XBOX Sold In Farmers - Santas Job A Little Easier

Media release: November 19 2003

XBOX SOLD IN FARMERS - 'SANTAS' JOB JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER

Farmers stores nation-wide are to stock Xbox games and consoles in a deal announced today. The agreement is effective immediately and both Xbox and Farmers say the deal is timely with the Christmas gift-buying season fast approaching.

"The console games industry is expanding at an incredibly fast rate and it is a market that we want to become involved in," says, Nick Lowe, CEO of Farmers. "There is a huge consumer demand for video-games and consoles and with Christmas just round the corner, this deal could not have come at a better time for us and for all of our customers."

Frazer Scott, group sales and business operations manager of Xbox says the company wanted its distribution to reflect the fact Xbox is an accessible and inclusive product for all people of all ages in all places: "With 300 shops now selling Xbox this is a great deal for Xbox, Farmers and consumers. It makes Xbox games and consoles more easily available to more New Zealanders. And Santa has come a little earlier this year when we dropped the recommended retail price of our consoles to just $349 last week.

"Our intention is to make Xbox the Christmas present you can't go past. The Farmers deal could not come at a better time. Xbox has some great retail game offers this Christmas too - The Beast, Music Mixer and the Xbox Live! Starter Kit will all be available through Farmers. Anyone, anywhere in New Zealand from Kaitaia to Invercargill, from New Plymouth to Napier can now buy Xbox consoles and games locally."

Xbox is now available in all major electronics and gaming stores in New Zealand including Farmers, Big Byte, Electronics Boutique, Bond and Bond, Dick Smith Electronics, Gamesman, Harvey Norman, Kmart, Noel Leeming, The Warehouse, CPI and other gaming specialists.

The Beast bundle

One of the first big bundles Farmers will be stocking is the Beast. 'The Beast' is jam-packed with content, including an Xbox console and controller, two great games - Midtown Madness 3 and Brute Force - and a DVD remote control. 'The Beast' Entertainment Pack has a suggested retail price of $399 including GST, for a line-up of goodies that would normally retail for more than $630.

Xbox Live! Starter Kit

The Xbox Live! Starter Kit comes in a bundle with Crimson Skies and Project Gotham Racing 2. The bundle hits the shops on December 4 and has a recommended retail price of $219. The Xbox Live! Starter Kit includes headset and full instructions.

Music Mixer

Xbox Music Mixer is already in stores. An Xbox Music Mixer and Xbox are all that separate you from disco heaven. Bring the house down with the only console Karaoke engine that lets players sing to nearly any song. Xbox Music Mixer comes with a recommended retail price of $89.95.

-ends- About Xbox Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. 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. Xbox and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

About Farmers

Farmers is New Zealand's only national department store chain and was recently purchased by James Pascoe Limited and Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited, bringing it back into New Zealand ownership for the first time in over 10 years. With 76 stores nationwide, Farmers has an annual turnover approaching $750 million.

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