Microsoft Previews 2012’s Most Anticipated Global Entertainment and Gaming Experiences
In 2012, Microsoft will continue to redefine interactive entertainment with a portfolio of experiences that will delight and excite fans like never before.
Across Xbox 360, Kinect, Xbox LIVE Arcade, PC and Windows Phone, Microsoft will deliver an interactive entertainment portfolio of blockbuster titles, experiences and add-on content this year. Detailed information about each of the experiences shown at Microsoft Spring Showcase can be found below or at http://press.xbox360.com/SpringShowcase.
· Xbox 360
o Halo 4 (343 Industries) – Get an exciting first look at this year’s most anticipated blockbuster, Halo 4, through a behind-the-scenes video on HaloWaypoint.com. Launching worldwide at the end of this year, Halo 4 takes the iconic franchise in a bold new direction with the return of Master Chief, and the beginning of a new saga.
o Forza Horizon (Playground Games) – Forza Horizon is a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play racing game and the newest entry in the Forza Motorsport franchise. Available this Autumn, the game is being created in partnership with acclaimed racing development studio Playground Games.
o Forza Motorsport 4 (Turn 10 Studios) – Available this Spring, the Porsche Expansion Pack for Forza Motorsport 4 will contain 30 modern and classic Porsche vehicles from the iconic German manufacturer, seven of which are new to the Forza franchise.
o Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (Slant Six Games, Capcom) – Program the Nemesis and unleash devastating attacks on your opposing squad in an exclusive fifth online competitive multiplayer versus battle available only for Xbox 360. o Gears of War 3 (Epic Games) – The curb-stomping fun continues with the release of the Forces of Nature map pack for Gears of War 3 on March 27. Included in the game’s Season Pass or available for 800 Microsoft Points, Forces of Nature will feature five maps, new characters, new weapon skins and a 250 Gamescore. Also, starting March 27, Gears of War 3 will be available through Games on Demand.
o Dragon’s Dogma (Capcom) – Explore the woodlands surrounding a collapsed fortress and battle against its fearsome inhabitants, including a monstrous Cyclops, a vicious Chimera and a savage Drake Dragon. Additionally, purchasers of the Xbox 360 version of Dragon’s Dogma will be able to redeem a token and download the Resident Evil 6 demo globally on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace 60 days earlier than on any other platform, starting July 3.
o Darksiders II (THQ/Vigil Games) – Explore non-playable character gameplay interaction with exclusive fiction reveals from the vast Makers Realm in Darksiders II. Fans who pre-order the game will receive a complimentary upgrade to the Limited Edition, or can pick up the Collector’s Edition.
· Kinect on Xbox 360
o Fable: The Journey (Lionhead Studios) – From the creative geniuses at Lionhead, Fable: The Journey is a whole new way to experience the deep storyline, heart-pounding action and picturesque world of Albion. Fable: The Journey launches this Autumn on Kinect for Xbox 360.
o Mass Effect 3 (BioWare, Electronic Arts) – Step into the role of Commander Shepard and use voice controls to direct squad mates during battle and command weapon selection to quickly engage in combat. Mass Effect 3 supports dozens of commands to interact with the world and the characters, without pausing the action.
o Kinect Star Wars (Microsoft Studios) – In Kinect Star Wars, available April 3, Star Wars fans can physically hone their Jedi skills, wield the power of the Force in their hands, pilot iconic ships and vehicles, rampage as a vicious rancor monster and dance with iconic Star Wars characters.
o Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 (Electronic Arts) – Featuring a more immersive Masters Tournament experience as well as Kinect for Xbox 360 integration, the world’s number one golf video game is back with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13.
o Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor (Capcom) – Launching on June 19, fight side by side with your comrades and retake Manhattan Beach from the enemy. Defend your infantry and blast every VT that crosses your path!
o Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure (Microsoft Studios) – Pixar fans will be able to scan themselves into an avatar based on their favourite character from Disney•Pixar's "Up" and venture into the vast interior of the Spirit of Adventure. Players will also team up with characters from The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Cars and Toy Story to solve puzzles and uncover secrets.
o Dance Central 2 (Harmonix) – Experience new add-on songs from electro-pop sensations LMFAO, including their hit single Party Rock.
o Kinect Sports: Season Two (Rare Studios, Big Park) – Launching worldwide on April 3, the all-new basketball game add-on content puts players’ basketball skills to the test by shooting, passing, and scoring with the new activities.
