This morning, we're kicking off an event in New York and San Francisco, giving the press and community an indepth look at some upcoming games, in anticipation of next week's launch of Windows Vista. 

Peter Moore just sent an open letter to the media:

For the first time in Microsoft’s history, we’re releasing an operating system built from the ground up with gaming as a core scenario.  With a worldwide presence of over 200 million gamers of all stripes, we’re taking the world’s most popular gaming platform and making it easier, safer, and more fun for everyone, while delivering new technologies that will deliver the most powerful, most immersive, most innovative gaming experiences to the Windows platform. 

Unlike any OS before, we’re driving Windows Vista as a true gaming platform, complete with a broad  marketing campaign that introduces the Games for Windows brand, complemented by ground-breaking branded titles from Microsoft Game Studios as well as from many of the world’s leading game developers. We are also investing in a more consistent brand presence at retail that will create a true category that will easy for the consumer to discover and navigate.

He goes on to thank those involved in the launch, including many of our community members, bloggers, MVPs, and active forum members. 

For everyone who’s had even the slightest hand in bringing Games for Windows and Windows Vista to the consumer, you have my deepest appreciation and thanks.  Together you’ve taken the most popular and historic gaming platform ever created and breathed new life into it, allowing great gaming innovations of the future to continue to happen on Windows.

Look for more news and photos from Chris (in San Francisco) and Sara and me (in New York). 

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