Ed Fries discusses the Xbox launch lineup

Yesterday, Microsoft announced its official lineup for the launch of the Xbox console on November 15. Highlighted by games such as Halo, Dead or Alive 3, Project Gotham, Cel Damage, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x, the launch lineup consists of 19 games in a variety of genres. Following the announcement, GameSpot had the opportunity to speak with Ed Fries, vice president of Microsoft Game Studio, about the launch games and the flow of first-party games beyond November 15.

GameSpot: The launch of the Xbox is next week. Are you more nervous or excited?

Ed Fries: A little of both. There's a countdown sign near Robbie Bach's office, and when I walked past that it said seven days left. So, that was a little interesting. We had to have our launch stuff in the can about a month ago, and that's when I was more nervous. Right now, everything is done and has been handed off to manufacturing. Actually, we're always shipping new stuff, so that nervousness doesn't really go away. So, aside from the launch titles, we have games like Amped, which is in certification, and Bloodwake. Those games will arrive after launch.

GS: The lineup has really come together with a good mix of first- and third-party games. What games stand out for you in the launch lineup?

EF: Depends on what kind of game you're into. If you're looking for a killer action game, then your choice is definitely Halo. If you're into racing games, Project Gotham Racing is a great option. Sports fans will be really happy with what our team has been able to do with NFL Fever 2002. EA's Madden is a great game, but Fever's visuals really show off what you can do when you work specifically with the Xbox from the start. Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee is good if you're more into the character-based platform thing. It really works for younger kids. Of course, Dead or Alive 3 is an amazing game, if you're into fighters.

GS: In previous interviews, Microsoft reps have said that if you had wanted to, you could have launched with a lot more games. What are some notable games that might have been in the launch lineup, but missed it?

EF: There are four game that we're not shipping: Amped, Azurik, Nightcaster, and Bloodwake. We have five amazing games at launch and a lot of great third-party support, so we felt we could hold off some of those games. We said, "Hey let's go ahead and let the consumers enjoy these launch games at launch." Azurik is pretty much done and will be out in December. Nightcaster is coming out early next year, as is Bloodwake. Amped will be out around Thanksgiving.

GS: What are some notable first-party games that will be released next year?

EF: By the spring you will see games like NBA Inside Drive 2002, our first-party basketball game. We also have Rallisport Challenge, which is looking excellent. Then there is Brute Force, our squad-based action game, which is being developed by Digital Anvil. All those games will be out here by the spring of 2002. Then you have our first-party games in Japan--games that were shown at TGS, like Nezmix and others.

GS: Other first-party games like Unseen and Brute Force have only been briefly discussed. And you know that consumers are interested in what's coming a year from now as much as they are about the launch games. Can you talk about those two games specifically?

EF: Unseen, I can't really talk about much. As I said, Brute Force is being developed by Digital Anvil. The game has been in development for about three years. It is a squad-based action game and has four very unique characters. When you're controlling one of the four characters, the others will follow your action. You can also give orders to your teammates to do different things. When we put the video clip of that game out, we got a lot of questions about whether it was prerendered or real time. So, it is really a great-looking game.

GS: When we talked last time, you said that about 50 percent of Xbox units will be available as stand-alone, as opposed to in bundles. Now numbers like 300,000 units at launch are being thrown around. What are the chances of consumers getting an Xbox at launch and getting it as a stand-alone console for $299?

EF: I saw some launch numbers last night that were really final, and I can say that we will still have 50 percent of the units as stand-alone. I'm glad it turned out that way, because I can stand strongly behind my comment to you. [laughs]

GS: So those final numbers, do you have any specifics for us?

EF: I can't really talk about specific launch units, but let me give you a little scoop. I can tell you that we made 27,000 units last Friday alone. That's more than Sony was manufacturing PS2s, in a week, when it first launched. And our facilities are manufacturing units six days a week, so you can do the math.

GS: Thanks for your time, Ed.

EF: Thank you.