· Xbox LIVE Arcade
o Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (4J Studios, Mojang) – Coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade in Spring 2012, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition brings the global PC phenomenon to gamers for the first time on any console platform.
o Wreckateer (Iron Galaxy) – Wreckateer uses Kinect for Xbox 360 to put players in control of a massive castle-wrecking ballista. With the help of Wreck and Tinker, players can travel the land and destroy 60 castles infested with goblins using six magical projectiles.
o Fable Heroes (Lionhead Studios) – Fable Heroes delivers a fresh spin on the Fable franchise with an action-packed hack-and-slash adventure on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
o Trials Evolution (RedLynx/Ubisoft) – Coming soon are new Trials Evolution maps in the next dimension of the smash-hit, award-winning Trials HD.
o Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD (Robomodo, Activision) – Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD for Xbox LIVE Arcade takes the best elements of Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and upgrades them with sharp visuals and fresh content.
o South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge (South Park Digital Studios, Other Ocean Interactive) – Scott Tenorman is back and he wants revenge! Play multiplayer with Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny to take on Tenorman and his army of Ginger robots before they destroy South Park!
o Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Hidden Path Entertainment, Valve) – The all-new Demolition mode in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive delivers a fast-paced game experience made up of tight small maps to get into the action quickly.
o Quantum Conundrum (Airtight Games, Square Enix) – Enter a new dimension – the heavy dimension – in the latest environment-bending feature in the quirky, first-person puzzle game Quantum Conundrum from Square Enix and Airtight Games.
o Bloodforge (Climax Studios) – Bloodforge combines devastating melee, ranged and magical attacks to deliver a fast-paced, bloodthirsty, brutal combat experience available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
o Deadlight (Tequila Works) – Deadlight, a brand new experience for Xbox LIVE Arcade, is a narrative-driven puzzle platformer set in the post-apocalyptic 80s devastated by a zombie epidemic.
o Diabolical Pitch (Grasshopper Manufacture) – Available beginning April 4, Kinect for Xbox 360 turns living rooms into playing fields and the Diabolical Pitch is the main attraction.
o Joe Danger: The Movie (Hello Games) – Race jetpacks against hoverboards and skis against skidoos in all-new multiplayer modes in Joe Danger: The Movie.
· Xbox 360 Hardware
o Xbox 360 Kinect Family Bundle – The Xbox 360 Kinect Family Bundle features everything a family needs to get started playing together. Available in the UK on May 4th for £249.99 ERP, the bundle includes a limited edition all-white Xbox 360 4GB console, white Kinect sensor, white Xbox 360 wireless controller and Kinect family titles.
· Games for Windows
o Microsoft Flight (Microsoft Studios) – Available to download for free at www.MicrosoftFlight.com, Microsoft Flight is a new Windows PC game that lets players jump into the thrill of flight with no special hardware or past experience. This Spring, fans will be able to purchase the Journey to Alaska Pack, the second in a series of expansion packs for the game with over 1.2 million square miles of captivating scenery, additional missions and new aircraft.
