Xbox Platinum Hits Program Provides Big Games for Small Price

Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gamers in North America can now stock up and fill out their Xbox libraries with some of the best Xbox games ever created -- for a price that will bring almost as much joy as the games themselves.

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today announced the launch of the Platinum Hits program for Xbox. Platinum Hits games are available for an estimated retail price (ERP) of $19.99 (U.S.) at most retailers; games selected for the program must have achieved a high sales volume.

Xbox captured the imagination of gamers in 2002, becoming the No. 2 console in the United States, according to The NPD Group/NPD Funworld. Microsoft expects that the Platinum Hits program will continue to energize gamers and help Xbox maintain its impressive attach rate.

"The Platinum Hits program will drive increased interest in Xbox and broaden the target audience," said Wayne Yodzio, vice president, world manager at Toys R Us Inc. "These games are all already proven winners that have sold well, and when we start offering them in our stores at this lower price point, I anticipate we'll have our aisles filled with a lot of very happy gamers."

The titles in the first wave of Platinum Hits games are as follows:

-- "Amped Freestyle Snowboarding" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Blood Wake" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex" (Universal Interactive)
-- "James Bond 007 in . . . Agent Under Fire" (Electronic Arts)
-- "Max Payne" (Rockstar Games)
-- "Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Project Gotham Racing" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "RalliSport Challenge" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams" (Konami of America Inc.)
-- "Simpsons Road Rage" (Electronic Arts)
-- "SpyHunter" (Midway)
-- "SSX Tricky" (Electronic Arts)
-- "Star Wars: Obi-Wan" (LucasArts)
-- "Star Wars: Starfighter Special Edition" (LucasArts)
-- "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3" (Activision)
-- "Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions" (Activision)

New games will be added to the Platinum Hits product line on an ongoing basis. Platinum Hits games will be sold in silver packaging that includes the original product artwork. Information on the program can be found at http://www.xbox.com/games/platinumhits/ .

Source: Microsoft Corp.

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Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/