Microsoft sponsors top NZ online gaming team

Microsoft sponsors top New Zealand online gaming team
New Zealand gaming clan Online Gaming Addicts
to take on Australian team in grand final

Auckland, New Zealand – May 23, 2007 – Microsoft New Zealand has announced its sponsorship of top New Zealand gaming team Online Gaming Addicts (OGA), which is currently ranked in the top 3 online gaming teams in New Zealand and Australia.

“We’re proud to support OGA and reinforce our commitment to New Zealand’s growing gaming community,” says Danica Aitken, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware New Zealand

“We look forward to giving OGA that extra edge by providing them with high-end gaming peripherals such as the Habu Mouse, Reclusa keyboard (due for release in June), and LifeChat headsets.”

OGA was chosen by Microsoft for its strong track record in Australia and New Zealand and the advanced skills of the individual members. The joint venture will see OGA utilise some of the best gaming gear on offer, and represent Microsoft at premier gaming events such as xLan 2007, the largest gaming tournament in New Zealand which attracts upwards of 700 competitors.

OGA will compete in the grand final in the Telstra BigPond Game Arena Battlefield 2 Competition Ladder taking place in Sydney, Australia tonight. Currently ranked 2nd, OGA will take on Australian team Team aK ^ after beating another top New Zealand team, Sila, in the semi-finals last week. There are currently 75 teams registered in the competition.

OGA’s co- founder Russell Goulter says the sponsorship between the Online Gaming Addicts and Microsoft is an important step in the right direction for the New Zealand gaming community.

“OGA is a very competitive team in a rapidly growing online gaming environment. The relationship benefits us hugely, and will help boost Microsoft’s profile in a market that can be hard to reach.”

Together, Microsoft and OGA hope to promote competitive online gaming in New Zealand and help support and develop Kiwi gaming’s profile on the world stage.

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About Online Gaming Addicts
The Online Gaming Addicts (OGA) Online Gaming Team www.ogaclan.com was formed in July 2004. It was formed as a result of the fast growing online internet gaming trend where groups of computer gamers would gather and form a team to compete in competition events and competition ladders hosted by Internet Service Providers and Technology companies.

OGA is one of the largest, well known Online Gaming Teams in New Zealand. OGA currently has 27 players in its team line up.

OGA prides itself in being a mature team and most players range between 20 and 30 years of age. Members and potential applicants must show they are team players with serious and mature attitudes.

About Microsoft Hardware
For more than two decades, the Hardware Group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft IntelliMouse® Explorer, which launched in 1999, earned a place on PCWorld.com’s December 2005 list of “The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years” as the first mainstream optical mouse that “brought gunk-free pointing devices” to a broad consumer base.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

Information contained herein relates to a pre-release products that may be substantially modified before their first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the products when first commercially released. This document is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to this document or the information contained in it.

Microsoft, Reclusa and Habu are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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