· Windows Phone
o Carcassone (Microsoft Studios) – The award-winning tile-based board game Carcassonne is coming to Windows Phone! With the online multiplayer, Xbox LIVE achievements, leaderboards and more, this game never gets old.
o Civilization Revolution (2K) – Award winning Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is coming to Windows Phone! Build, Discover, Rule the world.
o DODONPACHI (CAVE) – An original shooter by Arcade veteran CAVE is arriving for Windows Phone. Can you handle EVAC Industries’ Maximum Bullet Simulator.
o GeoDefense Swarm (Microsoft Studios) – The fast-paced tower defence game GeoDefense Swarm for Windows Phone gives the power to obliterate a horde of vibrant, vector-styled enemies with multiple weapons of choice.o Gerbil Physics (Microsoft Studios) – In Gerbil Physics, a physics-based puzzle game that blows up buildings made of gerbils for Windows Phone, it’s all about adorable destruction.
o Pinball FX2 (Microsoft Studios) – Pinball FX2 for Windows Phone features new tables and all-new features including a state-of-the-art physics model and a connection to your Xbox 360 Pinball FX2 scores.
o Pirates! – Available now on Windows Phone, Sid Meier's Pirates! is an exciting high-seas adventure overflowing with intense pirate action and a treasure chest of gameplay riches!
o Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (Konami) – This Spring, the unrivalled and award-winning football simulation from Konami is entering a new season on Windows Phone!o Shoot 1UP! (Microsoft Studios) – This Spring, an armada of ships is coming to Windows Phone in Shoot 1UP.
o Wordament (Microsoft Studios) – In the world of Wordament for Xbox LIVE, Windows Phone word searchers across the whole Internet compete on the same board, in real-time, to get the highest score.
- ENDS -
All age-rated video content must be placed under an appropriate age gate, per PEGI standards
For press only (please do not publish the URL): To access Microsoft’s Spring Showcase assets, please visit: http://press.xbox360.com/SpringShowcase.
For specialist media enquiries, please contact: Dominic Carey / 01189 095334 / v-docare@microsoft.com
For consumer media enquiries, please contact:
Baz Singh / 020 3047 4024 / baz_singh@jcpr.com
Maxine Rushworth / 020 3047 4047 / maxine_rushworth@jcpr.com
For the latest Xbox news and announcements, please subscribe to the Xbox News RSS feed at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/xbox360press/ or follow us on Twitter @tweetbox360
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. With the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on demand library of music, standard and high definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment centre of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with a network of 35 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com .
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever expanding world of games, movies, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. Xbox LIVE is now also available on Windows Phone 7 putting the power of connected entertainment in the palm of your hand. Xbox LIVE is the exclusive home of controller free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 35 million people across 35 countries, Xbox LIVE provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
· Xbox 360
o Halo 4 (343 Industries) – Get an exciting first look at this year’s most anticipated blockbuster, Halo 4, through a behind-the-scenes video on HaloWaypoint.com. Launching worldwide at the end of this year, Halo 4 takes the iconic franchise in a bold new direction with the return of Master Chief, and the beginning of a new saga.
o Forza Horizon (Playground Games) – Forza Horizon is a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play racing game and the newest entry in the Forza Motorsport franchise. Available this Autumn, the game is being created in partnership with acclaimed racing development studio Playground Games.
o Forza Motorsport 4 (Turn 10 Studios) – Available this Spring, the Porsche Expansion Pack for Forza Motorsport 4 will contain 30 modern and classic Porsche vehicles from the iconic German manufacturer, seven of which are new to the Forza franchise.
o Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (Slant Six Games, Capcom) – Program the Nemesis and unleash devastating attacks on your opposing squad in an exclusive fifth online competitive multiplayer versus battle available only for Xbox 360. o Gears of War 3 (Epic Games) – The curb-stomping fun continues with the release of the Forces of Nature map pack for Gears of War 3 on March 27. Included in the game’s Season Pass or available for 800 Microsoft Points, Forces of Nature will feature five maps, new characters, new weapon skins and a 250 Gamescore. Also, starting March 27, Gears of War 3 will be available through Games on Demand.
o Dragon’s Dogma (Capcom) – Explore the woodlands surrounding a collapsed fortress and battle against its fearsome inhabitants, including a monstrous Cyclops, a vicious Chimera and a savage Drake Dragon. Additionally, purchasers of the Xbox 360 version of Dragon’s Dogma will be able to redeem a token and download the Resident Evil 6 demo globally on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace 60 days earlier than on any other platform, starting July 3.
o Darksiders II (THQ/Vigil Games) – Explore non-playable character gameplay interaction with exclusive fiction reveals from the vast Makers Realm in Darksiders II. Fans who pre-order the game will receive a complimentary upgrade to the Limited Edition, or can pick up the Collector’s Edition.
