In this brief history of Microsoft's first involvement with online gaming, Claudius Tiulea will lead you on an exploration of how Bill Gates' idea of the "Internet Tidal Wave" was turned into a multi-million dollar online gaming community. Included in this article are exclusive interviews with Steve Murch, MSN Zone's first CEO and Don Ryan, Studio CEO Manager for the Zone.
Online Communities have been growing rapidly since the early dot-com-boom. In 1995, Bill Gates had his own wake-up call. He wrote a book: The Internet Tidal Wave. It described the Internet and the endless opportunities surrounding it. Gates followed his own advice, and in 1996, Microsoft acquired Hotmail - offering free email services – and Zone.com - offering free online-games. The latter became the predecessor of Microsoft Games.
In May 1996, a small game-site known as Electric Gravity was acquired by Microsoft, and quickly morphed into being the new MSN Zone. Steve Murch, the first CEO of MSN Zone (1996-1997), remembers the way he set three priorities for the site: build a matchmaking ground for multiplayer games; combine free-, retail- and premium-games; and make it social.
