TORRANCE, Calif., November 8, 2001 – Xbox Publisher Tecmo, Inc. announced today that Dead or Alive 3™ for the Xbox™ video game system from Microsoft has shipped to retail. This Xbox exclusive fighting game has been eagerly anticipated ever since it first floored editors at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May 2001.

"We’re pleased to ship Dead or Alive 3 a week earlier than expected," stated John Inada, marketing director of Tecmo, Inc. "This gives all retailers a chance to have the game available on shelves in time for the November 15 launch of Xbox. We anticipate demand will peak when the multi-million dollar TV ad campaign kicks off on November 11, 2001."

One of the most visually impressive games to date, Dead or Alive 3 is the premiere fighting game this holiday season, and it is exclusive to Xbox. Isamu Fukada, President of Tecmo, Inc., dispelled rumors that the title would be available on any other video game system. "Despite rampant speculation, Tecmo has no plans to produce Dead or Alive 3 for other consoles. Dead or Alive 3 was designed to take full advantage of and play exclusively on Xbox, which is the most powerful video game system on the market."

Thanks to the enormous processing power of Xbox, Dead or Alive 3 features 16 of the largest, most interactive backgrounds in any fighting game. Combatants can punch, kick, and throw other pugilists smashing through walls, flying over clifftops, and flailing into shattering ice columns. Fights take place in exotic locales such as a tropical beach at sunset, a snowy mountain retreat, or a dusty, electrically-charged pancratium arena. With the exciting Tag Battle Mode, up to four players can duke it out simultaneously, featuring jaw-dropping tag team attacks and throws in which two fighters double team a single character.

Much time and effort has been put into the production of the ending movies for each of the 16 characters. Each computer-generated ending movie sequence has been carefully crafted to tell the tale of the hero or heroine, so gamers can fully understand why the character is fighting in the Dead or Alive tournament. The ending movies were produced with the help of world-renowned CG animators and boast a multi-million dollar budget.

The gorgeous graphics of Dead or Alive 3 can best be appreciated on a high-definition TV, as the game supports the progressive display format (480p). Aurally, DOA3 is a powerhouse as well, supporting Dolby Digital 5.1 channel output. The game also features a soundtrack which has licensed music from Aerosmith. The songs "Nine Lives," "Home Tonight," and "Amazing" are in Dead or Alive 3.

Dead or Alive 3™ is the third installment in Tecmo’s popular fighting game series. The suggested retail price is $49.99, and the ESRB rating is Teen. Gamers can pre-order Dead or Alive 3 at Tecmo’s website (http://www.tecmoinc.com). For additional information on the game, visit the official Dead or Alive 3 website (http://www.deadoralive3game.com), which offers wallpaper, screenshots, and a brand-new movie of action-packed footage.

About Tecmo, Inc.

Tecmo, Inc. (http://www.tecmoinc.com/), well known for its hit titles such as Dead or Alive™, Ninja Gaiden®, and Tecmo Bowlâ, also offers a number of current consumer titles, such as Gallop Racer 2001™, Monster Rancher 3ä and DOA2: Hardcoreä for the PlayStationâ2 computer entertainment system. Other Tecmo titles include Deception III: Dark Delusionä, Monster Rancher Battle Card: Episode IIä, and Monster Rancher Hop-A-Boutä for PlayStationâ game console.

About Xbox

Xbox (<http://www.xbox.com/>) is Microsoft’s future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox will be available in North America on November 15, 2001 at the suggested retail price of $299.99.

*Reseller prices may vary.