Microsoft Transforms Community Game Developers Into Entrepreneurs 360 creates marketplace for user-generated content with Xbox LIVE Community Games.

Les Ulis, July 23rd 2008 - During the keynote address today at the Gamefest 2008 Game Technology Conference, Microsoft Corp. revealed that it will allow anyone to turn the hobby of game- making into a full-fledged career. Through what is now officially called “Xbox LIVE Community Games,” Microsoft makes its marketplace of millions available to members of the XNA Creators Club to create, sell and share in the profits generated by their unique creations.

Microsoft has already opened up game development to the masses by offering the easy-to-use, affordable XNA Game Studio toolset. With this newly announced business model, Microsoft will have truly democratised game distribution by enabling XNA Creators Club members to participate in the multibillion-dollar-a-year console gaming industry.

Newly appointed to his role as Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business Group Chris Satchell said the business model was designed to create the best possible experience for both consumers and developers. Community games that have been submitted by XNA Creators Club Premium members and have successfully passed a rigorous peer-review system will be added to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace catalog for sale to consumers. Creators will be able to choose from three suggested preset retail price points varying from 200 to 800 Microsoft Points to sell their creations and will receive up to 70 percent of the total revenue generated by their game.

“Not only are we democratising game development with Xbox LIVE Community Games later this year, but we’re creating an opportunity for aspiring developers to start their careers on the world stage,”

Page 1 of 3 Satchell said. “It is really a win for both developers and consumers because this will no doubt act as an incentive for game creators to continue to develop the best, most innovative games for .”

A host of new and creative ideas are already appearing on the Xbox LIVE Community Games beta. When the service launches for consumers this fall, community-created games on Xbox LIVE are expected to double the size of the Xbox 360 video game library, offering some of the most inventive, quirky and unexpected games ever seen on consoles. By the end of 2008, Xbox 360 owners are expected to have access to the largest, most creatively diverse game library across all next-generation platforms, with more than 1,000 titles spanning Community Games, and retail blockbuster titles.

When the bold new Xbox experience, a re-launch of the largest online social network on TV that is fun and approachable, is released late this fall, the Community Games storefront will be an easy-to-use addition to the existing marketplace on Xbox LIVE. The new Community Games channel is currently scheduled to launch in the United States, Canada and select European markets later this year. Other regions will be added over the course of 2009 and beyond. Consumers will also be able to view and rate community games on Xbox.com, watch trailers, and even play a trial of each game before buying it.

“Since first launching XNA Game Studio in 2006, we have been working hard on improving the toolset and building resources for the community, and the response has been amazing. To date, we’ve had more than 1 million downloads of XNA Game Studio and adoption in more than 700 universities,” said Boyd Multerer, general manager of XNA. “For some perspective, the incredible creative community we’ve unleashed worldwide is more than 25 times the number of professional developers in the industry.”

Microsoft also is giving aspiring developers a hand with the second annual Dream-Build-Play game development contest based on XNA Game Studio projects. The competition will yield prizes in excess of $70,000 and an opportunity for one of the winners to sign an Xbox LIVE Arcade publishing contract. Three of last year’s top performers and winners, “The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai,” “Blazing Birds” and “Yo Ho Kablammo!” from the United States, Canada, Sweden and United Kingdom, respectively, are all slated for release on Xbox LIVE Arcade in the near future. For more details and Dream-Build-Play Official Rules, see http://www.dreambuildplay.com/main/Rules.aspx . For more information on XNA Game Studio, head over to http://creators.xna.com .

Page 2 of 3

***

Gamefest 2008 Microsoft leads the industry in helping game developers create amazing games for Xbox 360 and Windows. Gamefest 2008, scheduled for July 22 and 23, will feature 120 sessions spanning 11 tracks to help game developers, producers and publishers improve their skills, learn about new development techniques, and pick up powerful new tools to assist with building the best games possible and engage the community.

About XNA XNA helps developers access the largest installed base by providing professional-quality tools, support and solutions that can be used across Microsoft gaming platforms. Developers get access to broader distribution channels while shortening time to market. With intuitive, efficient and innovative cross-platform tools, XNA lets you develop once and distribute broadly. More information can be found at http://www.xna.com .

A propos de la Xbox 360 La Xbox 360 est la plus puissante console de jeux vidéo et de divertissement du marché. Elle donne accès aux meilleurs jeux, à la nouvelle génération d’un service de jeu en ligne hors pair, Xbox Live, et à d’incroyables plongées au cœur des divertissements numériques. Lancée en Amérique du Nord, en Europe et au Japon en 2005, elle a ensuite conquis l’Australie, la Colombie, Hong Kong, la Corée, le Mexique, la Nouvelle-Zélande, Singapour et Taiwan en 2006. Pour plus d’informations, rendez-vous à l’adresse http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

A propos du Xbox Live Nouvelle frontière dans l’imagination et l’interaction extraordinaire, aucun autre service ne présente la richesse du gameplay en ligne que l’on trouve sur Xbox Live. Seul service de console de jeu mondialement uniformisé en ligne, au monde, Xbox Live innove sans cesse pour offrir à ses membres des expériences de jeu inégalées. Ce service unique rassemble les joueurs au sein d’une communauté dynamique où ils peuvent s’essayer aux meilleurs jeux en ligne, accéder à une programmation exclusive et télécharger, en permanence, des contenus inédits. Xbox Live a été lancé aux Etats-Unis en Novembre 2002 et est disponible dans 26 pays. Rendez-vous sur http://www.xbox.com/live, pour plus d’informations.

À propos de Microsoft Fondée en 1975, Microsoft (cotée au NASDAQ sous le symbole MSFT) est le leader mondial du logiciel. La société développe et commercialise une large gamme de logiciels, accessoires et services à usage professionnel et domestique. La mission de Microsoft est de mettre son expertise, sa capacité d’innovation et la passion qui l'anime au service des projets, des ambitions et de la créativité de ses clients et partenaires, afin de faire de la technologie leur meilleure alliée dans l’expression de leur potentiel. Créée en 1983, Microsoft France emploie plus de 1 200 personnes. Depuis le 1er février 2005, la présidence est assurée par Eric Boustouller.

Pour plus d’informations, contactez :

RELATIONS MEDIAS Agence Edelman pour Microsoft France 54 rue de Monceau 75008 Paris

Presse Grand Public Presse Spécialisée Julien Verdier Pascal Sontag Tél : 01 56 69 73 91 Tél : 01 56 69 75 86 [email protected] [email protected]

MICROSOFT France Division Entertainment & Devices Public & Presse Relation Manager Béatrice Decoudun [email protected]

Page 3 of 3