January 7, 2008
Microsoft Unveils New Titles and Powerful
Momentum for Games for Windows
New titles added to the Games for Windows
portfolio; Games for Windows initiative and MSN Games going strong.
Following one of the hottest years in video game
history, Microsoft Corp. today announced at the 2008 International CES the
addition of new titles to the Games for Windows portfolio and strong first-year
results for the Games for Windows initiative. Games for Windows drove the PC
gaming category in 2007 with some of the most popular Windows-based games
available, and will continue the momentum for Windows-based gaming in 2008.
“Games for Windows truly thrived in 2007. We went
from two titles in 2006 to a continually growing portfolio of over 60 titles
here at CES 2008,” said Kevin Unangst, senior global director of Games for
Windows in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “We delivered on
our promise one year ago to reinvigorate the PC gaming space and bring the best
portfolio of games to Windows. And this is just the beginning. With our
partners, we will continue to drive the resurgence of Windows-based gaming.”
CES attendees will get to experience some of the
great games of 2008, with six upcoming Games for Windows titles on the show
floor: “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” (Funcom, Eidos Interactive),
“Conflict: Denied Ops” (Eidos Interactive), “Frontlines: Fuel of War” (THQ),
“Space Siege” (SEGA), “Turning Point: Fall of Liberty” (Codemasters) and “Jigsaw
Too Photo Edition” (Carbonated Games), a game for Windows Live Messenger.
Delivering Great Games
Microsoft announced the addition of nine new
Games for Windows-branded titles joining the portfolio from renowned publishers
Atari Inc., Capcom, Eidos Interactive, LucasArts, Microsoft Game Studios, SEGA
and Stardock., bringing the growing Games for Windows portfolio to more than 60
titles. “Alone in the Dark” (Atari) and “Sins of a Solar Empire” (Stardock) join
other branded games from top publishers around the world committed to delivering
quality-tested Games for Windows titles, including 2K Games, Activision Inc., EA
Partners, Midway Home Entertainment Inc. and Ubisoft. New Games for
Windows-branded titles announced at CES include the following:
- “Alone in the Dark” (Atari)
- “Bionic Commando” (Capcom)
- “Conflict: Denied Ops” (Eidos Interactive)
- “Empire: Total War” (SEGA)
- “LEGO Indiana Jones” (LucasArts)
- “Microsoft Train Simulator 2” (Microsoft Game
Studios) - “Sins of a Solar Empire” (Stardock)
- “Space Siege” (SEGA)
- “Tomb Raider: Underworld” (Eidos Interactive)
Other highly anticipated Games for
Windows-branded titles expected to release in 2008 include “Age of Conan:
Hyborian Adventures” (Funcom, Eidos Interactive), “Borderlands” (2K Games), “The
Club” (SEGA), “Fallout® 3” (Bethesda Softworks) and “Frontlines: Fuel of War” (THQ).
Driving the PC Gaming Industry Forward
In a year when gaming was one of the most popular
choices of entertainment, the Games for Windows initiative drove the PC gaming
category forward. Games for Windows has brought Windows-based gaming to the
forefront of retail stores, raising consumer awareness of Games for Windows
titles and positioning the category for successful sales. In November 2007
alone, the Games for Windows portfolio accounted for 20 percent of all PC game
sales at retail stores in the United States, according to the NPD Group/Retail
Tracking Service.
“Games for Windows-branded titles were among the
most popular Windows-based games purchased as gifts this holiday,” said Bob
McKenzie, senior vice president of merchandising for GameStop Corp. “Microsoft’s
efforts to revive Windows-based gaming have helped grow the category.”
Consumers can find Games for Windows titles
featured in retail stores including GameStop, Circuit City and Wal-Mart in the
United States, and PC World, Game, Media Markt and Saturn in Europe.
Casual Games on Windows: Windows Live
Messenger Games and MSN Games
According to the Casual Games Association, the
casual games industry generated $2.25 billion in revenue in 2007 worldwide, with
a projected increase of 20 percent in 2008. Microsoft is a leader in the casual
games space through gaming platforms including MSN Games and Windows Live
Messenger Games. Today, MSN Games is enjoyed by 14 million people each month and
offers them more than 600 games to play including “The Office,” “Luxor 3” and
“Diner Dash: Hometown Hero.” Windows Live Messenger Games reaches 16 million
people per month around the world and has 26 games to choose from, including the
new exclusive title “Jigsaw Too Photo Edition.” “Jigsaw Too Photo Edition” is
available now and lets players personalize the game by inserting their own
photos. Players can also cooperate with each other via Windows Live Messenger to
solve their personalized jigsaw puzzles.
