The Xbox 360 Launch Lineup Buzz: ''Perfect Dark Zero'' Ranked Most Anticipated Xbox 360 Launch Title by IGN Entertainment's GamerMetrics; Popular Franchises Dominate the Top 10 Launch Title List, Emphasis on Sports Games

Business Wire, Nov 17, 2005

BRISBANE, Calif. -- IGN Entertainment's GamerMetrics, a business intelligence tool that tracks the awareness and activity of over 25 million gamers, shows Microsoft's Perfect Dark Zero, Tecmo's Dead Or Alive 4, and Electronic Arts' Madden NFL '06 as the most anticipated launch titles for Microsoft's new Xbox 360 console that hits store shelves November 22nd. Microsoft has officially confirmed the 18 video game titles that will be available when the Xbox 360 goes on sale later this month. Following is how these games rank in terms of the amount of awareness they are generating with the millions of consumers seeking information about these titles on three of the leading video game web sites: IGN.com, GameSpy.com, and TeamXbox.com.

Xbox 360 Launch Titles Buzz Ranked by GamerMetrics:

1. Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft)

2. Dead or Alive 4 (Tecmo)

3. Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)

4. Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft)

5. Call of Duty 2 (Activision)

6. NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)

7. Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft)

8. Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)

9. NBA 2K6 (2K Games)

10. FIFA 06: Road to FIFA Worldcup (Electronic Arts)

11. Peter Jackson's King Kong (Ubisoft)

12. QUAKE 4 (Activision)

13. Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (Activision)

14. Ridge Racer 6 (Namco)

15. Condemned: Criminal Origins (SEGA)

16. GUN (Activision)

17. Amped 3 (2K Games)

18. NHL 2K6 (2K Games)

Electronic Arts is leading the way with four of the top ten launch titles, Microsoft follows with three top ten titles. Sports games are the most popular genre, representing four of the top ten titles. Microsoft's Gears of War, not a release title but expected to release early in 2006, is currently the most anticipated Xbox 360 title overall.

GamerMetrics analyzes the online activity of visitors to IGN Entertainment's network of video game news and information sites, the largest audience of video gamers online, and determines the level of awareness and interest in video game titles among that audience.

"Each console cycle brings a new set of challenges where understanding consumer behavior is critical towards future success," said David Tokheim, Vice President of Marketing, IGN Entertainment. "Exposing the awareness and purchase intent preferences of over 25 million potential customers allows game companies, retailers, analysts, and potential licensors a valuable source of information to guide their decision making process."

ABOUT IGN ENTERTAINMENT

IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., is a leading Internet media and services provider focused on the videogame and entertainment enthusiast markets. Collectively, IGN's properties reached more than 31 million unique users worldwide in the month of September 2005, according to Internet audience measurement firm comScore Media Metrix(a). IGN's network of videogame-related properties (IGN.com, GameSpy, FilePlanet, TeamXbox, Direct2Drive and others), is the web's number one videogame information destination and attracts one of the largest concentrated audiences of young males on the Internet. IGN also owns and operates the popular movie-related website, Rotten Tomatoes and one of the leading male lifestyle websites, AskMen.com. In addition, IGN provides technology for online game play in videogames. IGN is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices throughout the U.S. and in Montreal.

(a) comScore Media Metrix, August 2005 Worldwide data. Worldwide data cited herein represent an aggregate of 32 countries reported by comScore Media Metrix on a monthly basis.

IGN Entertainment, Direct2Drive, IGN.com, GameSpy, Rotten Tomatoes, FilePlanet, GameSpy Arcade, GameSpy Arena and TeamXbox are trademarks of IGN Entertainment. Other trademarks and copyrights mentioned are the properties of their respective holders.