Microsoft
and Exent Sign Digital Worldwide Distribution Deal
(Press
Release - PC)
BETHESDA,
MD - August 15, 2005 - Microsoft has signed Exent Technologies, the
global market leader in secure digital delivery of games on-demand, to
be Microsoft's first worldwide aggregation partner for digital
distribution.
Microsoft
has granted Exent the right to aggregate and distribute Microsoft PC
games, including titles from the popular Age of Empires®, Age of
Mythology®, Dungeon Siege®, Mechwarrior®, Rise of Nations® and Zoo
Tycoon® product lines, making some of the most popular game properties
available worldwide for the first time over broadband through Exent's
network of Games-on-Demand service providers.
"Microsoft
is committed to helping expand the PC game industry. By making our
titles available through Games-on-Demand services, we can broaden our
reach to new audiences and monetize additional release windows."
said Ed Ventura, Director of Franchise Development, Xbox Worldwide
Content and Marketing at Microsoft. "Exent's distribution
channels help us to extend the lifecycle of our game catalog and to
build a firm foundation for the future."
"The
addition of Microsoft to our growing line-up of game publisher partners
is a leap forward in the evolution of digital game distribution,"
said Zvi Levgoren, CEO, Exent.
"Customers
will be pleased with the richness of our expanded content offering,
augmented by the unique suite of usability features provided as part of
our services. We're delivering the very best user experience, which in
turn maximizes end-user acquisition and retention for our
customers."
Exent-powered
Games-on-Demand services enable gamers to quickly obtain full-version
games without the need to fully download them to their machines. The
EXEtenderT technology solution helps players to enjoy a console-like
gaming experience on the PC platform.
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About
Exent Technologies
Exent is the market leader in technology and service solutions for
secure digital delivery of gaming and application software for providers
seeking to distribute, manage and monetize a digital, on-demand games
and applications service. Exent delivers products and solutions that
support video-game publishers, broadband service providers, hardware
manufacturers, consumer portals, media companies, brand owners,
retailers and others.
Exent's
technology provides benefits in the area of delivery, security and
usability, incorporating a full DRM & management platform. The DRM
solution dramatically lowers software piracy and ensures enforcement of
licensing restrictions. Exent's technology is available as both a fully
managed turnkey service and as a licensed platform.
Exent
enables all standard business models -- purchases, subscriptions,
rentals, try-before-you-buy -- for applications of any size. Exent's
EXEtender-based products and services are currently in commercial use by
Comcast, Yahoo!, Bell Canada, Turner Broadcasting, RCN, Atari, Deutsche
Telekom, France Telecom, Telefonica, KPN, Metaboli, @Nifty, TeleSP,
Telstra, Telenet, Telenor, Fujitsu, Swisscom and other leading service
providers worldwide. Major shareholders of Exent include Time Warner,
Comcast, Concord Ventures and New Enterprise Associates. The company has
offices in Bethesda, Maryland and Tel-Aviv, Israel. For more
information, please visit http://www.exent.com.
About
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of
games for the Xbox® video game system and Windows and online platforms.
Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is
committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows ( http://www.microsoft.com/games/
), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®,"
"Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon"; Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com/
), including such franchises as "Halo®," "Project Gotham
Racing®" and "MechAssault®"; and Zone.com ( http://www.zone.com/
), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such
hits as "Bejeweled" and "OutSmart®."
About
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential.