Microsoft has announced that on December 15th, Games on Demand comes to Games for Windows Live, which means they are going to start digitally distributing PC games.
The Xbox 360 Games on Demand program has been doing well enough, and services like Stardock’s Impulse and Steam have already proven the viability of the digital download store model, so now we’re getting Games on Demand for Games for Windows Live.
"With Games on Demand, we didn’t just want to create a cut-and-paste version of existing digital distribution services," said Mike Ybarra, general manager of LIVE Engagement Services. "We challenged ourselves to deliver an integrated platform that takes full advantage of the unique capabilities offered by the LIVE service. 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."
The main difference between Games on Demand and something like Steam is the use of Microsoft points to purchase games along with actual cash money, but it’s certainly a start. If they can keep prices competitive, they could be on to something.
Service’s launch lineup will include Resident Evil 5, Red Faction: Guerrilla, and Battlestations: Pacific, along with Live-enabled versions of popular downloadable titles like World of Goo and Osmos. If those aren’t enticing enough, there’s also a free Live-enabled version of Tinker, the Windows Vista Ultimate Extra exclusive for those willing to download the Games for Windows Live client when the service goes live on the 15th.
You can download the Games for Windows Live client at Microsoft’s official website.
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Rating: 4.0/5 (6 votes cast)
Microsoft to sell PC games over Games For Windows, 4.0 out of 5 based on 6 ratings
Well, Games on Demand, is this the program who sells old 360 games for 30€?
Did we find “greats” games like Bioshock for 30€ too? :)
Well games for consoles are always overpriced.
M$ prices M$ Points differently for different regions. It is time we start making a few Mexican friends ;)
Those of you on XP that want to install this M$ Client, be sure to visit http://support.microsoft.com/kb/960554 for a hotfix that will make the client work.
NEVAR!
Live is too invasive, just as most of Microsoft softwares anyway.
But some Live apps are really useful combined with Windows 7
Countries/Regions with LIVE Service
Check first, if you can use the service:
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/countries.htm
Of couse we can’t. M$ suck no matter what he do. MS Live already did LOt of damage in PC gaming: P2P laggy multiplayers, absence of anticheat, incredibly shity voice communication in games, hige problems with account creation for those of us who live in unsupported countries, very demanding to router configuration – most player can’t enjoy full multilayer.
I lol’d so hard when i saw that… :D
MS Live ruined my multiplayer experience in some games, especially Lost Planet…
I forget one more important think. M$ causes patch release delays. For exaple Volition, developers of Red faction Guerrilla, wanted to release first patch at the end of September but patch has been released yet. They are forced to re-submit new version of patches severaltimes. In the meantime PC version is cripled by many cricial bugs including huge problems with mouse, mod are alowed in multiplyer and only 1/3maps is available in multiplayer. Complete list is hre:http://community.redfaction.com/forums/topic/6840
As you can see they already anounced 3other patches….
Yes I agree that patch should be flawless but if M$ insist SW to be flawless they should not allow games to be released with bugs. If developers wants to fix it they should be allowed to do that ASAP.
Btw
We ain’t on that LIVE Service country list, but LIVE works just fine here. Both Xbox and PC wise . . .