Microsoft Corp, which today starts an online service in Europe for its Xbox game consoles, is struggling to win over makers of the top titles.
Microsoft, whose Xbox has sold about a sixth as many as Sony Corp's PlayStation 2, will launch the Internet service in eight countries without the backing of Electronic Arts Inc, the biggest US computer-game maker, or Tomb Raider-creator Eidos Plc.
"Microsoft should be concerned that a game maker of the size of Electronic Arts doesn't support its initiative," said Jason Armitage, an analyst at IDC. "It's critical to maintain relations with the publishers."
The world's largest software maker entered the game-equipment market in 2001. It's hoping the service, which lets users play against each other over high-speed links, will give the Xbox an edge over the PlayStation 2, where Internet gaming for European users won't be available until later this year.
Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft will start selling a kit that includes a one-year subscription and three games, such as Microsoft's Whacked, for 59.99 euros (US$65) in France and Germany, and ?39.99 (US$64) in the UK The service started in the US last year.
Sony's European unit plans to start testing its online gaming in the UK at the end of the month and begin offering the service "by the autumn" in Europe, said spokesman David Wilson, who declined to be more specific.
Eidos, maker of Tomb Raider and Championship Manager soccer games, said it doesn't plan to make games for Xbox Live because Microsoft controls the system and manages subscriptions itself, leaving no incentive for a publisher to collaborate. Sony's approach is to sell just the equipment needed to connect to other's services, such as those run by game makers.
"We're not supporting Xbox Live for the time being because we don't feel comfortable with Microsoft's business model -- they own the consumer," said Eidos Chief Executive Mike McGarvey in an interview on March 6.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
PREPARATION: Ferry lines and flights were canceled ahead of only the second storm to hit the nation in November, while many areas canceled classes and work Authorities yesterday evacuated more than 3,000 people ahead of approaching Tropical Storm Fung-wong, which is expected to make landfall between Kaohsiung and Pingtung County this evening. Fung-wong was yesterday morning downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm as it approached the nation’s southwest coast, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, as it issued a land alert for the storm. The alert applies to residents in Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung and Taitung counties, and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春). As of press time last night, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Yilan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Pingtung and Penghu counties, as well as Chiayi city and county had
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued a sea alert for Typhoon Fung-wong (鳳凰) as it threatened vessels operating in waters off the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), the Bashi Channel and south of the Taiwan Strait. A land alert is expected to be announced some time between late last night and early this morning, the CWA said. As of press time last night, Taoyuan, as well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties had declared today a typhoon day, canceling work and classes. Except for a few select districts in Taipei and New Taipei City, all other areas and city
VIOLATION OF NORMS: China’s CCTV broadcast claimed that Beijing could use Interpol to issue arrest warrants, which the MAC slammed as an affront to order The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for attempts to intimidate Taiwanese through “transnational repression.” The council issued the remarks after state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) yesterday during a news broadcast aired a video targeting Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋), threatening him with “cross-border repression” and saying: “Stop now, or you will be next,” in what Taipei officials said was an attempt to intimidate not only Shen, but also the broader Taiwanese public. The MAC in a statement condemned the threat, accusing Beijing of trying to instill fear and self-censorship among Taiwanese and
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