Europe: XboxLIVE Chat with Sudeki Creator

The 23rd of August will be quite exciting for you lucky XboxLIVErs across the pond. Jason Avent, creator of the highly anticipated, "Sudeki," will be on from 19:00 to 21:00 GMT to chat and play some "PGR2." In order to participate, simply add XboxLiveEURO2, XboxLiveEURO3, or XboxLiveEURO4, to your friends' list. Sounds like fun. Too bad I'm in the states.

PRESS RELEASE

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EUROPEAN GAMERS GET THE CHANCE TO TAKE ON JASON AVENT, OF SUDEKI FAME, ON XBOX? LIVETM

London, 16 August 2004 - On August 23rd from 19:00?21:00 GMT, gamers will get the chance to chat and play with one of the gaming world's most creative minds, Climax's Games Director, Jason Avent, creator of the highly anticipated game Sudeki (TM). Jason will be hanging out on Xbox? LiveTM ready to take on Europe, bumper to bumper, on Project Gotham Racing? 2.

More Big Names lined up for 2004

The Climax event starring Jason Avent is part of the Xbox Live 'Game with Fame' programme and is just one of many opportunities Xbox Live gamers will have to take on some of the biggest names in the entertainment world.

"We've got a line up of exclusive events for Xbox Live members," said Michel Cassius, Senior Director, Xbox Platform and Marketing. "Not only does Xbox Live offer the best online gaming experience, with some of the coolest titles around, but it also gives gamers the chance to go head to head with the biggest stars in music and games."

Getting the Chance to Play

All Xbox Live members need, to pitch their skills against Jason, is to add one of the following Gamertags (XboxLiveEURO2, XboxLiveEURO3, XboxLiveEURO4) to their friends' list. After that, gamers just go onto Xbox Live on August 23rd from 19:00?21:00GMT / 20:00?22.00 CET to check out whether they'll be invited to join in the race. Once gamers are chosen, they'll be able to chat to the Climax team about SudekiTM or anything else they've ever wanted to find out!

Xbox Live is the evolving, dynamic gaming service that continues to bring people together to share experiences, from social game play to healthy competition. With more than one million members and more than 150 Live-enabled games planned for availability by the end of the calendar year, there is no question why Xbox Live has the undisputed best online games available on the market. But it's not just the games - there is also a wide range of downloadable content available to enhance your favourite Xbox Live games. From free maps and missions to cars and courses, you can find out the latest on Xbox Live downloads in the Downloadable Content Catalogue at the following URL:

http://www.xbox.com/en-b/live/downloads/default.htm

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Editors' Notes

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Windows PC gaming, Xbox video game system and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse game portfolios for the PC (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises

as "Age of Empires?," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon"; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Halo," "Project Gotham RacingTM" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/), the official games channel for the MSN? network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "OutSmartTM."

About Xbox Live

Xbox Live is the first comprehensive, online game service fully dedicated to fast-action broadband gaming experiences. Xbox Live allows gamers to play multiplayer Xbox games with other gamers everywhere via a broadband Internet connection. With a built-in hard drive and Ethernet port, the Xbox console was built from the ground up to be an online gaming system so there's no need to buy additional peripherals.

Xbox Live enables all gamers to find and play with their friends easily; talk to other players during game play through the Xbox Communicator headset; and download current statistics, new levels and characters to their Xbox hard drive; and play online.

About Xbox

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in Europe for an estimated street price of ?199.99/?129.99. About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software ? any time, any place and on any device.