Microsoft has announced that it will sponsor the World Cyber Games through the year 2008. This is a huge boost in sponsorship for the World Cyber Games and will greatly enhance the credibility and hopefully media showcasing of the WCG.
They will be sponsoring by "providing hardware, software, Xbox Live online service, peripheral equipment, and marketing support for all WCG events."
-- Gamasutra
-- Gamasutra
This also gives Microsoft the exclusive rights to all the events limited them to the Xbox family of consoles and Windows based PC's.
What will this announcement hold for the future of World Cyber Games? Hank Jeong, CEO of International Cyber Marketing is very excited about the addition of Microsoft to their sponsorship panel; "Microsoft's support for the WCG further validates the growing global popularity of e-Sports. Having Microsoft as a partner reinforces the WCG's position as a pioneer of competitive gaming and as the premier event in global e-Sports."
We will keep you posted on any changes in format of the StarCraft: Brood War or WarCraft III tournaments if this does in fact impact those divisions of WCG. Microsoft's sponsorship will cover every aspect of the Games including the Korean and United States championships, and of course the Grand Final, which this year will be held in Italy.
Links
SlashDot.Org - Source
GamaSutra - Interviews & Original Article
World Cyber Games - Offical Announcement