Looking online for video game profits. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. With Microsoft's launch of Xbox Live... all three of the latest video game consoles now allow players to do battle over the Internet. The Xbox has a built in Ethernet port for connecting to high speed cable or DSL services... .Sony sells a connection kit for the Playstation 2... .and Nintendo just started selling add on modem and broadband kits for its GameCube. While Microsoft is investing heavily in the Xbox Live service... .which will essentially be free for the first year... Nintendo senior VP George Harrison says...

"We're I guess a little more conservative in our outlook for the online market. We think while the consumers express a lot of excitement, they haven't yet shown their willingness to pay for it in any mass quantities."

Sega has the only online game available for the GameCube... and is charging nine dollars a month for subscriptions to Phantasy Star Online. Sega of America's Gwen Marker ...

"Consumers are ready for online gaming and they are willing to pay as long as the experience enhances their game."

Sega has online games available for all three video game console systems. It isn't yet charging for all of them. The question is... how many different subscriptions will online game players be willing to pay for? Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.