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GTA IV On PC Goes Exclusive With 'Games For Windows Live'

Posted by Soulskill on from the yeah-thanks dept.

Erik J writes "Microsoft has announced that the PC version of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV will exclusively use Games for Windows Live for its multiplayer mode when it hits shelves November 18th. Rockstar founder Sam Houser explained the decision: 'As we work toward the release of the PC version, Games for Windows Live affords us the opportunity to seamlessly translate the multiplayer console experience for PC gamers, the service is a natural fit for the platform and we strongly believe it will help in building a strong online community around GTA IV PC.'" Wired is running a story suggesting that this release could save the rather unpopular Microsoft PC gaming platform.

5 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Motherfuckers. by nog_lorp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wired is running a story suggesting that this release could save the rather unpopular Microsoft PC gaming platform.

    Motherfuckers.

    1. Re:Motherfuckers. by Bragador · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I agree with parent. This just forces games to be even more locked on a platform than before.

      This is not about saving or helping the pc market. It's about selling windows.

    2. Re:Motherfuckers. by Scott+Kevill · · Score: 4, Insightful

      This is not about saving or helping the pc market. It's about selling windows.

      And poorly.

      GFWL was originally Vista-only. The multiplayer support also used to have a yearly fee (aside from the gimped Silver plan), while disallowing developers to have any game features they considered competitive to GFWL's (eg. voice communication and achievements).

      So they release a multiplayer-only game ported from a console version (Shadowrun) using GFWL Vista-only, pay-to-play multiplayer. Surprise, surprise, it doesn't sell.

      They've back-pedalled somewhat now, making GFWL free and supporting XP, but they seriously shot themselves in the foot, and will have a long way to go before they reverse the damage done to the GFWL name in the minds of gamers.

      --
      GameRanger - multiplayer gaming service for PC and Mac games
  2. It really says: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Games for Windows Live affords us the opportunity to seamlessly translate the multiplayer console experience for PC gamers" (Microsoft paid us like, a lot of money to do this, if you want to play it without errors get a console.)

  3. Wait, what? by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Rockstar founder Sam Houser explained the decision: 'They paid us. Cash. A big green pile of the stuff. We had our own code for it, but nobody was paying us to use it. They said we have to spew some bullshit about how great it is without making it sound like it's about the money. Whatever. I can do that.'

    There. Fixed that for him.