Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Rambus (RMBS) - Eagle or Penguin -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Green who wrote (79268)	10/17/2001 9:19:58 PM
From: Don Green	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 93625

Microsoft Sets European Xbox Launch Date, Price By Scott Hillis Wednesday October 17 8:41 PM ET SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) said on Wednesday it will start selling its Xbox video game console in Europe on March 14 for $430, filling in the last blanks in the software giant's timetable to enter the $20 billion global video game industry. With plans in place to debut the Xbox in the United States on Nov. 15 and in Japan next Feb. 22, the European launch date, price and quantity were among some of the last questions surrounding the console's schedule for taking on Sony Corp.'s (6758.T) PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s (7974.OS) GameCube. The European Xbox price is equivalent to 299 pounds, and Microsoft said it planned to ship 1.5 million units in the first three months. Shipments will come from a factory in Hungary run by Singapore-based contract manufacturing giant Flextronics International Ltd. (Nasdaq:FLEX - news). Games for the machine, which boasts a processor from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC - news), a graphics chip from NVIDIA Corp. (Nasdaq:NVDA - news), an 8-gigabyte hard drive and a built-in port for fast Internet access, will cost $62, Microsoft said. Some 1.5 million units would be available in 16 European markets from launch until the end of June, Microsoft said. Sony last month slashed the price of the PlayStation 2 in Europe by 26 percent to about $292. That was the second price cut since the console went on sale there last year for $439. Nintendo has said its GameCube is on track for a European launch early next spring. EUROPEAN PREVIEW Microsoft is previewing the Xbox in Europe this week at an event in France as the company tries to build buzz and court buyers by attracting European game developers to create titles to appeal to that market. New titles from Microsoft's internal games division will include tactical squad game ``Brute Force'' and racing game'' Rallisport Challenge.'' Independent titles include ``Dead or Alive 3'', a highly anticipated fighting game from Tecmo, and ``Championship Manager'' from British developer Eidos that lets players run a soccer team. The Xbox is making its debut in the United States on Nov. 15, after a week's delay some reports have tied to the Sept. 11 attack on New York and the Pentagon. In late August Microsoft delayed the Japan launch to Feb. 22 of next year in order to focus on ensuring a smooth U.S. launch, which will be crucial in the run-up to the holiday shopping season. Microsoft plans to ship between 1 million and 1.5 million of the devices in the United States by the end of the year, but has backed off initial launch target of between 600,000 and 800,000 units. The Xbox will sell for $299 in the United States, with games going for about $50 each. Investors are hoping Microsoft will give insight into its expectations for the Xbox in the United States when it reports its quarterly earnings on Thursday. Many are wondering if Xbox demand will be affected heading into what is seen as one of the weakest holiday retail periods in years.