Thrustmaster, a subsidiary of the French group Guillemot Corp and a leading manufacturer of video game accessories, is excited to announce that it has signed a worldwide licensing agreement with Microsoft.

The license will allow Thrustmaster to design, manufacture, and distribute licensed third-party peripherals for the upcoming Xbox™ video game system in North America, Japan and Europe.

Under this worldwide licensing agreement, Thrustmaster will use its expertise in video game controllers as well as its famous Nascar, Ferrari, Top Gun, and US Air Force licenses to provide a unique range of officially endorsed racing wheels, joysticks and controllers. The full line of Xbox peripherals will include all gaming accessories ranging from Thrustmaster's original Snowboarding/skateboarding controller to memory cards. Under this deal, Thrustmaster has the rights to develop game-specific peripherals such as a dance mat controller, light guns and other original concepts depending on the related games that will be released. Consequently, Thrustmaster's relationship with Xbox software developers will lead to unique software/peripheral bundles.

"Microsoft's Xbox is a very exciting console system, bringing new technological challenges and offering us the chance to develop an entire series of controllers to add to the Xbox experience. Thrustmaster has developed a reputation for building top quality products for a wide audience who expect a lot from their next generation console system and peripherals and we will use that expertise for the Xbox line of peripherals," says Claude Guillemot, CEO of Guillemot Corp. "Thrustmaster will work closely with Microsoft to take advantage of all the technical capabilities of the Xbox system and the Xbox games."

"Our aim with the Xbox system is to broaden the consumer videogame experience and ensure a perfect match between the console, the peripherals and the game." says Scott Loomis, Xbox Third Party Peripheral Program Manager. "Thrustmaster has internationally proven their commitment to providing a variety of innovative and high quality peripherals to enhance the video gaming adventure. We will work closely with Thrustmaster to ensure the best experience for our Xbox players".

Thrustmaster will be coming out with a full line of Xbox peripherals to be released for the launch of the Microsoft XBox system, in Fall 2001 in North America and Japan, and early 2002 in Europe.

Date: 2001-06-05

Posted by: Scooby Doo !

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