OXM360

01/07/10 – Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine (OXM360) – the UK’s bestselling videogames title, celebrates the eagerly awaited launch of Microsoft’s Crackdown 2 with a very special issue, complete with sound.

Ahead of the game’s release on Friday, July 9th OXM360 delivers its verdict on Microsoft Game Studio’s epic world game in a comprehensive five-page Crackdown 2 review. Continuing the unrivalled OXM360 Crackdown 2 expose there’s also a guide to the must-see sights of PacificCity and five exclusive Crackdown 2 Gamer Pictures on the magazine’s coverdisc – along with ten other playable game demos.

Gamers also have the chance to win a highly collectable Crackdown 2 prize in an exclusive OXM360 competition. Just as the game has orbs hidden around PacificCity to boost your character, OXM360 hides ten orbs throughout its pages and one online at http://www.oxm.co.uk. Once gamers find them all, they can be in with the chance of winning an ultra-limited Crackdown 2 Xbox 360 console.

OXM360 brings the rich world of Crackdown 2 to life inside the magazine as the pull-out PacificCity newsletter plays the distinctive in-game orb sound effect. The sound chip was inserted in the magazine following a deal with Universal McCann and McCann Erickson, brokered by Future’s in-house creative solutions team, Future360.

Also inside the August issue of OXM360, the team are up close and personal with Halo: Reach, get hands-on with Gears of War 3, and round up 18 more games arriving exclusively on Xbox 360. There’s the full launch line-up for Xbox Kinect, all the details on the new Xbox 360 console, and insight from the game’s industry’s biggest names on the future of the Xbox.

On sale Thursday, 8th July – the special Crackdown 2 issue of OXM360 is promoted across Future’s online portfolio, including CVG.co.uk and GamesRadar.com and the company’s print titles, including Edge, GamesMaster and Total Film.

Jon Hicks, Editor of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine, said:

“Crackdown’s orbs are truly iconic in Xbox gaming, and millions of players have scoured PacificCity to find them - to quote the developers, they are the crack in Crackdown, and the recent demo has shown that they’re as addictive as ever. To bring that tell-tale sound and an orb hunt of our own into the mag was the perfect tribute.”

Simon Maxwell, Group Publisher for Console & Online at Future, added:

“Inside this highly collectable issue of OXM360, we deliver another exciting example of the creative ways games publishers can get involved with Future’s games portfolio to deliver clear stand-out. With the sound chip and bespoke packaging, this will be a keeper for our dedicated readers. Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine continues to underline its leading position as the first choice for promoting the latest games.”

The August issue of Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine goes on sale Thursday, 8th July – with a coverprice of £5.99

ENDS

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today we have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. We hold strong multi-media market positions in games, technology, film, music, cycling, automotive and crafts. Our biggest-selling magazines include Total Film, T3, Classic Rock, Digital Camera, Guitar World, Official Xbox Magazine, Official Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Maximum PC and MacLife. Our websites include gamesradar.com, bikeradar.com, techradar.com, musicradar.com and photoradar.com. Future sells more than 3 million magazines each month; we attract more than 27 million unique visitors to our websites; and we host 27 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports, syndicates or licenses its publications to 90 countries internationally, making us the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines