Games for Windows Live Shall be Free!

[Mr. Lake]

1up (http://www.1up.com) is reporting that the Games for Windows Live service will be free (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168931).

"At the Gamefest 2008 event on Tuesday, Microsoft announced that all Games for Windows Live multiplayer features are now free. These features -- including multiplayer achievements, matchmaking, cross-platform play with the Xbox 360, GFW voice chat, and more -- previously required a GFW Live Gold account. The change is effective immediately and across all GFW titles, both past and future."

In addition to that, they are planning on opening a new Games for Windows Marketplace, similiar to the Xbox 360.

Seems like Microsoft is taking a few cues from Steam.

[mastergeo7]

That's great! Pc shouldn't be treated like a freaking console!

[Smoof]

Microsoft is finally learning. At this point though, they may have already hurt themselves from it not being free at the inception.

Hopefully it pans out though.

[cppcrusader]

But, is it available on XP? As far as I know GFW:Live was Vista only, unless I missed when they allowed XP in on the fun.

[Kryopsis]

Excellent, now please do the same with Xbox Live.

[Citizen Philip]

Gee.. welcome to the starting line. Just follow the foot prints, if you're fast enough you'll find the dust - and if you're really damn fast, you'll find the person in last place.

[Exodus]

All I can say is..about time. We've had all of the options they demand payment for for free on pc since before the xbox. This will most indeed sway pc users to buy more gfw.

[Grey]

I've never expected to be still alive when Microsoft finaly does something usefull.

[Returner]

I wish they would do this to Live I'm tired of hearing the poor people cry about it.

[Emabulator]

That's an improvement for sure. With Valve's stats showing 85% of gamers still using XP they have a lot of lost ground to regain.

Now EA needs to pull their head out of their asses and come up with a better digital distribution system. I buy from Steam, Stardock (now impulse) and direct2drive because I can download the games again when I want to. EA gives you like 30 days and charges for six months of extra access. in other words.... no thanks EA.

[bapenguin]

But, is it available on XP? As far as I know GFW:Live was Vista only, unless I missed when they allowed XP in on the fun.

Gears of War worked on XP with GFW: Live.

[Disgustipated]

About a year and a half too late. Good job, Microsoft.

[violentp]

Crap, I just submitted this. I need a job.

[51|RandoM]

They need to roll out the standalone client that was mentioned long ago.

[Exodus]

If xbox live was for free that would pretty much guarantee the 360's dominance in the multiplayer this generation and lord knows when sony will catch up.

[cppcrusader]

Gears of War worked on XP with GFW: Live.

Ah, thanks bap. I was worried Dawn of War 2 was going to force Vista with this when I first heard the rumor of it.

[violentp]

If xbox live was for free that would pretty much guarantee the 360's dominance in the multiplayer this generation and lord knows when sony will catch up.

They both have their pros and cons. It's never as simple as the flip of a single switch to determine dominance.

[ÜberJumper]

This has been in the works for a while. Microsoft was polling developers about this at GDC (or some other event) and apparently the developers responded pretty well identically. You can't expect to start charging for something that they get for free elsewhere.

[MelbaToast]

It's a good start.

[Ancalagon]

Its good to see that Captain Obvious works for Microsoft now. Someone needed to tell them why their GFWL wasnt selling, looks like he was the right man for the job.

[Rogue_hunter]

They need to roll out the standalone client that was mentioned long ago.

This is the only thing I actually care about for GFWL.

[TrackZero]

Microsoft finally "got it". Good stuff.

[Grey]

This has been in the works for a while. Microsoft was polling developers about this at GDC (or some other event) and apparently the developers responded pretty well identically. You can't expect to start charging for something that they get for free elsewhere.

Indeed, Kevin Unangst spoke about this at the GDC 08 - probably because of the heavy critics from everyone.

[Thumper]

Wewt! I might have to fire up Shadowrun again. I wonder if anyone still plays it...

[oldjadedgamer]

They can only charge what people are willing to pay for it. People didn't want to pay so now it's free.

[Dukefrukem]

holy shit. i know have to buy Gears of War for the PC. Fuckin awesome.

[jeffbax]

Too bad Steam didn't already steal their wallet and shoes :p

[bean19]

I'm still not interested. The PC already delivers all of the Live features through free programs (except for achievements, but I don't care about those).

