Microsoft (attempts) to challenge Steam with new game download service

[woodyear99]

Competition is always good, hopefully this will equal WIN for the consumer.....

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/15/microsoft-attempts-to-challenge-steam-with-new-game-download-s/

It's called Games on Demand (not quite as punchy as 'Steam'), and it's now part of the Games for Windows LIVE platform. While the list of big-name games available at launch is short -- Resident Evil 5 is the only stand-out title -- there is the usual slew of cheap-and-cheerful titles available, like the wonderful World of Goo (as reviewed in our Holiday Gift Guide).

Games on Demand will enable Windows users to purchase LIVE-enabled games directly from the Games for Windows LIVE app. Microsoft's mission? "Our goal has always been to create a seamless online gaming experience for the Windows community, and Games on Demand is a great step toward that end."

It's not initially clear what Microsoft intends to bring to the market with Games for Windows LIVE. It's basically a clone of Xbox LIVE: achievements, gamerscores, voice chat -- it's all there. But other than 'TrueSkill' matchmaking, I can't really see what Games for Windows LIVE brings to the dirty, sticky, crumb-strewn gaming table.

It's clear that Microsoft has decided to turn its steady, Sauron'ish gaze upon Valve's Steam. It's clear that they fancy a bit of Steam's lucrative, virtual monopoly of the PC games-on-demand market. What isn't so clear is just how they're going to dissolve Valve's empire. It takes work to integrate games into a framework such as Steam or Games for Windows; Microsoft better have something juicy up its sleeve to entice game developers. Like, er, paying the developers for exclusive distribution rights. I can hardly wait...

[Crixx_Creww]

we are the borg
resistance is futile
all your game will be absorbed into the collective

[TriniXaeno]

It's clear that Microsoft has decided to turn its steady, Sauron'ish gaze upon Valve's Steam.

hahahaha

but yes, I think it will be a good thing in the long run. Just as xbox live turned out to be.

[Arcmanov]

Well, we play all the PC games on their  OS any damn way.  It was only a matter of time.

Xbox Live is a stellar service as it is.  This service is just as extension of that.  Only difference is the platform.
Seeing as they now have to compete directly with Steam, lets hope their prices will be just as good.  Especially the sale prices.

[Redlum08]

Why can't they just implement a PC Live service, I mean the infrastructure already in place with Xbox Live, they have a working successful model to run with, I can't see why they can't provide a similar service with a subscription to game online with the games they providing for download....

[Philosophical45]

Why can't they just implement a PC Live service, I mean the infrastructure already in place with Xbox Live, they have a working successful model to run with, I can't see why they can't provide a similar service with a subscription to game online with the games they providing for download....

*blink blink*

[TriniXaeno]

What would rock as well, is if they could merge the networks

PC gamers playing against xbox 360 gamers

Now THAT would kick ass

[Spazosaurus]

I doubbbbtttt ah man just say to make PC gamers PAY to get to play games online. Xbox live on PC hadda be the most hilarious thing ive heard all week...and i'll tell you why. Simply because people arent gonna suddenly start to pay for something they have been doing freely for years.

You've always had to use xbox live to play online. MS has complete control over the console as in what games are made for it etc etc. For that system to work on the PC, they'd have to have COMPLETE control over the pc in terms of what games are developed for it and all devs will have to go to them.

Picture this...subscription players (the wow people) will have to pay ms before they can pay blizzard to play the damn game.

Now im not saying that none of the XBL features are (somewhat) worth transferring to the pc like achievements and reputation etc...some of which I think is already done with this Games for Windows nonsense.

What WOULD be awesome is having pc gamers being able to play against xbox gamers but in games like FPS's xbox punters WILL get seriously owned. yeah.

I'm guessing their download service will be a copycat of steam with some extra features (gimmicks?) thrown in to make it more appealing.

[Arcmanov]

I don't think M$ trying to mess with that free-to-play online model for PC gaming just yet, but think about it:
if we were paying to play all  PC games online before, would it be an issue now that MS -might- want to do it?

...and seeing what Insanity Whored has done with IW.net...don't you think it might just be a matter of time
before they ask you to pay a 'small' subscription fee to play their game online?  If not with MW2, then certainly with any new title.
(Its not that hard to implement)

[Crixx_Creww]

games for windows live is supposed to be xbl on pc
its supposed to introduce the cross platform feature
but of course the hamstring is how to implement it for free on pc while forcing the console noobs to continue to pay for it.

I did my fair share of research into the games for windows live thing.
Maybe this is how they gonna do it, if you buy the pc game from their service, you can play it cross platform and stuff and beat up the console kids.

Wnt be for every game of course, and thats another problem, they can make all or almost all their console games have some xbl feature where as not every pc game would be suitable on teh sexbox such as rts.

IF M$ can subsidize games like they do with their consoles and offer them cheaper than the competition well then.. yay for us.
Buy it on ms for cheap and add it to steam list anyway

[Spazosaurus]

I am fully cognisant of the possibility of the possibility that devs could ask for us to pay a subscription fee and this will be a good idea if the fee can be justified...but if MS jump in and make we pay to even connect online to play THEN pay sub fees on top of that, everyone involved should definitely experience some hard n veiny action in jail for that transgression.

[Berzerk]

anyone here ever tried shadowrun? it was supposed to be console vs pc gaming, but It failed miserably.

The only real selling point imo for a pay to play online would be an A+ multiplayer title that we could play pc versues consoles.

 otherwise there are many other online multiplayer games on pc that are free (and still vastly popular), so migration from free online  to pay to play on an already vastly smaller market share (WOW notwithstanding) seems like an epic fail to me. to compete with steam u not going there. not yet anyway.