Microsoft: 8 million consoles sold | 8 millones de consolas vendidas

XBOX 360™ RECORDS BEST EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS IN ITS HISTORY, EIGHT MILLION CONSOLES SOLD TO DATE

LONDON – 5th January 2009: Xbox® today revealed sales data showing Christmas 2008 was the biggest sales period ever in the brand’s six-year European history, with sales of Xbox 360™ almost double those of Christmas 2007[1]. Eight million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)[2] up to the end of 2008, widening its lead over PlayStation 3 in the region to more than one million and setting the scene for further growth in 2009.

GfK-ChartTrack data shows that Xbox 360 was the fastest-growing console of 2008, with sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 over double that of the same period in 2007, spurred on by a mix of value, great games and entertainment, and the recently-launched New Xbox Experience.

Rock Band: Roy Orbison

Rock Band® delivers legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Roy Orbison to the Rock Band Music Store

Cambridge, Mass. – January 2, 2009- Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the addition of one of the most influential pioneers of rock and roll, Roy Orbison, to the Rock Band® Music Store catalog of downloadable content. Grammy Award-winning Roy Orbison was a singer, songwriter and performer whose distinctive sound scored him an astounding nine Top 10 hits in four years in the early 1960s. Orbison’s historic career began in the 1950s and saw a huge resurgence in the late 1980s, when he became a prominent influence on artists like Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bono, k. d. lang and Traveling Wilburys.

The “Roy Orbison Pack 01” will include “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Ooby Dooby,” “In Dreams,” Claudette,” “Mean Woman Blues” and “You Got It.” All six songs will be available for download as individual tracks as well. These six songs featured are hits from Orbison’s incredible legacy of albums including the recently released definitive box set Roy Orbison: The Soul of Rock And Roll (2008) which contains 107 recordings spanning Orbison’s entire career.

“When I was a kid, my world evolved around a black vinyl record,” said Barbara Orbison. “How times have changed! Rock Band and Harmonix have given us a new way to experience music and now everyone can belong to a band. How much more fun could you have, than to play the opening riff of Oh Pretty Woman and try to sing like Roy Orbison?”

GameStop: Fitness for all | Buena forma para todos

Gear up for Overall Fitness in 2009

GameStop Showcases Games Designed to Shape Both Body and Mind

GRAPEVINE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan. 5, 2009–Are you looking for an alternative to working out at a gym for shaping up in the New Year? GameStop (NYSE: GME), the world’s largest video game and entertainment software retailer, encourages would-be fitness enthusiasts to embrace video games in their effort to shape up in 2009. By highlighting popular gaming titles that burn calories and exercise the brain, GameStop can show anyone dreading the prospect of the gym these alternative fitness methods that are both easy to follow and fun.

With the recent surge in active video games, which require players to either mimic the actions used in sports like bowling, tennis and baseball, or to flex their most important muscle – the brain – GameStop has more than 40 fitness-oriented titles for staying in shape from head to toe. GameStop’s “Sharpen the Mind, Shape the Body” in-store promotion emphasizes the growing number of active video game options available to help reach personal goals including:

– Wii Fit with Balance Board
– My Fitness Coach
– Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009
– Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day
– My Japanese Coach

As a special incentive, shoppers spending $34.99 or more on designated products from now through Feb. 22 will receive a free 12-month trial subscription to their choice of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, O Magazine and more.

“We know that getting in shape is one of the toughest New Year’s resolutions to stick with, especially for busy moms who often don’t have time to spare for exercise,” said Mike Hogan, Senior Vice President of Marketing, GameStop. “Today’s moms are looking for ways to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle. Active video games are a terrific way to reach your fitness goals, and as an added bonus, they can be enjoyed with your whole family.”

Studies conducted by the Mayo Clinic* have found that active gaming titles can help players lose weight and improve their motor function. GameStop’s expert store associates can help aspiring total fitness connoisseurs select the right titles for their interests and skill levels. For more information or to find a store near you, log on to www.gamestop.com.

* Mayo Clinic research study findings published in the January 2007 issue of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Association of Pediatrics.

Capcom: Games for 2009 | Juegos para el 2009

This press release is from Capcom Europe’s website.

CAPCOM TO DELIVER STELLAR LINE UP IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2009
Resident Evil™ 5, Street Fighter™ IV, Dead Rising™ Chop Till You Drop, Neopets® Puzzle Adventure, Flock!™, MotoGP for Nintendo Wii

London – January 5, 2009 – Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, has today confirmed that seven of its upcoming titles will be released within the first half of 2009. The line up demonstrates Capcom’s commitment to pursuing a multiformat strategy and growing its portfolio of titles and includes the latest instalment of some of the industry’s most cherished franchises.

Throughout 2008, Capcom was at the forefront of digital download titles and this is set to continue into 2009 and beyond. Its first downloadable game of the year Flock! is scheduled for release this February and will be available for the Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PlayStation®Network and PC platforms. Flock! sees players take control of a UFO that is tasked with herding animals to its mothership through a variety of interactive levels. With over 50 levels in single player and online co-op mode and a simple yet powerful level editor to extend the experience, Flock!’s unique theme, clever humour and easy pick up and play controls will ensure a new twist on the puzzle genre.

On February 20th the revolutionary Street Fighter series makes a very welcome return with Street Fighter IV releases on the Xbox 360™ and PlayStation®3 systems. The release date of the PC version will be confirmed shortly. The series which has amassed combined global sales of over 25 million units aims to put the fun back into the fighting genre and reignite the passion of the Street Fighter II era. Everything that made the legendary Street Fighter II a global hit is back in Street Fighter IV with the addition of new characters, including fighters added just for the console version of the game, special moves, locations and gameplay elements, providing challenges for even the most seasoned Street Fighter pro.