Chris Early named GM of Games for Windows – Live

Only a week from E3 and already there seems to be some manager swapping. Microsoft announced today (July 3, 2007) that Chris Early will become General Manager of the Games for Windows – Live brand.

Early, who will assume the position on July 9, 2007, previously worked in the MSN Games and Xbox Live departments and is moving from his current position as the manager of Microsoft Casual Games. Bryan Trussel (interim manager of the Xbox Live Arcade) will take over the MCG position. As reported in the Microsoft press release, Early has a lot of PC game experience, previously as COO of GameSpy Industries and EVP of Mplayer.

G4W-Live is a Microsoft service that allows PC and Xbox 360 gamers to use a common friends List and track Achievements between the platforms as well supported games to be played across both platforms without additional apps.

I find this a particularly interesting announcement not in that it is an internal managerial swap but that it comes so close to E3. , Sure, announcements are common around E3 but ith so much media attention on the revamped Expo, it seems unusual of Microsoft would risk having a manager new to a division – even one as experienced as Early – tossed into a journalists’ pit so soon. Of course, the announcement was made today but that does not necessarily mean the move was not coordinated much earlier. I suspect there will be a lot of “Expect to see some exciting things coming from Games for Windows – Live later this year,” responses from Early at E3 – if he’s even there – with a Halo 3 mention thrown in for good measure.

Site [Games For Windows - Live] Read [Gamasutra]