Slashdot Mirror
Domain: gamesforwindows.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to gamesforwindows.com.
Comments · 14
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Re:Will never happen.
I agree. I had quite a habit at one point of downloading games, but now that Steam exists the games are -- in general -- easier to get and use than the hoops you had to jump through for pirated games (which, at the time, were still less annoying that the hoops the retail games made you jump through). Steam is successful because they offer something better than a pirated game. They provide value, and therefore get my money. They also have specials around most major holidays that knock the socks off of anything else. 75% off major games isn't uncommon.
The only games on Steam that piss me off are those which still use GFWL or some other third party DRM in addition to Steam. I do not buy those games, but because there are enough games for me to play otherwise, I don't go pirate them either. Steam cured my penchant for piracy more than any draconian software scheme did. Carrot > stick.
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Re:things to come?
Watch this carefully...if it works and is a game changer MS may well be forced into following suit and providing a forum for competition against their own very high cost products.
You are aware that Microsoft already has the infrastructure in place to do this?
Besides which, if MS had such a store on the PC that was bundled with the OS, they would still have control over what goes into said store, just like they do on the Games for Windows Live and Xbox Live marketplaces.
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Re:yeah, but....You are being disingenuous.
Top 6 results from Google:-
Why Windows Vista and Office 2007 are so Expensive  The Firefox
- Is Windows getting more expensive? - CNET News
- Windows 7 to be âoemore expensiveâ than Vista, XP
- Writing on the Wall: Why Windows is so expensive
- Why are vinyl windows so expensive? who provides them cheapest
- Omfg Vista Is So Expensive - Windows Vista and Windows 7
Top 6 results from Bing:
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Why are vinyl windows so expensive? who provides them cheapest
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Why are windows hosting providers so expensive? - Community Server
5 out of the top 6 at Google are directly related to what I actually wanted to know... articles about why Microsoft Windows is too expensive.
3 out of the 6 at Microsoft's Bing search engine return results for why their direct competitor, Apple, has such expensive computers. 1 more out of the remaining three appears to be somewhat related to my search by at least being about windows games, but no... look at the clip telling me why Bing thought this was relevant:Official Games for Windows Forums
Of the remaining 2 top 6 results, one is about vinyl windows just like Google's one stray result, and the other is about internet hosting companies charging more for windows based hosting... this is the only result that even remotely comes close to answering my question. So... 4 out of the top 6 listed look bad for a direct competitor and don't answer my question, 1 is irrelevant noise, and one is marginally relevant, but still noise. Bing sucks, and is certainly biased against anything negative being said about Microsoft.
Your link? Yeah, it's on the first page of the Google results, but it is the second to the last result, and is the only Apple related link, and even that link directly mentions Windows in the comments, and Windows 7 is linked all over the friggin place on this article's page! -
Why Windows Vista and Office 2007 are so Expensive  The Firefox
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Then where are HTPC games?Gamepads that don't suck? Available here. The general consensus on tetrisconcept.com is that the stock Xbox 360 controller's directional pad is horribly unresponsive for, say, twitch puzzle games such as Tetris The Grand Master ACE, Tetris Evolution, and Tetris Splash. That's what I was talking about. But you're right that USB adapters exist, and some PlayStation 3 controllers work fine too. Multiple controllers that plug into one PC for local multiplayer gaming without having to buy four computers? As if that were a problem with the hardware - you can attach as many USB controllers as you want, it's the games that'd have to support them. It is a problem with the hardware, or at least the operating system. The Windows API doesn't provide any way to address multiple keyboards and mice that have been plugged into USB hubs. If a keypress event happens, Windows does not tell the application which keyboard it came from. But you're right about it being a software issue when it comes to gamepads. Why don't more PC games have modes designed to run on home theater PCs?
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Re:"Games for Windows"
The "Games for Windows" campaign. I'm unsure on what the sticker requirements are for that MS programme, but I know this: I've not seen a single Games for Windows game that didn't require XP or Vista.
The requirements do not require exclusivity. And that's probably because you went to http://www.gamesforwindows.com/ where the downplay crossplatform compatibility.
In my opinion, it's Microsoft exercising a monopoly position in the Gaming Industry, but try proving it
I can prove it is not: Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy.
There may be two versions (I don't know) but I know it is an offical "Games for Windows" game and has an OS X version.
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Re:Where are PC gamepads that don't suck?Gamepads that don't suck? Available here. Exactly the same hardware that ships with the XBox 360, plus a driver CD. If you already have said controller, just download the drivers there or hit Windows Update when you attach the controller... Multiple controllers that plug into one PC for local multiplayer gaming without having to buy four computers? As if that were a problem with the hardware - you can attach as many USB controllers as you want, it's the games that'd have to support them.
np: Kings Of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With You (Riot On An Empty Street) -
Re:Not all games worth the same price.
