WHAT DEVELOPERS ARE SAYING
May 13, 2000

With its entry into the console world, Microsoft certainly has people talking, including many of the top game developers. Here's what they're saying:

Mike McGarvey, CEO, Eidos

"Eidos is excited to be involved with the new console platform from Microsoft, and we plan on providing content for it. Our developers are enthused by what they have seen in this technology."

Yasuhiko Asada, managing director, Namco

"We are pleased with Microsoft's entry into the console games business. We believe the success of X-Box will further expand the interactive entertainment market."

Gregory Fischbach, Co-Chairman and CEO, Acclaim

"Acclaim Entertainment is working closely with Microsoft to deliver original games for the launch of X-Box. We are very impressed with the technology and are looking forward to creating games that will leverage the power of the system."

Kenzo Tsujimoto, president, Capcom

"We are very excited to learn about Microsoft's latest announcement of the new platform, X-Box, and as one of the leading software companies, we are thrilled about the opportunity to develop for the new platform. We believe that this new platform will take the interactive entertainment world to another level. We, as Capcom, always strive to create something new in the entertainment world and the hardware specifications of X-Box sound very intriguing. We are looking forward to the release of this new platform."

Larry Probst, chairman and chief executive officer, Electronic Arts

"We view Microsoft's entry into the console business as an important and positive event for our industry. Electronic Arts is intrigued by the opportunity to develop exciting new games for X-Box."

Kagemasa Kozuki, CEO, Konami

"We welcome the development of the new X-Box platform because we expect it will help the home game console industry to expand. We plan to organize an X-Box development team and release new titles for the platform before anyone else. We hope that X-Box will be a successful platform and will help the game console industry grow further."

Bruno Bonnell, chairman and CEO, Infogrames

"We are entering a new era as far as interactive entertainment is concerned, which is forget the technology and enjoy the game. So if we can ultimately propose these boxes to the people where they can just forget the wires, the cable, the complexity of the cards and the sound. They can enjoy the ride of playing together, that's the ultimate mission."

Tony Williams, Co-Chairman, Take-Two Interactive Software

"The interactive entertainment software industry is poised for a period of significant growth with a broadening consumer and geographic base and we believe that X-Box together with software from major publishers like Take-Two can be key drivers to that growth."

Michel Guillemot, CEO, Ubi Soft

"We are very enthusiastic about X-Box and welcome Microsoft's efforts to provide this game console platform. We plan to develop and publish several titles for the console such as some new Rayman games [and] VIP."

Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ

"THQ looks forward to the X-Box as an excellent opportunity to leverage our brands and technology."

Dave Grenewetzki, president, Sierra Studios

"X-Box allows Sierra the opportunity to use the tools we know and the flexibility to create the best gaming experience for our customers."

Peter Molyneux, president and founder, Lionhead Studios

"We have been waiting for the next generation of games machines for the Lionhead group to develop its first console games. The raw power of X-Box coupled with great game design will enable the games industry to fulfil its potential of becoming truly mass market."

John Rowe, vice chairman, Midway

"X-Box is going to be the most powerful videogame console that's ever been produced. Developers are going to make great games, and when consumers see these games, they're going to say, 'wow, this is like playing television.' I think consumers are going to really perceive X-Box as revolutionary."

Jim Wilson, senior vice president and general manager, Universal Interactive Studios

"The interactive games industry has grown into a leading form of consumer entertainment, surpassing film and other media outlets. With the size and importance of the industry and its future relationship to the Internet, it makes strategic sense for Microsoft to become a leading player in the game console hardware and software business. Universal Interactive Studios has a very successful history in producing hit games for game consoles and plans to support Microsoft's development slate."

Eric Hammond, vice president of product development, Fox Interactive

"The X-Box technology is truly like nothing we have seen before in home console gaming. With online gaming straight out of the box, a flexible architecture to work with, and developer-friendly tools, Microsoft is poised to make a significant impact on the videogame industry."

Keiko Erikawa, president, Koei

"We are pleased with Microsoft's announcement of X-Box. The product should increase the strength of consumer game software market. We believe that the machine can provide us with a hardware platform that delivers state-of-the-art performance and facilitates software development."

Hiroshi Kudo, president, Hudson

"Since the new platform will allow us to use the tools we are familiar with and leverage our expertise in developing PC software, we are very interested in the possibility of porting existing Web content to the game console easily and efficiently. We plan to develop Web-enabled multi-player game titles in the future."

Alexander Seropian, CEO, Bungie

"For years we've been making games that push the limits of PC technology, and we're very excited to see upcoming console systems shipping with so much power under the hood. X-Box is a prime example of a console entering the market at the leading edge of technology, which is exactly where we want our games to be."