Microsoft New Zealand has announced its sponsorship of top New Zealand gaming team Online Gaming Addicts (OGA), which is currently ranked in the top three 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 skills of the individual members. The joint venture will see OGA utilise some of the best gaming gear on offer, and represent Microsoft at gaming events such as XLAN 2007 in Auckland this July.

Overnight OGA won the grand final of the Telstra BigPond Game Arena Battlefield 2 Competition Ladder agaomst Team AK ^ in Sydney. OGA won its place in the final after beating another top New Zealand team, Sila, in the semi-finals last week. There were 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.