Review: Dragon Ball Z – Ultimate Tenkaichi (PS3)

We have heard this record being spun by Microsoft many times over during the last 18 months, about how Microsoft will put more focus on Windows as a gaming platform.  It has been said, but beyond a couple dozen games, there has been little to make PC gamers believe that their favorite tech company really cares about their platform as a gaming platform.

Today, Microsoft announced that Ron Pessner is moving from the Entertainment and Devices division to head up the Games for Windows division and all of its initiatives.  Pessner is stepping in the shoes of former boss, Chris Early, who was let go in the most recent layoffs at Microsoft.    Pessner made mention of how the company will be merging all of its PC gaming initiatives under the unified Games for Windows banner, including boxed retail games, Live enabled games, MSN Games and even Messenger games. 

Listening to that last sentence, I really have concern over the idea that the Games for Windows label could become synonimous with casual gaming.  I like the idea of gaining achievements, and I can live with the idea of paying for some DLC on the PC if it means that I can get the unique gaming experiences that I have had in the past.

There have been some steps in the right direction with Games for Windows, with Microsoft making the service free, adding a standalone client, and finally rolling out content for the marketplace.  Adding more arcade games, or a way to play your arcade games on the PC side would be a nice feature.  The fact that Microsoft is making a commitment, again, is a nice gesture, but following through with substance is the only way we as gamers will believe that Microsoft actually gives two shakes of a stick about PC gaming as a platform.

Either that or maybe roll J. Allard over to the PC games division.  He can’t do any worse than he is doing with the Zune.