Games for Windows Live - how to fall on your face at launch

antti · 06-09-2007, 04:39 PM

With Shadowrun and Halo 2 for Vista, Microsoft has unceremoniously launched their Games for Windows Live service. It's essentially a Vista-only version of the Xbox Live Gold. They share the same subscription fee, one subscription is valid for both services and you can play with other Live Gold subscribers online using it for peer to peer matchmaking. The problem is - that's where the similarities end.

Read the full article here!

Langaleer · 06-09-2007, 04:51 PM

Interesting read! While Games for Windows is a good idea, its going to be interesting how it pans out. Yes the Live service for 360 has been a very successful one, but thats only because Microsoft has the final say on their console product. When it comes to PCs though, game developers can do what they like and still offer free online services - which in turn could kill off the Games for Windows franchise if there isnt anything really appealing to the mass audience.

06-11-2007, 09:18 PM

So far, everybody knows that Microsoft is just making a money grab on this.
Old news to be sure, it's funny that people are out there trying to make this work.
It cannot work. It's very simple: Games exist that are free to play. Shadowrun disappointed fans.
Thus, Shadowrun is not going to magically cause hundreds of thousands of Cyber punks to sign onto a pay service, despite whatever cost, high or low.

It's retarded that Microsoft would ever expect that they could market something like this.

People aren't stupid... sometimes they're just not educated. Easily fixed.

Pasi_FM · 06-11-2007, 09:26 PM

Games for Windows Live seems like a perfectly logical move for Microsoft, but somehow it doesn't look like they're even trying to make it work. They seriously need to offer good value for money if they want to get PC gamers on board.

06-12-2007, 12:13 AM

I WILL NOT pay for a horribly ported/made game, when for the same price I can get a superior game.

I WILL NOT pay for this "windows live" online service, when for FREE I can play multiplayer with my other games ( except WOW, but thats understandable.)

I hate this, and wish that this would die.

But it wont...unfortunately, people have already bought in to it, and now microsft has its foot in the door. pretty soon most games will me " games for windows " and "windows live"

The age of high quality games, and free multiplayer might be over quite soon. Thanks to the Halo kids, and the Xbox360.

ChristianIreson · 06-12-2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I WILL NOT pay for a horribly ported/made game, when for the same price I can get a superior game.

I WILL NOT pay for this "windows live" online service, when for FREE I can play multiplayer with my other games ( except WOW, but thats understandable.)

I hate this, and wish that this would die.

But it wont...unfortunately, people have already bought in to it, and now microsft has its foot in the door. pretty soon most games will me " games for windows " and "windows live"

The age of high quality games, and free multiplayer might be over quite soon. Thanks to the Halo kids, and the Xbox360.

^
That was me, not sure why it showed "unregistered" hmmm weird....

Jarnis · 06-12-2007, 10:07 AM

I actually wouldn't mind paying 50$ a year for Games for Windows Live, if...

- I would actually have multiple good games to play using the service. So far it has two lackluster first-person shooters - well, Shadowrun is not *that* bad - it's just far too limited for the silly 50$ pricetag.
- The voice comms quality matches TS and Ventrilo (it currently sure doesn't)
- GFW Live would offer same hassle-free demo download abilities as Xbox 360 version (no more 7439853798 banner ads, download queues and/or subscriptions to Fileplanet for their "exclusives")
- GFW Live would optionally also work as a separate app - even when I'm not playing a GFW Live game.
- Friends lists and messaging would Just Work - even when I'm playing some other game (if Mozilla can pop a small 'you've got mail' on top of any game window - even if it's bit ugly and flashes - so can GFW Live.

Considering the whole system would need a massive overhauling, I'm not holding my breath... but give MS a few years, they just might wake up and do it properly. They sure have the funding to do it, if they want to.

As it stands today, well... you can read the article. It sure isn't worth it now.

BKA · 07-04-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarnis

I actually wouldn't mind paying 50$ a year for Games for Windows Live, if...

- I would actually have multiple good games to play using the service. So far it has two lackluster first-person shooters - well, Shadowrun is not *that* bad - it's just far too limited for the silly 50$ pricetag.
- The voice comms quality matches TS and Ventrilo (it currently sure doesn't)
- GFW Live would offer same hassle-free demo download abilities as Xbox 360 version (no more 7439853798 banner ads, download queues and/or subscriptions to Fileplanet for their "exclusives")
- GFW Live would optionally also work as a separate app - even when I'm not playing a GFW Live game.
- Friends lists and messaging would Just Work - even when I'm playing some other game (if Mozilla can pop a small 'you've got mail' on top of any game window - even if it's bit ugly and flashes - so can GFW Live.

Considering the whole system would need a massive overhauling, I'm not holding my breath... but give MS a few years, they just might wake up and do it properly. They sure have the funding to do it, if they want to.

As it stands today, well... you can read the article. It sure isn't worth it now.

My thoughts exactly. My Gold trial has run out and there's just nothing there right now for me to cough up $50.

Reoryn · 07-04-2007, 02:30 PM

See, I don't have too much of an Issue caus Shadowrun is GREAT fun, and I already have a Gold Subscription for my 360 so it's just kinda.. .Meh for me. Certainly wouldn't pay for the Gold if I didn't already have it though - If you already have the 360 and a sub it's just an added bonus.

08-30-2007, 08:12 AM

I personally like the concept of games for windows live, I also like the above poster, have a 360 gold sub. But the added thing and flame me if ya like, but I have shadowrun for both pc and xbox, and thier are added bonus achivements etc etc. Thats not enough for a whooping $100, no. But me and my wife can play a classic, yet quite different game from the olden times. That said.. I am currently downloading bioshock from direct2drive, if it has achievments for the pc version im happy. If not i'll actually be pretty dissapointed. I currently run vista, so I get all the added bonuses that are here now to soon to come, vista is still a baby, so I dont expect THAT much from it, yet it is stable, it does run FAST on my system, and over all I have no complaints, and havent even considered installing XP on this system.