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Too late, too little: Games for Windows LIVE will be free

Jul. 23, 2008 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

When I reviewed Games for Windows LIVE last year, I wasn't impressed. And while Microsoft appears to be making the right moves here, let's be honest. This ship has sailed. Free multiplayer gaming has been available forever on the PC. So welcome to the party, Microsoft. You may find there's no more room for you at the buffet, however.

Introducing Games for Windows – LIVE, the free gaming service built for Windows that makes great Windows games even better.  With Games for Windows – LIVE, you get an online identity – called a gamertag – and a friends list that works across multiple games, the XBOX 360, and even the Zune music service.  You can easily find and communicate with your friends online with text and voice chat.  Earn achievements and Gamerscore that lets you track and compare your accomplishments. 

Play multiplayer games with your friends, or play against new opponents online using our exclusive TrueSkill matchmaking system – with other Windows players or with or against XBOX 360 players (in supported games.)

All of this is possible today – and at no charge.

Thanks Dave.

Not to really beat up Microsoft for something that may seem irrelevant, but I'd love for there to be some consistency on the Live branding stuff. For example, why is it sometimes "LIVE" and sometimes "Live"? Why is "gamertag" not capitalized, but "Gamerscore" is (see above)? Why is Xbox all capitalized above (XBOX)? And why is Games for Windows LIVE actually called out as "Games for Windows – LIVE"?

Silly.

Discuss this Article 8

meason
on Jul 23, 2008
now if only they would do the same to XBOX LIVE
Snakedoctor1
on Jul 23, 2008
Yep make xBOX lIVE free and stave off the PS3 advance. Never happen, or it wont happen until its to late.
johnbaxter
on Jul 23, 2008
The 50 left hands don't know what the 75 right hands are up to.
bennish
on Jul 23, 2008
i think you've hit the nail on the head there johnbaxter. that's always been their problem. Is Mr. Allard likely to change any of this now that he's in charge of this area?
Snakedoctor1
on Jul 23, 2008
Yeah he is changing it. In next dash board update your gamer card becomes a doll that represents you and if you have a gold XBox liVE account and a Netflix account you can watch 10,000 old SD movies...Woot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you can hear them above the fans on the 360.
Ocean
on Jul 23, 2008
OT Ballmer: >>Apple: In the competition between PCs and Macs, we outsell Apple 30-to-1. But there is no doubt that Apple is thriving. Why? Because they are good at providing an experience that is narrow but complete, while our commitment to choice often comes with some compromises to the end-to-end experience. Today, we're changing the way we work with hardware vendors to ensure that we can provide complete experiences with absolutely no compromises. We'll do the same with phones--providing choice as we work to create great end-to-end experiences.<< http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/144227.asp
yert
on Jul 23, 2008
I don't think the point of Games for Windows - LIVE is to replace marketplaces like Steam or to preempt alternative multiplayer schemes anymore. Games for Windows - LIVE can now just be added on to add cross-platform multiplayer and achievements with little to no cost. What I would like to see is older Windows games getting an update granting achievements. Thats the killer APP of LIVE right now.
Loiosh
on Jul 24, 2008
@yert That's exactly what they plan, to go up against Steam. They're starting out with demos, videos and movies. They're going to move to purchasable games in the future. See the Shacknews and Arstechnica interviews.

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