players
Online capabilities will be central to new game consoles and Microsoft sees
MMO games as a large opportunity.
The Xbox 360, Microsoft's next-generation game console, is due out this
fall. The company launched Xbox Live, a fee-based online console gaming
network, in November.
"Online gaming is reaching a point of acceptance. We will use as many of the
Marvel characters as we can" in the MMO game, said Peter Moore, corporate
vice president of worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft's Xbox.