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|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
| Stable release | 3.02.0217.00 / December 15, 2009 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows |
| Platform | PC |
| Available in | English |
| Development status | Active |
| Type | Content delivery, digital rights management (DRM), social networking |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | www.gamesforwindows.com/live |
Games for Windows – LIVE (trademarked as Games for Windows – LIVE[1]) is an online gaming service for Games for Windows-branded PC titles. It enables Windows PCs to connect to the Live service, which will eventually include other devices including Windows Mobile and Zune. Users, each with a unique Gamertag, the Microsoft username service for gaming that began with the Xbox Live, are able to play online, keep track of their friends' status, send and receive messages, gain and keep track of Achievements, voice chat across platforms, and much more. Some games allow for cross-platform play, such as Shadowrun, putting Windows players against Xbox 360 players.
The features of the service will initially be limited, but will grow just as the features of Xbox Live have over the years. The service was shown in near-final form at CES 2007 during Bill Gates' keynote speech.
The service is open to 3rd-party developers, but they must be able to meet certain Technical Certification Requirements (TCRs), which include (but are not limited to): game ratings, total number of achievement points, content, game profiles, and Live connectivity. Games for Windows - Live games must also meet standard Games for Windows (games that do not have Live support) TCRs.
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History
One of the first Games for Windows – Live-enabled title was Halo 2 for Windows Vista, which was launched to the public on May 31, 2007. [2] The game supports all the standard Live features (such as achievements, voice chat, messages, etc.), but does not offer cross-platform play with Xbox or Xbox 360 players.
Another game released was Shadowrun, which launched simultaneously on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 on May 29, 2007 [3], and is the first game to offer cross-platform play between Windows Vista and Xbox 360 on the Live service.
Sega, Eidos, and THQ have signed on to include Games for Windows – Live in their upcoming games. Epic Games also included this service in their game engine Unreal Engine 3. [4] Universe at War: Earth Assault from Sega and Lost Planet: Colonies Edition from Capcom include cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and Windows over Live.
On July 22, 2008 Microsoft's Chris Satchell, CTO of the company's Entertainment devices division, announced that Games For Windows – Live would be free to developers. Previously, select publishers and developers used the system and had to pay for it. Also, all Games For Windows – Live features were now free for gamers, such as matchmaking and cross-platform play. Satchell added that the move was a "way to improve Windows gaming".[5]
As well as free multiplayer, Microsoft reduced the technical requirements for those developers looking to utilize Live such as removing playlist servers, and allowing studios to use the Microsoft matchmaking servers instead. The new Marketplace was made available for Games for Windows – Live on December 5, 2008. Microsoft also released the newly designed User Interface, on November 12, 2008.[6]
Games on Demand
On December 15th, 2009, Microsoft launched a Games on Demand service with Resident Evil 5 and Battlestations: Pacific. Arcade games World of Goo and Osmos will launch on the service as well. The service will give the game Microsoft Tinker, a former exclusive for Windows Vista Ultimate, for free.
User interface
The user interface or "Guide" was changed from earlier versions (Made to match the Xbox 360's appearance) to a new appearance. The guide includes messaging (text and voice), friends list, recent players, private chat, and personal settings.
The client that provides this interface is included with Games for Windows – Live games or available separately with an out-of-game client, the GFWL Client. It was originally only available while running a game designed for the service and access to Live functions outside of games was not possible prior to version 3 of the GFWL Client.
The current version of the in-game Live client is version 3.1.0186.0, released on November 19, 2009. It is available for Windows XP (Service Pack 2), Windows Vista, and Windows 7 operating systems. Version 3.0 added extended information about progress and some bugfixes. The client also auto-updates when users are logged-on to a Live-aware game.
Features
- Single gamertag
- Common gamer profile
- Common gamerscore
- Achievements - All titles have achievements. For those games that also have an Xbox 360 version, the PC and Xbox 360 versions have the same achievements, but are tracked separately, allowing gamers to achieve points for both versions of the game
- Private chat via text and voice
- Common friends list and online presence
- Windows only multiplayer
- Multiplayer matchmaking with friends
- TrueSkill matchmaking
- Cross-platform gameplay (not supported in all games)
- Games on Demand: A method of Digital Distribution for games.
See also
References
- ^ "Microsoft Trademarks". Microsoft. 2007-12-13. http://www.microsoft.com/library/toolbar/3.0/trademarks/en-us.mspx. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ Sinclair, Brendan (2007-05-24). "Halo 2 Vista delayed again". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6171471&part=rss&subj=6171471. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Xbox.com | Shadowrun - Game Detail Page". Microsoft. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/shadowrun/. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ Minkley, Johnny (2006-08-22). "GCDC: "Cross-platform floodgates will open in 2008" - MS". http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gcdc-cross-platform-floodgates-will-open-in-2008-ms. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ Chris Remo, Christian Nutt (July 22, 2008). "Microsoft To Add Games For Windows Marketplace, Drop Multiplayer Fees". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19521. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
- ^ French, Michael (2008-07-22). "Games for Windows Live now free to developers". http://www.developmag.com/news/30211/Games-for-Windows-Live-now-free-to-developers. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
External links
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