Brad Wardell - CEO of Stardock:
Windows 7 is awesome for gaming. Well, it's just plain awesome. But the reason it's awesome for gaming is, amongst other things, many of the WPF calls that were done in software are now done in hardware on Windows 7 which opens up new types of .NET games.

In addition, in theory, Windows 7 should be able to make games more compatible than on Vista or even XP because if your card doesn't support say Pixel Shader 3, then Windows 7, in theory, is supposed to simulate it in software. How that will work out in practice remains to be seen.

And lastly, and again, I haven't tried this so I'm speculating here but Windows 7 has a Windows XP mode. One of the first things I look forward to trying are some of the games I have that work fine on XP but, for whatever reason, are flakey on Windows Vista (Railroad Tycoon for instance).

American McGee - Founder of Spicy Horse:
I've not yet had any experience with Windows 7, our office is 100% Vista right now. Regardless, i think PC gaming (as we've known it) is on its way out. A new OS isn't going to reverse the current trends (pirating of PC content being the biggest factor). Things are moving online with item-based or subscription-based games. Look to China if you want to see the future. :)

Charlie Cleveland - Founder of Unknown Worlds:
No, I don't think the launch of Windows 7 will spur a bigger interest in PC gaming. There are lots of things we dislike about our computers but it doesn't stop us from using them! Vista is not a pleasant OS to use, but I think most people just dealt with it or skipped the upgrade. If they switched to a Mac because of it then I guess I could see some people switching back to their PC because of a decent new OS, but that seems pretty minor to me.

PC gaming is alive and well and still has the biggest user-base on the planet. It doesn't need any help!

Randy Pitchford - Head of Gearbox Software:
I'm always hopeful for gaming on PC to trend upward and hope that Windows 7 can offer some things to help. Windows 7 is not being pushed as a gaming platform and no specific features or benefits of Windows 7 as a gaming platform are being promoted to PC customers in a meaningful way. So, from a marketing point of view, I do not expect Windows 7 to sell the PC platform to gamers who aren't already there.

For gamers who are already there, a new operating system typically adds to the risk of user base fragmentation and performance, stability or function challenges with the different Windows platforms and this risk typically doesn't help grow gaming.

Frank Wilson - CTO at Twisted Pixel Games:
There's really no reason that it would. It's just a new operating system....it's not going to change the way people play games. Those who play games on gaming consoles will continue to do so. Those who play web-based games will continue to do that as well. And, those who play PC games will continue to do that.