Games for Windows Live

What do you all think about it?

I haven't read much positive things about it, can't recall anything positive about it. I read it's an annoying bloatware that ruins the gaming experience, most of the time.

Read others raging, they play a PC for a reason and don't want a console experience that Microsoft is attempting to force upon them.

Another stupidity some pointed out. Some games like Dawn of War requires you to still use GFWL even though they bought it on Steam. Redundancy at a new stupid level for gaming platform.

But I see more titles are being released requiring to use this. I haven't played any titles requiring it, but considering some of them.

The only positive I've read, I can chat with my Xbox friends. Personally I wouldn't care, as I really couldn't care less about the Xbox. So this is an utterly useless reason for me to play a game that requires this console service.
- Also I haven't talked to any PC gamers that would be interested in playing a game with XBox users.

Have some of you experience it and liked it?

 

I don't know what's all the fuss about it. It doesn't bother me at all.

 

The only experience I have with it is that it automatically logs me onto windows live when I play batman AA and street fighter 4. It is trying to be like xbox live for pc but its definitely not. But if you run a game that require it you wont notice it there and it does not affect performance.

 

But do you like it? Like I actually like using Steam, buying games, the chat system, it's all great to me.

But some reason Windows Live gives me the creeps.

Do you just tolerate it or embrace it?

 

Set an offline account and ignore it.

 

no problems with it. I like achievements and have a 360 so I don't mind it. I can see if ppl without a 360 or a Gamertag have issues with it. It's better off on the xbox but games on demand could be good if it offers lightweight functionality of what the 360 offers, since I feel steam needs competition.

And also this week until March 1, Batman AA is on sale for $12.50 on GFWL on Demand client.. can use your MS points too if you have it hah

 

I'm a fan of steam in game, enough that I'll add non steam games I have to it just for the in game chat and browser. GFWL isn't up to par, and the only reason I use it on fallout 3 is for the points, the achievements or whatnot. Apparently some of the DLC costs these stupid microsoft created points...but I'll play along because I'd like to get some of the DLC for free.

On top of that, actually using GFWL is pretty difficult. It's slow and doesn't respond to half my mouse clicks. Is this some ploy my microsoft to get me to buy a 360 so I can use a controller? If it is, well it's not working.

 

Well let's see.

1. On Batman AA: I couldn't enable PhysX until I updated GFWL but the GFWL updater wasn't working. I had to google around to find a solution. Why was PhysX tied to GFWL?

2. Bioshock 2: Why do I need to input my CD Key twice? This is sooooo stupid especially since I have to exit out of the game (alt/tab wouldn't get me back) copy the info from Steam, restart the game yadda yadda... I bought it from STEAM jerk-offs, not GFWL. You don't need my key so screw off!

3. Bioshock 2: Patch implementation on GFWL is clunky at best. I would rather skip it through GFWL and just DL it myself. "Please delete your profiles" "Cannot connect to Live" etc etc...

4. It is simply MS pushing their junk on us through publisher agreements. It serves no good purpose that isn't already served by something much, much better.

Imo Games For Windows is hardly that at all. I have more trouble with PC Games For Windows than PC games that are not. It's junk.

 

It makes me navigate an extra window (or set of windows) every time I install a game.

It pops up a glaring white, ugly, mood-ruining "You just killed the big scary boss!" achievement screen every time I do something that I'm supposed to do anyway. Killed my buzz several times in Bioshock 2. And I can't figure out how to turn it off.

GFWL can go to hell.

 

it doesn't bother me that much but i would prefer for GFWL not to be in my games.

 

+1, it killed Universe at War.

 

So far the it's been all negative. Even the people who say it's not a big deal do not like it, just tolerate or deal with it. To me that's a negative. I may just avoid these games that require GFWL.

I also do like games that run on their own dedicated server not through some other game network like GFWL or GameSpy.

 

I only saw it in 2 games: Fallout 3 and Resident Evil 5. The first time I used a disabler, and the second I made an offline account.

 

The Fallout 3 DLC delivery/install method thru Live was atrocious. I have all the PC content but ended up getting the XBox 360 GotY Edition for the convenience.

 

It's something I had to install in order to get the latest Fallout 3 patch to work without giving me error messages (annoying/irritating). I'm not into achievements and have no use for GFWL.

 

This
It works fine...?

 

Microsoft want to be more apple than apple does, involved with and controlling everything.GFWL is just a part of Ballmer's admiration of the Jobs business model, also like them heading to carbon copy the iphone with windows mobile in making it a totally closed system that MS has total control over the software and hardware.

I despise MS more and more, any game publisher/developer that uses MS DRM control will never get my money, I bought Bioshock 2 because I didn't even think about the wording "games for windows" as compared to "games for windows live"....I know better now, they can stick it where the sun doesn't shine

 

What the heck does GfWL do for you anyhow? I just launched BioShock 2 and it said there's an update for GFWL but it's taking forever.

I don't understand really what it is or why I need it?

 

From the other thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5946960&postcount=3

In the case that the other thread gets deleted:

 

You guys who hate it and want it gone should look up "Xliveless". Works pretty good for many games.

