Xbox 360 Exclusive Interview
There’s so much we know you’re dying to find out about the new Xbox 360. So we put all those burning issues to Chris Lewis, the Regional Vice President of Xbox across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Here’s what he had to say:
Xbox.com: How much will the new console cost? If you can’t give an exact figure, then can you give a rough idea?
Chris Lewis: I’m very pleased to be able to confirm today that consumers in Europe will be able to get their hands on Xbox 360 for just €299.99 for the Core console. In North America, the experience starts at $299.99, and £279.99 in the UK. The full Xbox 360 system represents the best value at €399.99, or $399.99 in North America and £279.99 in the UK.
Xbox.com: What’s available ‘out of the box’ with Xbox 360?
Chris Lewis: First of all, you’ve got the choice of two systems – the full Xbox 360 system, and the Core System.
The full system provides great value for gamers who want to experience the ultimate digital entertainment thrill ride. It comes fully loaded with a detachable 20-gigabyte hard drive, a wireless controller, an Xbox 360 Headset, component HD AV and Ethernet connectivity cables and, for a limited time only, the Xbox 360 Media Remote.
For those who want to build up to the full Xbox 360 experience at their own pace, we’re offering a Core System that gives gamers the power of scalability. It’s got all the power of Xbox 360 and comes standard with everything consumers need to jump right into next-generation gaming, including a wired controller and free Xbox Live Silver membership.
Xbox.com: What console and controller extras will gamers really want to get?
Chris Lewis: Both the Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 Core systems are ready for customisation. We’re offering an array of Xbox 360 accessories, so gamers can customise their systems to suit their individual tastes and personalise their experiences.
Xbox.com: What are the most innovative parts of Xbox 360?
Chris Lewis: Xbox 360 is leading the transition to always-connected, always personalised, and always in high-definition entertainment experiences. It will unleash the greatest games line-up in the history of video games, which will connect gamers to more riveting stories, more believable characters, and more open, living worlds.
It enables you to get more from your games - just plug it into your broadband connection, and you’re on Xbox Live. Then you can build your profile...your Gamercard. Talk to your friends. Download new trailers, demos, classic arcade, card and board games, and levels. Send and receive voice and video messages. Choose people to play with in multiplayer games, and bring the experience alive with voice and video chat.
Finally, Xbox 360 lets you control a new world of digital entertainment. So you can listen to your own play lists while you play all your games, and jack in your MP3 player, digital camera, and Windows XP PC to play your music, photos, and TV shows through your home entertainment system. Plus it lets you stream high definition TV and movies stored on Windows Media Center Edition PCs starting this Christmas.
Xbox.com: What are the most impressive games coming to Xbox 360? Which ones are you most looking forward to playing?
Chris Lewis: Xbox 360 will unleash the greatest launch line-up in the history of video games. Let’s start with the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live exclusives. This Christmas we’ve got Microsoft Game Studios bringing Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo: Elements of Power, and PGR 3 to Xbox 360. Activision is bringing Call of Duty 2 and id Software is bringing Quake 4. Tecmo is bringing Dead or Alive 4 and Bethesda Softworks/2KGames is bringing The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion exclusively to Xbox 360 this Christmas.
There will also be great cross-platform games that look and play best on Xbox 360. They include Madden NFL 06, FIFA Football 2006, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06, and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 3,.
Xbox.com: The console launch is going to be huge, but it’s the games that will really show the system off. What titles do you think will match the huge popularity of the current Xbox favourites, Halo and Halo 2?
Chris Lewis: It’s hard to pick just one. One of the best things about our launch line-up is that there’s something for everyone – from the shooter thrills of Perfect Dark Zero to racing excitement of Project Gotham Racing 3 and family fun of Kameo.
Xbox.com: There’s been talk of a focus on the Japanese market for the new Xbox design. How will Xbox 360 appeal to European consumers?
Chris Lewis: We’re ensuring that people all over the world will relate to Xbox 360. We’re creating games in genres that appeal to all types of gamers wherever they’re from, and working with key developers and publishers like Mistwalker and Rare to make gaming experiences that have a global appeal.
Xbox.com: Xbox Live seems to be an increasingly essential part of the console experience, especially with Xbox 360. What will encourage offline consumers to make the leap?
Chris Lewis: We think the crucial elements are personalisation and high definition entertainment. And we’re now offering new levels of service with Xbox Live, to get everyone in the game.
First, there’s Xbox Live Silver - a free level of the service that will be available to every Xbox 360 player as soon as they connect their systems to a broadband connection. With the Silver level, gamers immediately access the Xbox Live Marketplace, voice chat with friends, and send and receive text and voice messages.
If you’re looking for a supercharged online experience, Xbox Live Gold level is a paid membership that includes online multiplayer gaming, participation in online tournaments, and video chat.
Xbox.com: If you could pick one thing that should convince every gamer to buy Xbox 360 on launch day, what would it be?
Chris Lewis: It’s a total package - to ignite the next generation of games and entertainment, we’re putting the world’s most powerful hardware, software, and services into the hands of the world’s greatest game creators. It’s not only one factor – it’s all three aspects combining into one powerful platform.
* Actual retail prices may vary.
** Xbox Live is not available in all countries, please go to www.xbox.com and select your country for details.
