Topic: MS relaunching Games For Windows Marketplace Nov 15

[idolminds]

zomg!

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 22, 2010 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the Games for Windows Marketplace, a new online PC games store that combines the convenience of the Web with the power of Games on Demand online distribution. Launching Nov. 15, the Games for Windows Marketplace will offer PC gamers a robust lineup of games they love, easier navigation and purchase, and recurring specials such as Deal of the Week.

       “With Games for Windows Marketplace, we set out to create a digital store built for PC gamers end-to-end,” said Kevin Unangst, senior global director, PC and Mobile Gaming, at Microsoft. “And by integrating with our existing Xbox LIVE and Windows Live services, we’ve made it easier than ever for millions of gamers to see for themselves how easy buying PC games can be.”

A Streamlined Experience

Built from the ground up for convenience and performance, the Games for Windows Marketplace (http://www.gamesforwindows.com) will remove the barriers between gamers and the games they love by offering the following:

    * Online access, anywhere. Optimized for speed, the store allows for ultra-fast downloads; this means fewer clicks to purchase and download, delivering faster turnaround for gameplay. And since the service lives on the Web, gamers can download games on a PC, anytime, and can easily redownload games they purchase if needed.
    * Deals and discounts galore. Gamers can check out screaming deals on select games every time they visit the Marketplace, as well as the Deal of The Week and other recurring and seasonal offers.
    * Game search functionality. Gamers can search by titles or genres to quickly find the games they want; they can even find new games from their favorite publishers with dedicated publisher pages.
    * Fresh design. The clean, intuitive look and feel makes browsing for games a simple, enjoyable experience. Gamers can easily navigate between pages as they search for the perfect game.

A Growing Portfolio

       Games for Windows Marketplace will launch with a managed portfolio of 100 top-quality titles. The launch roster includes blockbuster games such as “Fable: The Lost Chapters” (Microsoft Game Studios) and “Grand Theft Auto III” (Rockstar Games Inc.) from some of the industry’s biggest developers, such as Capcom Entertainment Inc., 2K Games, Square Enix Co. Ltd. and more. In addition to top retail games, the portfolio will bring new indie titles to the forefront and continue to grow with many of the best games in the industry including titles such as “Lego Universe” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) and “CarneyVale” (Microsoft Game Studios), which will hit the Games for Windows Marketplace and retail stores at the same time and date; recent hits such as “Dead Rising 2” and “Lost Planet 2” (both from Capcom); and perennial best-sellers such as “Max Payne” (Rockstar) and “Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition” (Square Enix).

       “We plan to deliver some of our biggest and best PC franchises on Games for Windows Marketplace from day one,” said Christian Svensson, corporate officer and vice president of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Capcom. “Digital distribution continues to drive growth in PC gaming, and we’re excited to partner with Microsoft and bring amazing games to this growing marketplace.”

       Games for Windows Marketplace will also be the place to find iconic franchises from Microsoft Game Studios, such as “Flight Simulator,” “Gears of War,” “Halo” and “Zoo Tycoon,” as well as upcoming blockbusters “Fable III,” “Age of Empires Online” and “Microsoft Flight.”

Easy Access to a Massive Gamer Community

       Using the new marketplace is a breeze: anyone with a Windows Live ID (Windows Live, Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows – LIVE or Zune account) can login and immediately start shopping in the Games for Windows Marketplace. The new store also supports Microsoft Points (as well as credit card purchasing), allowing the more than 25 million users of Xbox LIVE, Zune Marketplace and Games for Windows – LIVE to use their Microsoft Points balance seamlessly across platforms.

       The new Games for Windows Marketplace launches Nov. 15 at http://www.gamesforwindows.com.

Its MS, so I don't have high hopes or anything, but it actually doesn't sound bad at all. Its just a web site so no client and its a regular web download, and it doesn't sound like they are doing anything special with additional DRM, except they wont sell Steamworks games. I could see myself maybe using this if the price is right and there isn't some hidden "screw you".

[Pugnate]

Good because we need competition etc. But I'd rather they launched a direct competitor to Steam, than another download service.

[idolminds]

So uh...whats Steam if not a download service?

[Cobra951]

How is this not direct competition for Steam?  (And how is Steam not a download service?)  [Edit: damn your fast little fingers.]

