TORONTO RAPTOR VINCE CARTER SOARS INTO STORES THIS JANUARY WITH "NBA INSIDE DRIVE 2002"

Basketball Video Game Will Be Exclusive to Xbox

REDMOND, Wash. - Dec. 11, 2001 - Microsoft Games Studios today announced that Toronto Raptors superstar Vince Carter will be performing his high-flying dunks for "NBA Inside Drive 2002," Microsoft Corp.'s basketball title for the Xbox™ video game system. This rim-rattling hoops game is scheduled for release on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002.

Carter, a two-time All-Star, led all players in fan voting the past two seasons and has established himself as one of the premier players in the NBA. As part of the deal, Carter lent his extensive basketball knowledge to the game's producers, and his image will appear on all "NBA Inside Drive" packaging and merchandising, including the inaugural "NBA Inside Drive" box cover. He also participated in a motion-capture session in which every detail of his game was recorded from multiple camera angles to re-create his shooting, dribbling, passing and acrobatic dunks for "NBA Inside Drive 2002."

"It was exciting to be a part of 'NBA Inside Drive 2002' from its inception," Carter said. "I performed all my favorite dunks for the developers during a motion-capture session, and I think the game turned out to be very realistic. I can't wait to play the guys in the locker room."

"Vince Carter's aerial exploits translate perfectly into the style of play in 'NBA Inside Drive 2002,'" said Ed Fries, vice president of Microsoft Game Studios. "The only way for fans to get closer to the action would be to step on the court with Carter himself."

NBA broadcast announcers Kevin Calabro and Marques Johnson have been tapped to call the high-flying hoops action. Legendary rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot and hip-hop group L.A. Symphony contributed musical tracks for "NBA Inside Drive 2002."

"NBA Inside Drive 2002" (http://www.microsoft.com/games/insidedrive2002/) combines ultra-realistic NBA action with a deep-season mode that includes a complete fantasy draft and full general manager mode. The game features every NBA arena individually modeled in complete detail and an advanced injury model with a wide array of major and minor injuries that affect a player's performance. In addition, players have access to team-specific playbooks that allow them to run the Lakers' famous triangle offense or the pick-and-roll of the Jazz. The ease of use and fast-playing NBA tempo lets gamers drive to the hoop and come off screens for a trey, just like the pros. "NBA Inside Drive 2002" will retail for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (actual retail prices may vary).

About Xbox

Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/) is Microsoft's future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful game experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in North America at the suggested retail price of $299.99.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.
 
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