· Kinect on Xbox 360
o Fable: The Journey (Lionhead Studios) – From the creative geniuses at Lionhead, Fable: The Journey is a whole new way to experience the deep storyline, heart-pounding action and picturesque world of Albion. Fable: The Journey launches this Autumn on Kinect for Xbox 360.
o Mass Effect 3 (BioWare, Electronic Arts) – Step into the role of Commander Shepard and use voice controls to direct squad mates during battle and command weapon selection to quickly engage in combat. Mass Effect 3 supports dozens of commands to interact with the world and the characters, without pausing the action.
o Kinect Star Wars (Microsoft Studios) – In Kinect Star Wars, available April 3, Star Wars fans can physically hone their Jedi skills, wield the power of the Force in their hands, pilot iconic ships and vehicles, rampage as a vicious rancor monster and dance with iconic Star Wars characters.
o Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13 (Electronic Arts) – Featuring a more immersive Masters Tournament experience as well as Kinect for Xbox 360 integration, the world’s number one golf video game is back with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 13.
o Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor (Capcom) – Launching on June 19, fight side by side with your comrades and retake Manhattan Beach from the enemy. Defend your infantry and blast every VT that crosses your path!
o Kinect Rush: A Disney•Pixar Adventure (Microsoft Studios) – Pixar fans will be able to scan themselves into an avatar based on their favourite character from Disney•Pixar's "Up" and venture into the vast interior of the Spirit of Adventure. Players will also team up with characters from The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Cars and Toy Story to solve puzzles and uncover secrets.
o Dance Central 2 (Harmonix) – Experience new add-on songs from electro-pop sensations LMFAO, including their hit single Party Rock.
o Kinect Sports: Season Two (Rare Studios, Big Park) – Launching worldwide on April 3, the all-new basketball game add-on content puts players’ basketball skills to the test by shooting, passing, and scoring with the new activities.
· Xbox LIVE Arcade
o Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition (4J Studios, Mojang) – Coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade in Spring 2012, Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition brings the global PC phenomenon to gamers for the first time on any console platform.
o Wreckateer (Iron Galaxy) – Wreckateer uses Kinect for Xbox 360 to put players in control of a massive castle-wrecking ballista. With the help of Wreck and Tinker, players can travel the land and destroy 60 castles infested with goblins using six magical projectiles.
o Fable Heroes (Lionhead Studios) – Fable Heroes delivers a fresh spin on the Fable franchise with an action-packed hack-and-slash adventure on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
o Trials Evolution (RedLynx/Ubisoft) – Coming soon are new Trials Evolution maps in the next dimension of the smash-hit, award-winning Trials HD.
o Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD (Robomodo, Activision) – Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD for Xbox LIVE Arcade takes the best elements of Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 and upgrades them with sharp visuals and fresh content.
o South Park: Tenorman’s Revenge (South Park Digital Studios, Other Ocean Interactive) – Scott Tenorman is back and he wants revenge! Play multiplayer with Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny to take on Tenorman and his army of Ginger robots before they destroy South Park!
o Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Hidden Path Entertainment, Valve) – The all-new Demolition mode in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive delivers a fast-paced game experience made up of tight small maps to get into the action quickly.
o Quantum Conundrum (Airtight Games, Square Enix) – Enter a new dimension – the heavy dimension – in the latest environment-bending feature in the quirky, first-person puzzle game Quantum Conundrum from Square Enix and Airtight Games.
o Bloodforge (Climax Studios) – Bloodforge combines devastating melee, ranged and magical attacks to deliver a fast-paced, bloodthirsty, brutal combat experience available exclusively on Xbox LIVE Arcade.
o Deadlight (Tequila Works) – Deadlight, a brand new experience for Xbox LIVE Arcade, is a narrative-driven puzzle platformer set in the post-apocalyptic 80s devastated by a zombie epidemic.
o Diabolical Pitch (Grasshopper Manufacture) – Available beginning April 4, Kinect for Xbox 360 turns living rooms into playing fields and the Diabolical Pitch is the main attraction.
o Joe Danger: The Movie (Hello Games) – Race jetpacks against hoverboards and skis against skidoos in all-new multiplayer modes in Joe Danger: The Movie.