I'm happy to see MS take on Steam's unlimited reign, but they already screwed up once.  I don't think what they learned from their console market is going to cover all the bases here.  They don't control the PC as they do the 360.  But they'll try.  I foresee having to be signed on to the service to be able to do just about anything, including playing the games.  Hope I'm wrong about that.

[idolminds]

Thats one of the good things about competition. MS might try to lock down the PC like the 360 and make you be signed in to play anything, but there are at least alternatives.

And lets face it, Valve is already doing that with Steamworks. So...frying pan -> fire?

[Cobra951]

Yeah, I don't see either of these profiteers saving us from the other.  But the more of them there are, the better for us, always.

[Pugnate]

Steam is so much more than just a download service. It has social gaming tools that allow you to chat, interact with communities, take part in match making etc. Through the Steam client you can keep your games automatically updated, manage DLC, other downloads, tools, kits, media, news etc.

You can examine your friends' game libraries, play patterns, achievements, and they, yours. If you choose, you can get alerts when you friends take part in a multiplayer game.

Not all of it works perfectly well, but that's besides the point. The point is that like Impulse, and XBL, Steam is a mini platform of sorts. It is self sufficient, and feels robust. When you buy something on Steam, you feel like you are paying for more than just the game.

The GFW marketplace looks more like a competitor for D2D.

I would never ever buy a game on D2D, because it would feel empty. I'd gladly pay $50 for a game I like at retail, because I feel like I am buying into something, with a game box, artwork, a nice manual, game DVD etc.

What is the difference between buying a game on D2D, GFWM, EA's Download service, and merely downloading something using a torrent? Aside from the fact that you are pirating when you torrent? It is virtually the same empty experience, except buying something off a download services just makes you feel like your money disappeared.

Obviously a Steam purchase doesn't give the same level of satisfaction as a purchase at a brick & mortar, but it certainly feels more substantial than a simple download service.

It still has a long way to go, and can be really frustrating, but yea.

[idolminds]

Its funny because MS actually has all those things you mentioned about Steam. Its in the GFWL stuff. So they have all the parts, its just a matter of connecting them all up.

[Pugnate]

I actually bought the Dragon Age expansion on the EA download thing because I had a discount code... but I wouldn't otherwise.

Yea, some of the stuff is there, but for some reason a lot of the features don't work for me.

Steam works as well (or as badly, whichever way you look at it), internationally. But G4W seems to have a lot of problems with gamers outside of America. As I have shared before, Arkham Asylum wouldn't work with G4WL for 3 weeks after I bought it.

Anyway, if they can convert GFWM into a more robust platform of sorts, I'd be interested. I am just looking at it now, and it has a long way to go. Impulse is pretty nice though. I wish it had a bigger library.

[MysterD]

After the installer files are DL'ed, G4WL really should alert and ask the user once they click "Install", if they would like the installer files destroyed after install is done or not.

[MysterD]

Kotaku -> Here's the plans for DRM for G4WM...
Basically, it's whatever the publishers want, for the most part.

One obviously place where Microsoft's new Games For Windows store may have the upper hand on Steam is how it handles digital rights management.

Where Steam uses a single proprietary system, Games for Windows will have a much more flexible approach.

The Marketplace will work with nearly all forms of digital rights management, Microsoft told Kotaku, allowing publishers to submit a pre-protected or unprotected build of their game with their choice of DRM and Microsoft will distribute the builds on the Marketplace along with the appropriate activation keys.

[MysterD]

Official Site -> G4W has Relaunched!!!

[Pugnate]

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105309-Games-for-Windows-Marketplace-Relaunches

Word is that aside from some aesthetic changes, it is the same old crap.

[idolminds]

The first thing you'll notice is that the library of games remains small, particularly when compared to certain other digital distribution platforms that will go unnamed, like Steam.

Oh do I ever need a rolling eyes smiley right about now.

[MysterD]

I'm glad to see DLC actually costing $USD, not Microsoft Points.
Cool overhaul of the main Marketplace page - but really, is this really it...? 

G4WL toolbar when in-game and the G4WL stand-alone program looks the same and acts the same...
Please tell me there's more changes coming.
This can't be it... 

EDIT - 12-2-2010:
G4W Forums -> DRM Policies for certain games.