THE economy might be slowing but that has not stopped more than 400,000 people from attending software giant Microsoft's three-day X08 video-game event, which was held from last Friday to Sunday at the Marina Square atrium.

This compares favourably with the minimum attendance of 700,000 visitors for each of the four major computer fairs here.

Generally, the fairs each run for four days annually. The X08 event showcased over 35 new games for the Xbox 360 video-game console, with about half to be released during the year-end holiday season.

"Xbox is relatively new to the video-game market and we want to win people over with community events like X08," saidMicrosoft's regional marketing manager for South-east Asia Alan Chou.

Microsoft started similar events for the Xbox console here in 2004 but it believes that X08's turnout is the largest for any gaming event here.

Comparatively, last month's Games Convention Asia drew over 92,000 visitors.

Game distributors my paper spoke to felt X08 was important to them. Mr Alex Toh, channel-sales manager of Infocomm Asia Holdings Games, said: "X08 gives us the opportunity to bring our games to people, especially during this period of global financial turmoil."

Visitors to X08 got the chance to participate in contests like The Straits Times Digital Life Rock Band competition.

Some even had photos taken with Miss Maxim 2007 Gui Xuesha and video-game character Lara Croft.

However, Xbox fan Jimmy Tan, 34, thought the previous 2006 Xbox event was grander and more exclusive.

"But it's good that we can try out games at X08 even before they are launched," said the technical executive. "And the goodie bag for Xbox Live Gold members like me is better than before."

Besides game paraphernalia, the goodie bags this year came bundled with two games worth about $70 each.

kennyc@sph.com.sg