Only Two Days Left For Xbox Live Members To Shoot For Football Glory
Register NOW to be in with a chance of winning FIFA Interactive World Cup 2005
London, 9 November 2005 - Fans of the beautiful game have just two days left to register for the Xbox® LiveTM qualifying tournament of the second FIFA Interactive World Cup 2005 (FIWC 2005) hosted by presenting partners Xbox and Electronic Arts. Registration closes at 07.59 (GMT) on the 11th November. After six weeks of intense competition featuring EA SPORTSTM FIFA 06, Xbox Live members still have the chance of being crowned FIFA Interactive World Player 2005 - with the online arm of the competition cumulating on the 15th November.
Xbox Live members who think they have what it takes to challenge some of the best football gamers from around the world need to warm up quickly and make their way to www.xboxfiwc.com to register and enter the fierce online competition. The grand prize winner from each country will receive an Xbox 360 next-generation video game and entertainment system, a copy of EA SPORTSTM FIFA 06 and a trip to London on 18 December to take part in a knock-out tournament, which will yield just two online finalists from a global field of more than 2 million Xbox Live members. Those Xbox Live winners will then join the eight winners of the Regional Tournaments in the grand final of the FIWC 2005 on the same day.
The ultimate winner of the FIFA Interactive World Cup will be named FIFA Interactive World Player 2005, and take centre stage to receive his/her trophy among some of the biggest names in football at this year's prestigious FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich on 19 December 2005.
The current Xbox Live leader board reveals some interesting country statistics: The UK is currently top of the game and holds the number-one spot with the US working hard to close the gap in second place. The Australians are displaying consistent form; racking up an impressive seven hundred and fifteen winning games over the course of the tournament so far. The accolade of longest unbeaten streak also goes to the UK who have held out for one hundred and eighty-one games before being beaten.
"We're excited to be part of the FIFA Interactive World Cup and look forward to seeing how the UK's best football gamer stacks up against the rest of the world in London on 18 December," said Neil Thompson, Director of UK & Northern Europe Xbox. "It's an amazing time for UK football fans with the 2006 FIFA World CupTM quickly approaching, FIFA 06 having been released and the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2005 giving players across the world a chance to be part of the beautiful game."
With the FIWC there has never been a better time to sign up to Xbox Live. And with the launch of the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, there's even more ways to enhance your gaming experience on Xbox Live. Xbox Live is one service, so you can use your account on Xbox as well as Xbox 360. If you want to play online on Xbox 360 you don't have to pay any for anything else; gamers keep their Gamertag, Friends List, stats, ranks and achievements. It's simple to transfer your account - particularly if you have already linked your Gamertag on Xbox.com. That means that when you buy your Xbox 360 all you have to do is sign up on the Xbox 360 dash by following the clear instructions.
For more information on the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2005, please visit: http://www.FIFA.com.
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About FIWC
The FIWC 2005 tournament follows last year's inaugural competition, in which thousands of contestants from six continents battled for a place in the grand final. In the end, it was Thiago Carrico de Azevedo of Brazil, who was crowned the first-ever FIFA Interactive World Player and accepted his trophy alongside fellow countryman Ronaldinho, player of 2004, at the FIFA World Player Gala.
During this year's FIFA Interactive World Cup, gamers will also have the rare opportunity to get a sneak peek at EA SPORTS' next generation FIFA for Xbox 360, on which the grand final will be played.
About FIFA
For the past 101 years, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, founded on 21 May 1904 in Paris and better known as FIFA, has continued to provide the essential leadership role to the international football family. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the eighth FIFA President, Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland), guides the organisation today with a commitment to the evolution of FIFA as a modern and dynamic association. The basis of the world's football family is formed by FIFA's member associations. From the founding seven in 1904, the family has today grown to 207 affiliated associations, also organised into six confederations spanning the globe. FIFA's worldwide activities go well beyond its various competitions, such as the world's biggest single-sport event, the FIFA World CupTM. In projects such as the FIFA GOAL Programme as well as several other development and charity activities such as the SOS Children Villages, FIFA gives material, financial and promotional support to develop the game and bring joy to underprivileged worldwide.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS BIGTM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2005, EA posted revenues of $3.1 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
About FIFA 06
EA SPORTSTM FIFA 06 will capture the TOTAL FOOTBALL experience and gameplay of , while offering a combination of attacking gameplay, complete customization, pure authenticity and the deepest manager mode ever. This new version will also feature the most comprehensive line up of over 21 licensed leagues and 10,000 world-class players with an unprecedented level of playing surfaces and player models while attending to details such as authentic football boots from licensed manufacturers such as Adidas and Umbro and dynamic net animation at the scoring of a goal.
About Xbox and Xbox 360
Microsoft revolutionized the gaming industry with the November 2001 launch of Xbox (http://www.xbox.com), its first-generation video games and entertainment system, now sold in 26 countries around the world. This holiday season Microsoft debuts its next-generation system, Xbox 360, in Europe, Japan and North America, to be followed by availability in Australia, Colombia, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan in 2006. Xbox 360 (http://www.xbox.com/xbox360) is the most powerful video game and entertainment system, delivering the best games, the next generation of the premier Xbox Live online gaming service, and unique digital entertainment experiences that revolve around you.
About Xbox Live
Xbox Live continues to transform and unite Xbox game communities worldwide, with a presence in 24 countries worldwide and a global community of more than 2 million members. As the first and only global, unified online console games service, Xbox Live offers world-class games, intelligent matchmaking, tournaments, unique programming and integration with Xbox.com. For more information, go to 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.
Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U. S. and/or other countries. EA SPORTS TM is an Electronic ArtsTM brand.
Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Official FIFA Licensed product. The FIFA Logo ® 1977 FIFA TM.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Marie-Claire Suter
UK PR Manager - Xbox & PC Games
Tel: +44 (0) 118 909 4599
Email: i-maries@microsoft.com