Microsoft Corp and Electronic Arts Inc have agreed that ICTV can use their games during a live market trial of the company’s virtual personal computer system. Participants in the ICTV trial in Santa Barbara, California, will be able to play Microsoft’s Deadly Tide, Fury 3, Monster Track Madness, Microsoft Golf and Return of the Arcade; and Electronic Arts’ Extremen Pinball, Road & Track Presents: The Need for Speed and Fifa Soccer ’97. The ICTV system functions like a virtual personal computer enabling cable subscribers to play games and get high speed 10Mbps Internet access on their television sets. Consumers will pay a monthly subscription fee – $6.95 – which covers five hours game play and internet access.