· Xbox 360 Hardware
o Xbox 360 Kinect Family Bundle – The Xbox 360 Kinect Family Bundle features everything a family needs to get started playing together. Available in the UK on May 4th for £249.99 ERP, the bundle includes a limited edition all-white Xbox 360 4GB console, white Kinect sensor, white Xbox 360 wireless controller and Kinect family titles.
· Games for Windows
o Microsoft Flight (Microsoft Studios) – Available to download for free at www.MicrosoftFlight.com, Microsoft Flight is a new Windows PC game that lets players jump into the thrill of flight with no special hardware or past experience. This Spring, fans will be able to purchase the Journey to Alaska Pack, the second in a series of expansion packs for the game with over 1.2 million square miles of captivating scenery, additional missions and new aircraft.
· Windows Phone
o Carcassone (Microsoft Studios) – The award-winning tile-based board game Carcassonne is coming to Windows Phone! With the online multiplayer, Xbox LIVE achievements, leaderboards and more, this game never gets old.
o Civilization Revolution (2K) – Award winning Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution is coming to Windows Phone! Build, Discover, Rule the world.
o DODONPACHI (CAVE) – An original shooter by Arcade veteran CAVE is arriving for Windows Phone. Can you handle EVAC Industries’ Maximum Bullet Simulator.
o GeoDefense Swarm (Microsoft Studios) – The fast-paced tower defence game GeoDefense Swarm for Windows Phone gives the power to obliterate a horde of vibrant, vector-styled enemies with multiple weapons of choice.o Gerbil Physics (Microsoft Studios) – In Gerbil Physics, a physics-based puzzle game that blows up buildings made of gerbils for Windows Phone, it’s all about adorable destruction.
o Pinball FX2 (Microsoft Studios) – Pinball FX2 for Windows Phone features new tables and all-new features including a state-of-the-art physics model and a connection to your Xbox 360 Pinball FX2 scores.
o Pirates! – Available now on Windows Phone, Sid Meier's Pirates! is an exciting high-seas adventure overflowing with intense pirate action and a treasure chest of gameplay riches!
o Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (Konami) – This Spring, the unrivalled and award-winning football simulation from Konami is entering a new season on Windows Phone!o Shoot 1UP! (Microsoft Studios) – This Spring, an armada of ships is coming to Windows Phone in Shoot 1UP.
o Wordament (Microsoft Studios) – In the world of Wordament for Xbox LIVE, Windows Phone word searchers across the whole Internet compete on the same board, in real-time, to get the highest score.
- ENDS -
All age-rated video content must be placed under an appropriate age gate, per PEGI standards
For press only (please do not publish the URL): To access Microsoft’s Spring Showcase assets, please visit: http://press.xbox360.com/SpringShowcase.
For specialist media enquiries, please contact: Dominic Carey / 01189 095334 / v-docare@microsoft.com
For consumer media enquiries, please contact:
Baz Singh / 020 3047 4024 / baz_singh@jcpr.com
Maxine Rushworth / 020 3047 4047 / maxine_rushworth@jcpr.com
For the latest Xbox news and announcements, please subscribe to the Xbox News RSS feed at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/xbox360press/ or follow us on Twitter @tweetbox360
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. With the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on demand library of music, standard and high definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment centre of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with a network of 35 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com .
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever expanding world of games, movies, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. Xbox LIVE is now also available on Windows Phone 7 putting the power of connected entertainment in the palm of your hand. Xbox LIVE is the exclusive home of controller free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 35 million people across 35 countries, Xbox LIVE provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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