Microsoft Edges Closer to Sony in Cyber Games "Microsoft Corp on Tuesday took a step closer to arch rival Sony Corp in the budding world of cyber video games, unveiling a $54.5 plug-and-play starter kit for its Xbox game console in Japan. ... The U.S. software giant also said 39 game makers would offer a total of 47 titles for its online game service, ``Xbox Live,'' set for a worldwide launch this autumn. ... The starter kit covers the cost of subscription fees for the first 12 months and a headset for chatting online while playing games over the Web. Last month it said it would sell the kit for $49 in the United States."