XBOX BRINGS THE FOOTBALL SEASON TO RETAIL WITH AN EXCITING NEW EA SPORTS™ FIFA FOOTBALL 2005 SPECIAL OFFER
London - 8 October 2004 - Xbox®, the video game system from Microsoft, today announced that on sale from the 21st October, will be the limited edition EA SPORTSTM FIFA Football 2005 Xbox Live Starter Kit which will include a full copy of the game, an Xbox Live Voice Communicator and a twelve months subscription to Xbox Live for the recommended retail price of £59.99.
The basic Xbox Live Starter Kit has also been refreshed - available from late October at the same price as before, £39.99 rrp, the Starter Kit still contains an Xbox Live Voice Communicator and one year's subscription to Xbox Live however the demo games have been replaced with OutRunTM 2, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® 3 and EA SPORTSTM FIFA Football 2005.
"This is a fantastic offer for football loving gamers throughout Europe - we're giving them the best console on the market, the most successful football game ever and the best gaming experience available at the best value," said Michel Cassius, senior director, Xbox platform and Marketing. "Those with the most competitive streak will really relish playing against the best online footballers in the world with Xbox Live. And of course, any gamers who think their skills on EA SPORTSTM FIFA Football 2005 are world beating, can take part in the FIFA Interactive World Cup - visit www.FIFAinteractiveworldcup.com for more details".
There is also another way to find out what it's like to be a part of the growing Xbox Live community - with no obligation to purchase a subscription. Anyone with an Xbox and broadband internet connection can trial the online gaming service absolutely free for two months by purchasing one of a selection of 1st and 3rd party titles including; Halo 2, EA SPORTSTM FIFA Football 2005, and many, many more. Just ask in store for details or look for the trial card sticker on the cover of the games.
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EDITOR'S NOTES:
EA SPORTSTM FIFA Football 2005 Xbox Live Starter Kit contains:
- Xbox Live Voice Communicator
- One copy of EA SPORTSTM FIFA Football 2005
- 12 months subscription to Xbox Live
About FIFA
For the past 100 years, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, founded on 21 May 1904 in Paris and better known as FIFA, has continued to provide the essential leadership role to the international football family. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the eighth FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland), guides the organisation today with a commitment to the evolution of FIFA as a modern and dynamic association. The basis of the world's football family is formed by FIFA's member associations. From the founding seven in 1904, the family has today grown to 205 affiliated associations, also organised into six confederations spanning the globe. FIFA's worldwide activities go well beyond its various competitions, such as the world's biggest single-sport event, the FIFA World CupTM. In projects such as SOS Children's Villages and the FIFA Goal Programme, FIFA gives material, financial and promotional support to develop the game and bring joy to underprivileged children worldwide.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City , California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of $2.96 billion for fiscal 2004. The company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers and the Internet. In 2003, EA had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EA GAMESTM and EA SPORTS BIGTM. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com <<a target="_new" class="releaselink" href="http://www.xbox.com/>">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 €149.99/£99.99.
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 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.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and EA GAMES are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox Live, are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Marie-Claire Suter
UK PR Manager - Xbox & PC Games
Tel: +44 (0) 118 909 4599
Email: i-maries@microsoft.com