Xbox fans will have more games to play soon, as Microsoft Taiwan Corp said it is working with 15 domestic gaming developers on titles for its new Xbox 360 consoles.
"We certainly plan to work with more local companies and assist them in producing games for the Xbox 360," Grace Chou (周文英), senior manager of Microsoft Taiwan's entertainment and device division, told a press conference.
By the middle of the year, gaming fans can expect to see a mahjong game and a role-playing game created by XPEC Entertainment Inc (
These developers are joining other firms, including Soft-World International Corp (
Softstar Entertainment was the only local company to have worked with Microsoft Taiwan in developing titles for the first-generation Xbox.
"The new game titles [being developed locally] will not be limited to the Taiwanese market as they might be sold in other countries as well," Chou said.
To promote its much-hyped Xbox 360 video-game console, Microsoft Taiwan will throw large-scale debut parties simultaneously in Taipei, Taichung and Tainan next Thursday.
At each event, lucky buyers will walk away with freebies such as accessories and game titles worth NT$20,000 (US$616).
Along with the consoles -- which are priced at NT$12,980 apiece -- the company will promote 17 accessories, including remote controls, charging kits, hard drives and decorative casings.
Twenty game titles will be available at the official launch, including Project Gotham Racing 3, Dead or Alive 4, NBA Live 06, Call of Duty 2, as well as Ridge Racer 6.
Over 50 titles will be introduced by June, with each retailing at NT$1,390, according to Microsoft Taiwan.
It is believed that the first batch of Xbox 360 shipments to Taiwan consisted of 10,000 units, including 1,000 pre-sold units.
However, Chou refused to reveal either volumes or sales targets, citing company policy.
Microsoft Corp said it is aiming to sell between 4.5 million and 5.5 million consoles globally by June.
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