Dec 22 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) said on Thursday its $69 billion bid to buy "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) would benefit gamers and gaming companies alike.Microsoft made the argument in a filing aimed at convincing a judge at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to allow the deal to proceed, after FTC commissioners said the merger would hamper competition in the gaming industry in a complaint this month aimed at blocking the deal.Smith said in a statement this week he was still confident in the company's legal case but remained "committed to creative solutions with regulators."Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement on Thursday he believes that the companies will prevail in a legal fight with the trade commission.The U.S. Department of Justice recently stopped a $2.2 billion merger of Penguin Random House, the world's largest book publisher, and smaller U.S. rival Simon & Schuster."