What exactly does Games for Windows Live do?

I have Batman Arkham Asylum and Bioshock 2. Both use "Games for Windows Live". When I started Bioshock 2 it said there's an update, I said OK, update, but it's taking forever to update.

What exactly does GfWL do for you anyhow? Do I really need it?

 

Nevermind... I somehow missed the post a few below mine. Feel free to delete this thread.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=463038

 

I think that GFWL is just a games client or something, where you can download DLC's and games. So it's pretty much a PC version of Xbox LIVE. Or it could be compared to Steam, I think they are both pretty much the same thing, except Steam is A LOT better.

It's pretty much LIVE for the PC. You use the same Gamertag for XBL and GFWL, and you have the same profile details, same friends, etc.

 

Also you get Achievements just like you do on a X360 game.

 

GFWL gives you migraines.


Do you really need it? Probably. For most GFWL enabled games it's the only way to get updates and/or DLC. It also keeps track of a game's achievement points if you're into that sort of thing. There are ways to circumnavigate in using GFWL but in my experience it can be trial & error. Whichever way you go, Live or otherwise, it could prove problematic.

http://www.microsoft.com/games/en-us/aboutgfw/pages/gamesforwindows.aspx

[edit] I see there are replies now in the time it took me to write mine. Oh well.

 

There's also a wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_for_Windows

A little-known (and thankfully under-used) feature "Tray & Play" seeks to emulate a console further by allowing streaming of the game content from the game disc so that you can play the game as soon as you insert it, while it installs in the background.

bleh

 

Yeah, I don't care for achievements though. I'm happy enough knowing that I have completed a game, I don't a couple of little entries that say I did something, for an ego booster.

 

I could care less about achivements, unless it gets me free stuff.

 

Yeah i'm not into achievements either but funny you should mention that because MS is looking into turning achievements into marketplace points. I don't know how they plan on doing that but I read that they are looking into that.

 

GFWL is a DRM alternative some developers turn to.
Really like using Steam myself, but thanks to the pricier Euro = Dollar and DRM im looking for alternative ways of buying my games.
Really grown a liking to Impulse myself as the games are fully playable offline without making a "offline account".
(And the games are bought with dollars, so extra savings.)

 

^This. I've always been a proponent of Impulse. They may not always carry the big mainstream titles as Steam but their prices and DRM philosophy is great.

 

Continue discussion there then. Thanks.