If the World Cyber Games is the Olympics of gaming, expect to hear Microsoft's anthem frequently through 2008. The WCG today announced that the megacompany has signed on to become the premier sponsor of the annual gaming competition for the next three years.

　　The deal gives Microsoft a firm grip on the games featured in the tournament. All PC games will be played under the Windows operating system, and all console games will be played on the Xbox 360. Though the deal sounds like a coup by Microsoft, nothing much will change with the WCG; featured games in past years have all fallen under the same guidelines.

　　The deal will also see Microsoft providing software and hardware for all the WCG events, including both the US and World Championships, the latter of which will be held in Monza, Italy, in October. Interestingly, only one game selected this year--Project Gotham Racing 3--is a Microsoft product.

　　Tech company Samsung, who has previously hooked up with Microsoft, will remain on board as the official worldwide sponsor of the WCG. For more information, head over to the official Web site for the World Cyber Games.