Games for Windows Live - expanded and free

[Siva]

Microsoft has today announced that the Games for Windows Live Gold service will be completely free from now on and that many new features and expansions to the service are planned for the future.

The most immediate benefit of this announcement though is that PC gamers will no longer have to pay for a Live Gold account if they want to go online and try a spot of Xbox 360/PC crossplatform gaming - excellent if you're a fan of Shadowrun or Universe at War.

Microsoft has also announced that it will be expanding the PC end of the Live service in the future to more closely mirror the benefits of the Xbox 360 Live platform. This means we can look forward to a Games for Windows Live Marketplace in the near future, as well as an arena for all other bits and pieces - demos, wallpapers, the works!

Games for Window Live will also offer achievements, matchmaking and other functions, meaning that Microsoft will be directly competing with the likes of Valve's Steam service.

While Steam has set the standard by which all other services are generally judged, Valve as a developer has indicated that it isn't necessarily interested in being the de facto digital publisher. If that means we can get Episode 3 that much earlier then that's fine by us!

Have you ever used Games for Windows Live? What did you think about it? Let us know in the forums.

About. Fucking. Time.

[Tonnochi]

lol yea, people will choose Windows over Steam.

[Allan]

lol yea, people will choose Windows over Steam.

Seems like a 'Lesser of two Evils' style choice to me.

[Dae]

Why is Steam evil?

[Mr. Tastix]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking... they brought out some pretty good games as far as I'm concerned. As for Games for Windows Live? Never heard of it but then, many of the "Games for Windows" branded games I can't play, unfortunately.

[James]

I wouldn't say Steam is evil or bad at all, I think people's personal preference about their purchases fucks them up seeing as they don't actually own the game but bought a ticket for it.

[Siva]

If Steam goes under I do not expect my money or my games back

[James]

I'd like to add that the next Xbox console is supposedly going to have digital distribution as its 'disc' format. I'm thinking install discs or some kind of ticket will be the retail distribution?

[Siva]

lol

no it's not

[James]

I hope you're not calling me a liar (or going to), this is a response to "Will Microsoft ever use blu-ray?". Find the article yourself because I ain't, it IS their focus. Infact, Kim Ray said it.

[Siva]

HEY

BLOCKBUSTER

FUCK YOU

HEY

DON'T WANT TO WASTE BANDWIDTH ON NEW GAEMS?

TOO BAD

HEY

WANT TO LEND YOUR FRIEND A GAME

LOL NO YOU CAN'T

HEY

WANT SPACE ON YOUR HARD DRIVE FOR CLEVER SHIT

LOL FILL IT UP WITH GAEM INSTALLS

HEY

CASUAL, WANT TO PLAY SOME GAEMS WITHOUT HASSLE

LOL NO YOU DON'T

[James]

Cool.

For renting: ticket rent will be a much easier service if you think about it, no thieving and cheap and useless if they keep the useless shit to 'steal'. I'm doubt the hard-drive will be of any problems either, and if you own the ticket say Steam you can uninstall and reinstall too. A win for rent stores.

Bandwidth wouldn't be used to download full games, seeing as they may as well be installed mostly through the physical tickets (in whatever form) I've mentioned.

Friend wants to lend the game?, trial/multiplayer only version available to those who lend your disc (or whatever) to. This only helps developers and Microsoft to stop lending. Preowned games will be removed making a better bloom in the industry.

Casual games can be stored on normal discs, as they shouldn't be too huge to install and this will give casuals easy access to their games still.

The more you complain it'll just seem better, lol.

[Siva]

I do not believe, we are in the age yet, wherein a download to play a game being your only option, should be standard.

Internet is not reliable nor fast enough yet.

Maybe in 2-3 generations, but not now.

[James]

Download

Digital Distribution

lol, I still have no idea what you're trying to prove.

[Dae]

What tickets are you talking about?

[James]

Steam accounts are tickets and you pay for your services you're allowed to use on that ticket. Only one person may use ticket at a time.

[Aidan]

lol yea, people will choose Windows over Steam.

NO


Steam has a giant population to begin with.. it is also free to use.. you don't even need to pay money to play any game online with steam.

Microsoft decides to suck you dry.. but still charges money..

[Mr. Tastix]

I don't get why you have to pay for Xbox Live either? I mean, the PSN is fucking free and you don't pay for multiplayer games normally on the PC either.

[Spiderbot01]

I don't get why you have to pay for Xbox Live either? I mean, the PSN is fucking free and you don't pay for multiplayer games normally on the PC either.

Well for the price my mates paid for their PS3, I get3 years worth of XBL with my elite anyway. I cant see me having a console for more than 3 years, so makes no difference to me.

Also, enjoy not having good technical support with PSN.

[Mr. Tastix]

Also, enjoy not having good technical support with PSN.

1. I don't own a PS3 so I won't be getting the supposed bad tech support.
2. How can you say they have bad tech support? Not all PC games have bad tech support and their multiplayer is generally free to play. That and not all the people on the end of customer support are stupid.

It's namely anything in the way of computers you want to stay clear of.