Microsoft Says Games For Windows Is Great, Where Are the Live Games?

By Joe Haygood | June 26, 2008

So Microsoft has sent out a letter praising the success of the Games for Windows branding, and how it is helping the gaming market on the PC.  Suspiciously absent however is any real mention of the Games for Windows Live platform and what Microsoft has done to boost that initiative.  The letter is also absent of any news regarding Microsoft and the PC Gaming Alliance, the great alliance that is supposed to save PC Gaming from the death that it has been alleged of for the last 10 years.

I don’t have any qualms with Microsoft and their Games for Windows labeling.  I have actually been very vocal in our podcasts and in articles here on Aeropause about how much I enjoy it, and that I wish they would put the performance index score on the back of the box to make it perfect.  I don’t know if the branding has saved computer gaming, but I do feel that it gives the games a more unified look and style that tells people, “Hey, these games run on your PC.”

However, I think that PC still sits as the red-headed stepchild in the Microsoft family of gaming.  First off, go over to the Microsoft Official Games for Windows website.  Why is it that two and a half months after Games for Windows Magazine shut down, they still have a link for it on the site?  Even better, up until a month ago, I believe the subscribe link tried to go to the subscription page, before it would finally time out.  And why does the Live page still start off talking about Halo 2 for Vista and Shadowrun as top notch Games for Windows Live titles?  Halo 2 is decent, IF YOU HAVE VISTA, and Shadowrun is only now worth the money for what you get.

Microsoft also seems to ignore the idea that Games for Windows Live even exists anymore.  I mean, why can’t I find a good listing under the Live tab of games that support Games for Windows Live?  I would think they could fit it there, considering it is under a dozen games that currently support it, with almost half being published by Microsoft.  Let’s see, how about Uno coming to the PC?  Oh, not yet.  How about an Xbox 360-like interface for the Games for Windows Live service?  Nope, can’t get that yet.  They did allow you to use your keyboard to type Live messages to other people.  That must count for something.  Why didn’t Lego Indiana Jones or Mass Effect support Games for Windows Live (Mass Effect did not even have the Games for Windows branding)?  These were two titles that will sell well on the PC, and could have raised brand awareness.  But no, Microsoft seems to be letting GFW Live die a slow painful death while still selling gold subscriptions to unsuspecting neophytes to the PC gaming scene who like the idea of achievements.

How about their involvement in the PC Gaming Alliance?  I thought I would have something to say on this, but good luck finding anything on it.  There is nothing whatsoever listed for it.  I can’t find any real news about it, with the exception of the initial announcements for it.  Needless to say, that can’t be good.

Microsoft should, for once, look over at one of their former teammates at Valve and see how a true gaming service works.  No one likes one guy taking over something, but damn if Steam doesn’t work as described and is a stable as can be.  And it is free.

I do hope that Microsoft decides to get the Games for Windows Live initiative back on the rails.  I think it could be a great boost for PC gaming, as we have all witnessed how gaga people go for achievements.  I have friends on my Xbox Live tag that have played PC versions of certain games because they wanted the extra achievements.

And take this all from a die hard PC gamer who wants nothing more than to see PC gaming survive and thrive in a console driven world, not a complainer or a hater.