If they added something to the mix, then maybe I'd be interested. I'll likely be forced to join at some point if Microsoft ever makes their own MMO instead of abandoning them midway or to play multiplayer in some game, and I will, but I'm not interested. It will just be some bullshit I have to put up with in order to get to play.

[Exodus]

They both have their pros and cons. It's never as simple as the flip of a single switch to determine dominance.

If sony@home fails to deliver a fully featured network interface that is on the level of xbox live it very well could. Do you remember a time where pc multiplayer gaming enjoyed a game server browser war between the likes of gamespy itself and other various browsers?

I'm not saying Xbox Live is immaculate of any problems but it is a solid online component that is just right there on just being worth it. The more games that take advantage of it just increase how much value it has especially with games like Fable 2, Too Human and Sacred 2. I don't see any PS3 games offering the same capability.

A game like Little Big Planet could suffer a great deal if the network support for it is absolutely crap. It would be a disservice to it and right now until we see a real up and running fully working sony@home being used.. I am going to have to say xbl is the best online console service and it did not just happen over night either. They suffered an entire console generation taking big hits in the bank to get this off the ground.

Now sony has to start offering us an equally if not stronger online component because I don't know if you know this...the internet is kind of a big deal.

[HotCod]

wow they saw the first flaw in there logic... "games for windows life is going to be awesome... you pay us to let you do what you do for free with any other game ever and we'll errrrm let you play with xbox onwers! yay!" the only reason they get away with that crap on the 360 is beacuse it's a closed platform... there uses have no choice about playing online with out playing. I still honestly can't see how they thought that making people pay for live would work.

The simple fact of the matter is steam dose everything and dose it for free and has started to give out the tools to integrate steam in to games for free... microsoft's only hope is a large number of titles that have to use live.

Over all i am glad about this, it makes DoW2 using live a little less upsetting than it might have been... not that game spy was better but still

[cow]

Hmmm... that's funny, I was just looking at my 1 month of Live Gold for Gears of War PC, guess i don't need to worry about it anymore...

[violentp]

If sony@home fails to deliver a fully featured network interface that is on the level of xbox live it very well could. Do you remember a time where pc multiplayer gaming enjoyed a game server browser war between the likes of gamespy itself and other various browsers?

I'm not saying Xbox Live is immaculate of any problems but it is a solid online component that is just right there on just being worth it. The more games that take advantage of it just increase how much value it has especially with games like Fable 2, Too Human and Sacred 2. I don't see any PS3 games offering the same capability.

A game like Little Big Planet could suffer a great deal if the network support for it is absolutely crap. It would be a disservice to it and right now until we see a real up and running fully working sony@home being used.. I am going to have to say xbl is the best online console service and it did not just happen over night either. They suffered an entire console generation taking big hits in the bank to get this off the ground.

Now sony has to start offering us an equally if not stronger online component because I don't know if you know this...the internet is kind of a big deal.

You make good points. My point is that it all comes down to preference. Going free isn't enough for me to put it above PSN because they're both a cut below the PC realm in my opinion. My opinion is no more valid than yours or anyone and it's certainly no less. It's a matter of finding a service that caters to your liking. All these comparisons are really pointless if you think about it.

[jpublic]

Now if they'd just remove the fee from XBox multiplayer, I'd be impressed.

[Exodus]

Now if they'd just remove the fee from XBox multiplayer, I'd be impressed.

Exactly what I am saying.

[Demo_Boy]

MS congrats to causing FASA to go out of business because of the cross platform and $$$ implementation you had required for Shadowrun.

How about hiring them all back and telling them to make the next Mechwarrior game now?

[Returner]

MS congrats to causing FASA to go out of business because of the cross platform and $$$ implementation you had required for Shadowrun.

How about hiring them all back and telling them to make the next Mechwarrior game now?

Or a real Shadowrun game.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

As others have said - finally.

I still don't care, but at least they are catching on. I'm sure I'll play a few GFWL titles if they are GFWL only (like Dawn of War 2), but given the choice I'd rather use Steam.

[biosc1]

wow they saw the first flaw in there logic... "games for windows life is going to be awesome... you pay us to let you do what you do for free with any other game ever and we'll errrrm let you play with xbox onwers! yay!" the only reason they get away with that crap on the 360 is beacuse it's a closed platform... there uses have no choice about playing online with out playing. I still honestly can't see how they thought that making people pay for live would work.

