 In March, Interactive Visual Systems signed a deal with Microsoft to set up a section on the Internet Gaming Zone in an attempt to compete with increasingly popular Internet multiplayer services.The channel officially went live in December 1997; the launch had been delayed due to technical issues with the software that automatically disconnected users from the Internet then connected them to DWANGO's servers.Bob Huntley had hoped the move would increase his service's user base, but it fell short of expectations.