Bill versus Shaq

January 8, 2003—Some games are won by intimidation, with the imposition of sheer size giving one contestant a clear advantage. But, in a recent Xbox Live® racing competition, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Los Angeles Laker Shaquille O'Neal proved that actual size and strength doesn't make the least amount of difference when it comes to online gaming … it's how you handle your controller.

In the midst of the NBA regular season, Gates and O'Neal squared off to demonstrate the new game Midtown Madness 3 and the power of the new Xbox Live online game service. During his keynote address at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Gates hopped online to race Shaq and do a little trash talking via the Xbox Live Communicator headset.

The fact that these two talented gamers could competea thousand miles apart is evidence that Xbox® is truly a future-generation video game system, delivering the most powerful gaming experience ever. With superior consoletechnology, Xbox gives game developers and game consumers the freedom to create and compete without limitation.

The beauty of Xbox and its online service, Xbox Live, is that winning isn't a function of size or strength or even dial-up speeds—it's practice. Find out for yourself by simply hooking up and starting to play!