The simple fact of the matter is steam dose everything and dose it for free and has started to give out the tools to integrate steam in to games for free... microsoft's only hope is a large number of titles that have to use live.

Over all i am glad about this, it makes DoW2 using live a little less upsetting than it might have been... not that game spy was better but still

I think that one of the biggest flaws of GFWL was how misunderstood it was.

Unlike Xbox Live, the free Silver account in G4W Live will allow for multiplayer gaming -- just not multiplayer matchmaking, or Live Anywhere cross-platform multiplayer, both of which will require Gold. - Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/14/games-for-windows-live-and-halo-2-hit-vista-may-8th/)

You still had free multiplayer, just no matchmaking service or cross-platform play. I'm not entirely sure if Steam even has matchmaking because I just play my favourite servers ;)

[mikeohara]

very nice MS, now all you need to do is move the GFW Live interface into a seperate, downloadable program and everything will be great again.

[Grey]

You still had free multiplayer

without gold you had no chance to create password protected games for example. It was a huge mess.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y108/Suicidal_ShiZuru/shrug.gif

Huh????????????

[Variable Gear]

This confirms what Randy Pitchford said on 1UP Yours. It's good to hear that Microsoft finally learned their lesson.

[oldjadedgamer]

MS congrats to causing FASA to go out of business because of the cross platform and $$$ implementation you had required for Shadowrun.

How about hiring them all back and telling them to make the next Mechwarrior game now?

Or charging full price for half a game. As good as Shadowrun is and I've played a crapton of it... it's not worth $60 bucks. I'm sorry.

This game should have been $30 or $40 and offered as download as well.

[biosc1]

without gold you had no chance to create password protected games for example. It was a huge mess.

Ah...well, in my defense, I have XBox Live Gold, so I had the full GFWL "experience" ;)

[Dingobloo]

Move alone, nothing to see here, just how it should have been in the first place.

[Wyrm]

Good on Microsoft for doing something that they should have done from the start, but still.

Hopefully, Sony will come up with a good enough online service for free that forces them to either 1) add more features to xbox live, or 2) make it free as well.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I have Xbox Live Gold, so I guess I had access to this all along. I never used it though. :p

[Fubl]

Or charging full price for half a game. As good as Shadowrun is and I've played a crapton of it... it's not worth $60 bucks. I'm sorry.

This game should have been $30 or $40 and offered as download as well.



Well microsoft doesnt have the digital rights for those games anymore so we dont have to worry about that Jordan weisman does again. the person who founded both games.... and clickytech UGH

[J3DI]

But what about the people who already paid for it? Do they get a refund or something?

[Wyrm]

But what about the people who already paid for it? Do they get a refund or something?

They need to get in line with the people who paid for the lifetime subscription to Hellgate: London. ;)

[Phanto]

That's great! Pc shouldn't be treated like a freaking console!

And consoles should not be treated like a PC ;).

[H.Bogard]

This is why Microsoft "gets it". ;)

[MelbaToast]

qzjbV-yTomY

[Borys]

GREAT NEWS

With Dawn of War II being the flagship GFW Live game and offering FREE multiplayer + achievements I can see Microsoft gaining lots of ground in the PC online space fast.

Excellent news.

Remember people: competition. IT'S GOOD. (Steam and GFW Live)

[ÜberJumper]

HotCod:

I'm pretty sure Relic wouldn't have been using GFW Live if it hadn't have been free. Which is exactly what their Q&A said... all GFW Live features would be free with DoW2. Microsoft's release just came later.

[51|RandoM]

I have Xbox Live Gold, so I guess I had access to this all along. I never used it though. :p

That is a problem with the current implementation, there is no client. To use it you'd need an enabled game and you would have to run that game to get access to the community features.

You can get a bunch of it via browser, but the important part about everybody seeing what everybody else is playing kind of fails if all of you are playing "a browser".

The way things stand now I honestly can see why anybody would pick GFWL over Steam unless they specifically want PC players to compete with 360 players.

[ElektroDragon]

Where all the downloadable GFW Live games promised, like UNO??! Wasn't that promised like TWO YEARS ago?

[Hemalin]

Where all the downloadable GFW Live games promised, like UNO??! Wasn't that promised like TWO YEARS ago?

Well, you can get Geometry Wars (http://steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=app&AppId=8400) on PC if you want it.