Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates surprised everyone at E3 today in a couple of ways. First, by showing up. Gates has never done that before. Secondly, by talking. And talking large.

In fact, the mighty Bill staked the claim that the Xbox 360 system will have a 10 million-unit head start by the time the competition, namely the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii, enters the market as well more than 160 games for X360 by the end of the year.

Gates went on to outline the company's bold new vision to connect millions of Xbox 360 gamers with hundreds of millions of Microsoft Windows-based PC and mobile gamers from around the world through the Xbox Live online entertainment network. Gates made the announcements at a press conference to open the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the largest annual confabulatory for the interactive entertainment industry.

Dubbed "Live Anywhere," the initiative puts gamers at the center of a ubiquitous, always-on world where their digital identities, games, friends and digital entertainment are always accessible through the familiar Xbox Live interface, regardless of location or device. The plan also clears the way for groundbreaking cross-platform gameplay scenarios, with participants using Windows-based PCs, mobile phones and Xbox 360 consoles to play together simultaneously.

Microsoft expects more than 6 million gamers to be connected to the Xbox Live network, by this time next year. In addition, with more than 25 million casual gamers currently playing games on MSN Messenger and MSN Games, Gates outlined next steps to bring the Live Anywhere vision to fruition by also embracing that rather large-ish segment.

"By opening the Xbox Live entertainment network to the entire universe of Windows and mobile gamers, we're creating unparalleled gameplay opportunities that will drive incredible growth of the online community," said Gates. "Our vision is to deliver consistent, compelling experiences that make it easy for consumers to jump in and play, from any device at any time. It's a vision that only Microsoft can deliver."

Gates joined Peter Moore, corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division, on stage to announce a barrage of new game titles coming to the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista platforms and, as is the want of the preeminent hype & hoopla festival, made notable use of the word "stunning" as well as variations such as "stunningly."

Then Gates and Moore dazzled the crowd with an initial look at Halo 3, the hugely anticipated sequel to the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise. Enthusiasm for Halo 3 has been building since its predecessor, Halo 2 — launched by Microsoft Game Studios in 2004 — made history by becoming the biggest launch in U.S. entertainment retail history, with $125 million in sales and 2.4 million copies sold in the first 24 hours.

In the third chapter of the "Halo" trilogy, Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.

Microsoft Game Studios also lime-lighted some exclusive Xbox 360 titles, including Gears of War (Epic Games Inc.), Fable 2 (Lionhead Studios) and Forza Motorsport 2 (Turn 10). Ubisoft's next-generation version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent will also debut on Xbox 360, apparently.

Xbox Live Arcade is puffing up, too, with new classics like Pac-Man, Frogger, Defender, and Paperboy coming.

In addition, Microsoft Game Studios showed Alan Wake (Remedy Entertainment Inc.) and Shadowrun (FASA Studio), both slated for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. Bringing the Microsoft vision of Live Anywhere to life (ha ha), Shadowrun is the first cross-platform Xbox 360 and Windows Vista-based game featuring team-based combat that hopes to usher gamers into a new dimension (whatever that means) with a blend of modern weaponry and ancient magic.

As part of the Live Anywhere initiative, Microsoft has also announced new cross-platform accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel and Xbox 360 Wireless Headset, which will enrich game experiences on Xbox 360 and Windows. Like Sony's EyeToy, the new Xbox Live Vision video camera will allow consumers to customize their gamer picture, send photo messages, and video chat with friends and family over Xbox Live.

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