Daily News Spin — May 16, 2001 (Wednesday)

Xbox to launch with $299 price tag

According to an MCV newsflash we received, Microsoft's Xbox will launch with a $299 price tag along with 15 - 20 games on November 8th.

At the same time, Xbox software will be priced at $49, the memory unit at $34.99, additional controllers at $39.99, and the DVD remote control at $29.99.

The firm also pledged to deliver 600-800,000 units on day one in the US, whilst it claims it can replenish stock every week and that it will ship 1-1.5m units by the end of Christmas.

This news raises some doubts with us about Microsoft's ability to challenge Sony for the number one position. Sony is rumored to be cutting the price of the PS2 to $199 by the time the Xbox launches, and we just don't see Microsoft competing well at $100 more and far fewer games. If Nintendo is able to price the Gamecube at $199, Microsoft may feel even more pressure to cut the Xbox price.

Surprise! 3DO announces new Might and Magic games!

3DO rocked the gaming world with the surprise announcement that they're working on two more Might and Magic games, Heroes of Might and Magic 4 (or was that IV?) for the PC and Dragon Wars of Might and Magic for the PS2. Dragon Wars will be the first "aerial-based adventure game in the Might and Magic universe". Players will control a dragon character, Cael.

Cael can use 32 unique dragon attacks and magical powers to strike against the Orcs. Additionally, Cael can swoop down and grab enemies in his mighty claws, ram objects with his powerful head, or use his crushing jaws to devour foes.

Is this cool or what? Ramming things with our powerful heads! Using our special double-jointed crushing jaws to crush and then thoroughly chew to ensure proper digestion! This game has it all!

As to Heroes of Might and Magic 4, a company spokesperson said, "It will be just like the other Heroes of Might and Magic games, but we'll change the number on the box and charge $50 for it." Ok., no one actually said that. We're telepathic, though, and we sensed that was what they're thinking.

Sid Meier say, "Fore!"

The rumors are true. Sid Meier and Maxis are teaming up to bring us Sid Meier's SimGolf. From the press release:

Players can create the world's most beautiful, challenging and extreme golf courses in a variety of different environments including woodlands, desert, tropical and British links and can build an entire golf resort from the ground-up. Advanced game play includes tuning the skills of your golf professional, hosting and playing in major tournaments, and dabbling in the personal lives of your members. Modification of both the course and resort to respond to the needs and interests of their Sim guests is crucial to a player's success. Players will be able to share their courses, stories, customized golfers and snapshots of their greatest golf moments with other SimGolf players from around the world via the SimGolf web site.

Sounds interesting, but if it's to be a true golf sim it will have to allow us to cheat, swear, and snap golf clubs in two. We lost a two-iron once when we attempted to liven up a round of 18 by playing golf polo with our golf carts on a long par 5. We discovered that not only is it hard to swing a club one-handed while leaning from a moving golf cart, the club will tend to break when you run over it with the golf cart.

Dead martial artist signed for game

Microsoft announced today that Bruce Lee, who died back in the '70's either as a victim of a conspiracy or some bad egg salad, will star in new exclusive

"Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon" is a cinematic fast-paced action game that allows gamers to play as the legendary martial artist in his latest full-feature film.

Microsoft may be on to something. The vast reservoir of dead movie stars has up to now only been exploited for beer commercials.

3am

Quarter to Three has consolidated our far-flung publishing empire for E3, moving our midwest offices in St. Louis to Tom Chick's swinging bachelor pad, at least for one day. As to our E3 plans, they're still a bit hazy, though they involve trying to get as much free food and beer as possible and to avoid being arrested for the murder of Robert Blake's wife. (By the way, are we the only ones who suspect that the killers of O.J.'s ex-wife are probably involved in this crime as well? We think Robert Blake and O.J. Simpson should get together to solve these crimes.).

Getting back on track, we're unsure of what our update schedule will be during this show. Between seeing games and running up G.O.D.'s bar tab at their parking lot booth, we may not have time or the manual dexterity needed to do a lot of updates. But maybe we'll surprise ourselves.

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