Uh, no. You still get multiplayer (even a games browser!) with Games for Windows Live games for free, the paid subscription only gets you things like Halo's skill-based matchmaking system. For free, you still get: Friends List, Text Chat, Voice Chat, Multiplayer, Game Server Browser, Updates, and so on.
Or, if you don't believe me, check out this page.
According to MS, the free subscription gives you a Gamertag, Profile, Gamerscore (single player achievements only), Text and Voice chat, Friends List, and PC only multiplayer including Games Browser. Paying gets you Skill-based Matchmaking, Multiplayer achievements, and cross-platform (PC/Xbox360) gameplay. -
Re: WoW on Laptops.
Hmm. I wasn't aware of that. All of my friends who play WoW have spent hundreds on their machines. Plus I only have a laptop at the moment, so...yeah. Thanks, though, I'll look a bit more into it for when I build a new system. Was making a more general point, though.
Blizzard typically makes games that require "low specs" to play so they have a large potential audience. Any machine that's "relatively new" can run WoW with no problems. If you want to check, there's a Game Advisor on the Games for Windows page (if you are using IE 6 or higher) that has a DB of games, and it'll scan your PC (as long as you allow the ActiveX control) to test your machine's compatibility with that game.
Have fun.
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Re:kiosk
>It seems to me that there has been come change of nomenclature from "Personal Computer" to "Windows Computer" in recent years. Not too widespread, but still present nonetheless.
I noticed this too. Games are no longer labeled 'pc-cdrom' or 'pc-dvd' but 'windows cdrom' or 'windows dvd'. The entire games section at compusa was renamed from 'computer games' to 'games for windows'.
No doubt due to exclusive backroom deals by microsoft.
http://www.gamesforwindows.com/ -
Re:Where is OpenGL when we need it?
SDL is not comparable to DirectX in any way
From the SDL website:
Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to provide low level access to audio, keyboard, mouse, joystick, 3D hardware via OpenGL, and 2D video framebuffer.
From http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US/AboutGFW/Pag
e s/DirectX10.aspxDirectX® APIs gives multimedia applications access to the advanced features of high-performance hardware such as three-dimensional (3-D) graphics acceleration chips and sound cards. They control low- level functions, including two- dimensional (2-D) graphics acceleration; support for input devices such as joysticks, keyboards, and mice; and control of sound mixing and sound output.
No, it is not a joke. Yes, they are comparable.
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Re:"Games for Windows" = MS Monopoly pushWell, an initiative from Microsoft isn't necessarily a wolf in sheeps clothing. It might be an alligator in sheeps clothing or a giant mutated spider in sheeps clothing. The main thing we know about it is that it will be some sort of predator that eats sheep.
Seriously, though, I think this is actually simpler than domination of consoles, where Microsoft has been behind for two generations now. I think Microsoft is refiguring out how important games are to keep Linux and OS X from encroaching on the PC market.
Microsoft had a standard PC joypad in the past, the Sidewinder, so I expect they are simply repurposing the XBox controller to this task. From their About Games for Windows Page, "Games for Windows titles that support controllers are also compatible with the Microsoft XBOX 360 controller for Windows, including the XBOX 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows." So Dawn of War is safe for now, it's only games that use joypads that have to use the XBox joypad.
Yes, it's true, Microsoft would love to be able to sucker people into paying for each car in a PC racing game, but the PC is still an open platform compared to consoles. It will be up to the individual publishers to go along. (Mind you, I do know how screwed up Vista is, and how closed it is compared to previous PC OSs... it's still better than the locked down consoles from the big three...
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Re:Xbox?
now that Microsoft has a console, we are supposed to stop gaming on PCs?
Nope. Apparently you haven't heard about Microsoft's efforts to revitalize PC gaming. Well, now you have. -
Re:Used to be True..
Not to mention the fact that the whole 'Games for Windows' platform that microsoft is hyping so badly has a number of mandatory requirements, the FIRST of which is that the game MUST use DirectX as the default renderer for the game.
Unless you can provide a citation, I'd say you're pulling that out of your ass. The wikipedia article makes absolutely no mention of of Direct X. Nor does the official games for windows page. Thanks for the pointless rant.
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Re:360 Controller Requirement
http://www.gamesforwindows.com/games/CompanyOfHer
o es/gamesDetail.aspx I haven't noticed that it supports a gamepad when I played it. Let me reiterate: only games that support gamepads at all have to have 360 controller compatibility.