Microsoft Transforms Community Game Developers Into Entrepreneurs

Xbox 360 creates marketplace for user-generated content with Xbox LIVE
Community Games.

SEATTLE, July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- During the keynote address
today at the Gamefest 2008 Microsoft Game Technology Conference, Microsoft
Corp. revealed that it will allow anyone to turn the hobby of game-making into
a full-fledged career. Through what is now officially called "Xbox LIVE
Community Games," Microsoft makes its marketplace of millions available to
members of the XNA Creators Club to create, sell and share in the profits
generated by their unique creations.
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Microsoft has already opened up game development to the masses by offering
the easy-to-use, affordable XNA Game Studio toolset. With this newly announced
business model, Microsoft will have truly democratized game distribution by
enabling XNA Creators Club members to participate in the multibillion-dollar-
a-year console gaming industry.
Newly appointed to his role as chief technology officer of Microsoft's
Interactive Entertainment Business Group, Chris Satchell said the business
model was designed to create the best possible experience for both consumers
and developers. Community games that have been submitted by XNA Creators Club
Premium members and have successfully passed a rigorous peer-review system
will be added to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace catalog for sale to consumers.
Creators will be able to choose from three suggested preset retail price
points varying from 200 to 800 Microsoft Points to sell their creations and
will receive up to 70 percent of the total revenue generated by their game.
"Not only are we democratizing game development with Xbox LIVE Community
Games later this year, but we're creating an opportunity for aspiring
developers to start their careers on the world stage," Satchell said. "It is
really a win for both developers and consumers because this will no doubt act
as an incentive for game creators to continue to develop the best, most
innovative games for Xbox 360."
A host of new and creative ideas are already appearing on the Xbox LIVE
Community Games beta. When the service launches for consumers this fall,
community-created games on Xbox LIVE are expected to double the size of the
Xbox 360 video game library, offering some of the most inventive, quirky and
unexpected games ever seen on consoles. By the end of 2008, Xbox 360 owners
are expected to have access to the largest, most creatively diverse game
library across all next-generation platforms, with more than 1,000 titles
spanning Community Games, Xbox LIVE Arcade and retail blockbuster titles.
When the bold new Xbox experience, a re-launch of the largest online
social network on TV that is fun and approachable, is released late this fall,
the Community Games storefront will be an easy-to-use addition to the existing
marketplace on Xbox LIVE. The new Community Games channel is currently
scheduled to launch in the United States, Canada and select European markets
later this year. Other regions will be added over the course of 2009 and
beyond. Consumers will also be able to view and rate community games on
Xbox.com, watch trailers, and even play a trial of each game before buying it.
"Since first launching XNA Game Studio in 2006, we have been working hard
on improving the toolset and building resources for the community, and the
response has been amazing. To date, we've had more than 1 million downloads of
XNA Game Studio and adoption in more than 700 universities," said Boyd
Multerer, general manager of XNA. "For some perspective, the incredible
creative community we've unleashed worldwide is more than 25 times the number
of professional developers in the industry."
Microsoft also is giving aspiring developers a hand with the second annual
Dream-Build-Play game development contest based on XNA Game Studio projects.
The competition will yield prizes in excess of $70,000 and an opportunity for
one of the winners to sign an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract. Three of
last year's top performers and winners, "The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai,"
"Blazing Birds" and "Yo Ho Kablammo!" from the United States, Canada, Sweden
and United Kingdom, respectively, are all slated for release on Xbox LIVE
Arcade in the near future. For more details and Dream-Build-Play Official
Rules, see http://www.dreambuildplay.com/main/Rules.aspx. For more information
on XNA Game Studio, head over to http://creators.xna.com.
Gamefest 2008
Microsoft leads the industry in helping game developers create amazing
games for Xbox 360 and Windows. Gamefest 2008, scheduled for July 22 and 23,
will feature 120 sessions spanning 11 tracks to help game developers,
producers and publishers improve their skills, learn about new development
techniques, and pick up powerful new tools to assist with building the best
games possible and engage the community.
About XNA
XNA helps developers access the largest installed base by providing
professional-quality tools, support and solutions that can be used across
Microsoft gaming platforms. Developers get access to broader distribution
channels while shortening time to market. With intuitive, efficient and
innovative cross-platform tools, XNA lets you develop once and distribute
broadly. More information can be found at http://www.xna.com.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier video game and entertainment system. It is home to
the best and broadest games plus more standard and high-definition movies and
TV shows on demand than any other device connected to the TV. The digital
center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content, including
personal pictures and music, with a unified online social network to create a
limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the
globe. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their
full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft

pr.mspx./ /CONTACT: Jeremy Bartram, +1-206-268-2234,
jeremy.bartram@edelman.com, or Jessica Lange, +1-323-202-1419,
jessica.lange@edelman.com, both of Edelman, for Microsoft