Any degree you like

TECHNOLOGY: Microsoft hopes to create a gaming console market in India this Diwali with its Xbox 360.

Microsoft does not like to be left behind. That was clear even some years ago when the software behemoth entered the gaming console market to take on Sony and Nintendo. Now, finally, it is sensing victory "" globally.

In India, though, the battle for the joystick has barely begun, and Microsoft expects to play the market pioneer. Microsoft's entertainment and devices division has announced the Indian debut of Xbox 360 this Diwali season.

Mitch Koch, the division's corporate vice-president, global retail sales and marketing group, is confident that a market can be developed quickly. Product demonstrations could set off a storm of demand.

"With its high definition graphics and compelling entertainment features," he says, "the Xbox 360 will deliver mindblowing experience across genres of gamers, no matter what their personal gaming preferences are."

The Xbox core system (which includes one game title) would be priced at Rs 19,990, and the Xbox 360 system would retail at Rs 23,990.

The latter comes loaded with a 20-gigabyte detachable Xbox 360 hard drive for storing music, video and games, a wireless controller, an ethernet cable and remote control unit.

What about the software? Beginning with 15-20 game titles, Microsoft promises to add 10 titles every month to keep gamers on the edge.

Console gaming is losing out to Internet gaming across the world, but that doesn't worry Microsoft. It has a proven success record in selling software that maximises the processing power of captive-box chips (power that resides on your desk, that is, as opposed to power accessed via a network). The same logic applies in the gaming market, at least for gamers who like games with razzle-dazzle.

"The PC has always been our focus," says Ravi Venkatesan, chairman, Microsoft India, "it's Microsoft's legacy. Hence console gaming remains a lucrative market for us to be in."

How much will Xbox sell in India? Mohit Anand, the division's country manager, in India, is unwilling to disclose a sales target.

Microsoft will also launch its Xbox Live service, an online subscription service for its consoles. Globally, some six million gamers are expected to become members of this service by June 2007 "" to get the best online backup.

Xbox gets some of its competitive edge from its online functionality, even though Sony is trying hard to catch up.

So, will Xbox dominate the Indian gaming console market? It's likely, but not a foregone conclusion.

Sony has delayed the release of its Playstation 3, but it is being watched expectantly by gamers because the console is expected to feature a Blu-ray drive, a new format of DVD technology that hopes to become the market standard. If Blu-ray succeeds, it could offer significant competition to Xbox.