Posted 11/03/09 at 11:45:00 AM by Loyd Case

Whenever I think about Games for Windows Live, I feel like Charlie Brown, trying to kick the football that Lucy is holding. Ever optimistic, Charlie runs at the ball, only to have it jerked away at the last second. Games for Windows Live is like that – heavy on of promises, light on delivery. Someone needs to wrestle Windows gaming from the gaming group at Microsoft and give it back to the Windows team.

In other words, give the Games for Windows task to someone at Microsoft who actually cares about the PC. Windows 7 has been an impressive success, and it would be great of the team that’s responsible for making a better Windows for the PC take on the chore of making a better gaming experience for Windows.

Right now PC gaming at Microsoft lives in the Entertainment and Devices division, those edgy folks who brought you the Xbox, Xbox 360, Zune, Windows Mobile and Windows Automotive. While the Xbox 360 is finally profitable, the system has certainly has had its issues – red ring of death, anyone?

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Posted 01/30/09 at 09:58:26 PM by Nathan Grayson

Maybe the aliens only hate Microsoft? After the company’s recent red ring around the rosy of ker-splosions, the idea's certainly not implausible. And now, a new player's bumbling onto the stage: the Games for Windows edition of Epic’s Gears of War.
 
Apparently, the game’s digital certificate walked toward the light on January 28, causing players to receive the following error message: "You cannot run the game with modified executable code. Please reinstall the game."

Microsoft and Epic are, as expected, staying up long past their bedtimes in order to mop up this mess, but have yet to give an ETA for their fix.

“Yes, this was a surprise to us too,” said Epic Games programmer “joeGraf.” “We aren’t casting blame or chewing anyone out. We’re trying to figure out how and why it happened so we can get it fixed.”

For now though, good ol’ Dr. Internet’s prescribed a simple remedy: set your system clock to any date before January 29, 2009.

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Posted 01/28/09 at 02:52:02 AM by Nathan Grayson

After the recent 100% drop in GFW’s Chris Early content, speculation ran rampant the software label might’ve contracted a case of terminal irrelevance – curable only by some kind of miraculous economic upswing or Magic Johnson. However, Microsoft recently released a statement reaffirming its support for the platform, while also naming Ron Pessner as Chris Early’s successor.

“Moving ahead, Microsoft will continue to invest in Windows as a first–class gaming platform through great Windows out of box experiences, our online gaming services including Games for Windows – LIVE, MSN Games, and Messenger games, and through new games for Windows developed by Microsoft Games Studios," a Microsoft spokesperson said.

"Our Windows gaming service efforts will be led by General Manager Ron Pessner, who is joining Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business. He comes from within Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division.”
“Beyond these changes, we are not commenting on specific personnel issues at this time.”

But enough talk; outside of an admittedly nice redesign, GFW’s actions haven’t made a peep as of late. So c’mon, guys – give us your best “Have at you!” The world is watching. Now deliver.

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Posted 08/09/08 at 05:01:53 PM by Justin Kerr

When Windows Vista launched back in January 2007, the 64-bit edition was clearly not ready for primetime. The driver and compatibility issues that mired the early days of the OS were even worse on the 64-bit side, and for most users Vista x64 was completely crippled or in some cases, wouldn’t install at all. Hardware manufacturers struggled to release stable device drivers but because 32-bit and 64-bit editions both required radically different drivers, Vista x64 just wasn’t a priority. Coming up on two years later, 32-bit Vista’s issues seem to have calmed down, but what about Vista x64? Well according to Microsoft, usage of the niche OS is on the rise, but is it finally ready for prime time?

Click the jump to learn all about Vista 64 and what you need to know before you consider switching.

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Posted 07/22/08 at 12:50:07 PM by Norman Chan

Remember that old economics lesson about supply and demand? If demand for a product rises, the company producing it can raise the price to the point where the supply and demand curves intersect. But when the demand for a product is almost non-existent, the invisible hand of economics demands that price falls. In the case of Microsoft’s Games for Windows LIVE initiative, the price has now fallen to zero. Microsoft just announced today that Games for Windows LIVE will be free for all users (both Silver and Gold accounts), which is the price it should’ve been at all along. Gamertags, buddy lists, and achievements will be enabled on all accounts without an annual fee, though gamers who play on Xbox LIVE will still have to pay for that service.

Check back later today for our interview with Kevin Unangst, Senior Global Director of Games for Windows, who will reveal what other plans Microsoft has next for the GFW program. Click through the jumpf for Microsoft's official press release.

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Posted 06/26/08 at 07:45:02 PM by Norman Chan

On our leanest podcast ever, Tom, Will, Norm, and Andy put on their best suits to go over the fancy features of the new Maximum PC website. Norm recaps his visit to a recent Games for Windows press event, and shares details about the upcoming Ghostbusters and Call of Duty: World at War PC games. No listener Q&A this week, but listeners are challenged to come up with nicknames for our two new interns. A photo of these young nerdlings can be found after the jump. All this and more on this week's No BS Podcast!

Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337

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Posted 02/26/08 at 11:48:03 AM by David Murphy

As long as they ignore the best ways to go after the consoles, the newest industry-wide consortium will never bridge the gap between PC gaming and the home platforms. But we have solutions!

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Posted 02/07/08 at 10:37:20 PM by Will Smith

Will Smith says: The turn-based 4X genre is dead! Long live the real-time 4X game!

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