Also I need to mention that pretty much all GFWL games that have a multiplayer component do NOT use dedicated servers. It's the same P2P system that Xbox 360 gets. That needs to change before I think GFWL is any good beyond the X360 friend list communication.

 

Damn straight. I thought I'd play a quick half hour while i was waiting for someone, pop up box from GFWL for update and thought "fine it won't take 5 mins"........ 50 minutes later and its just finishing. My internet is in no way slow, nor is my CPU, leaving only 1 other option: GFWL is *proverbial*.

 

Ya my Bioshock 2 is now just hanging on "Signing In". What a crock. Absolute garbage, GFWL can go to hell.

GFW is an absolute FAIL ... why? Here is what the About GFW page says.

Really? GFW are easy to install? Bull-effing-crap. Like other software is such a pain to install/uninstall. In fact GFW games have always been way more a pain to install than any other game. I am 4/4 on this (DOW2, Batman, Bioshock 2, GoW). Some don't install at all (GoW).

Compatibility, Quality? My 4SS!!! Look at this thread MS, nobody finds any value in your product at all. Zip, Zero , Zilch. Because it barely works and actually puts more obstacles between you and playing your game. And the fact that you have to pad the About page with utter fluff and nonsense to try and hide the fact that your software is pure bloatware says it all.

 

It's obviously MS ploy to bring a more social, console like experience to the PC. Also, by requiring it with the main piece of software, it can act as a verification tool as well. Sure Steam is similar in function, but not in how it's deployed. Steam at least automatically updates a title instead of telling you halfway through the game start up as you're more than ever ready to play the game. MS seems to think that the GfWL functionality could also keep PC gaming on Windows by giving gamers the Xbox Live experience that we supposedly desire so much :/

If MS can't get you on the 360 (where they make the real money in gameing), then they want to get you at least on Windows because they don't want gamers to cause a shift to any other OS, though I've noticed that Mac OS X is sure getting alot of game support lately. Last week at Fry's Electronics I saw Bioshock for Mac. Who would of thought?

 

The worst I've seen is GTA IV, which requires:
-Rockstar Social Club (serves no purpose-I don't *want* to upload clips, just let me play!)
-GFWL (serves no purpose at all, except maybe achievements)
-DVD in the drive for copy protection
-product activation when you install
All the account login stuff can be automated and forgotten or set to offline mode (which nags you a couple of time each time you start the game), but c'mon...

Of course, GTA IV is an awesome game, but all of the junk above really detracts from the experience.

 

Hate it but ain't got much of a choice as more and more games , EVEN the one on steam requires it. There's no running way.

It's damn slow , using it to patch B.AA took more than an hour ....

 

I wonder if Valve/Steam has anything planned to compete? Steam is not required to play games. But if more and more games are being required to play with GFWL, it doesn't make much sense to have both Steam and GFWL if GFWL can do what Steam does, even if it's a complete mess.

I hope Steam fights GFWL and finds a way to ensure Game developers give the gamers a choice.

Maybe Steam moving Mac is their solution, let GFWL take over on Windows machines and them be relegated to a Apple machines. If that's the case, lol at them.

 

I dunno, I kind of like GFWL. I'm probably a bit partial though as I've been a Xbox Live Gold member on my Xbox and Xbox 360 since it first started. I think it's awesome that it combines my firends and achievements to one place, whether I'm playing on a laptop or my xbox.

Xbox is more social for me than pc gaming for some reason, and I enjoy staying in touch with everyone. After all, all my buddies have 360's, yet only a couple have PC's capably of modern great gameplay. Plus, this way they see what I'm playing and ask me about it, and can help spread some PC love to the console crowd. And that has to be a good thing.

or maybe it's just because achievements make me happy ha

 

Better duck now be77solo... INCOMING! LOL

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haha, probably deserved.... but, I like it!

EDIT: And how can u fuss too much when they are selling Batman:Arkham Asylum for $12?

 

?? Steam is required to play lots of games, and developers are using it more and more (MW2, anybody?).

I just wish that either GFWL or Steam would have a local save-games folder where all of your saves are stored so that they would be easy to backup. With each game setting its own directory, things get pretty annoying to manage.

 

Hear Hear! I whined about that several times here in the past but was met with a lot of "that's a dumb idea" comments. I wish all saved games would be forced to go to one central location like "Game Saves" (how original), or manually have to change game save location if you like it.

I'm not a fan of GFWL so far, it's only annoying.

 

I think I backed you up in a few of those discussions before Either of those two ideas would be great.

 

I support this!

It wouldn't be enough to make me download Steam, but it would be a step in the right direction.

 

WHAT A DUMB IDEA!!

bahaha, jk, I actually couldn't agree more.... I remember seeing a game save folder in one previous version of windows, always wished it would have caught on... seems to have disappeared these days though...

If only the Steam "cloud" idea was better implemented for save game files, that would be nice.

 

I think windows has implemented such a folder in the user space directory...

 

we can only hope for this to be true someday.