Op Ed

Ars Technica - Games for Windows Live is a broken mess and I hate it.
Microsoft wants to be a part of my living room, and they are. But if the company also wants to butt into my PC gaming and require this login, it needs to find a way to allow me to use my account on different devices at the same time. Heck, if you spend the money on two Xbox 360 systems, you can't use the same account on both; you have to move it with a USB stick or recover the account whenever you move between systems. I understand that if you want to play on both systems online at the same time, Microsoft wants you to have two accounts, but if I want to have two systems in different rooms they don't want me to switch back and forth in a convenient fashion? Really lame.

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28.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 7, 2011, 22:48
28.
Re: Op Ed May 7, 2011, 22:48
May 7, 2011, 22:48
 
Well, I sorta think they tried. At least around the PS2-era. I recall almost buying on of the "developer consoles" at some point.

Not really sure what you're talking about. Were you an established PC dev and Sony tried to get you to make a PS2 game?
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27.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 7, 2011, 22:36
27.
Re: Op Ed May 7, 2011, 22:36
May 7, 2011, 22:36
 
*double post*

This comment was edited on May 7, 2011, 22:48.
26.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 7, 2011, 22:28
26.
Re: Op Ed May 7, 2011, 22:28
May 7, 2011, 22:28
 
Alas, GFWL is horribly broken. This article is a good example of 1-2 reasons, yet there are a good half dozen.

This comment was edited on May 7, 2011, 22:49.
25.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 7, 2011, 14:54
25.
Re: Op Ed May 7, 2011, 14:54
May 7, 2011, 14:54
 
TurdFergasun wrote on May 6, 2011, 23:55:
could u dumb that down a bit more, it's still not sinking in.

LOL!
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24.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 7, 2011, 01:50
24.
Re: Op Ed May 7, 2011, 01:50
May 7, 2011, 01:50
 
Have to agree with Dades here. If you truly don't understand how MS has hurt PC gaming over the past decade, you must be living under a rock. Microsoft's entry into the console market completely changed the industry. They went to significant lengths (free marketing + cash incentives) to lure PC developers to the Xbox and they succeeded. Here's a list of the developers whose first console games were designed for the Xbox or Xbox 360:

- Bioware
- Lionhead
- Epic
- id
- Bethesda
- Raven
- Bungie
- Monolith
- Crytek
- Infinity Ward
- Irrational
- Obsidian
- Illusion Softworks

The list pretty much speaks for itself. Sony never made any effort to convert PC developers into PlayStation developers and even if MS had never entered the market, there's no reason why Sony would have decided to start. As such, it's not unreasonable to assume that PC gaming would be a lot more prominent than it is now.
Avatar 20715
23.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 23:55
23.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 23:55
May 6, 2011, 23:55
 
could u dumb that down a bit more, it's still not sinking in.
22.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 19:49
22.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 19:49
May 6, 2011, 19:49
 
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 19:34:
Dades wrote on May 6, 2011, 18:44:
If you really need a history lesson on Microsoft's lack of support for the PC platform then I suggest using Google. You're either thick or just one of those morons who argues the opposite side of everything to be annoying but either way we're done here.

Yeah that's what I thought. Back up your insults with no facts...

- The Xbox
- The Xbox 360
- Purchasing multiple PC development studios and repurposing away from the PC platform
- Buying previously PC exclusive franchises and turning them into Xbox/Xbox 360 exclusives
- Non-existent participation in things like the PCGA
- Microsoft shuttering several profitable studios and franchises to refocus them into Facebook-like games
- Multiple press releases reassuring commitment that never arrived
- Games for Windows Live being in a state best described as mediocre

I could go on and on but that's more than enough to counter your single press release with no facts beyond something they've said several times in the past which has resulted in nothing. PC gaming exists despite Microsoft's neglect and best efforts in other directions. Put bluntly Games for Windows Live isn't needed, improved or otherwise. The PC industry has now evolved without Microsoft.
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21.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 19:34
21.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 19:34
May 6, 2011, 19:34
 
Dades wrote on May 6, 2011, 18:44:
If you really need a history lesson on Microsoft's lack of support for the PC platform then I suggest using Google. You're either thick or just one of those morons who argues the opposite side of everything to be annoying but either way we're done here.

Yeah that's what I thought. Back up your insults with no facts...
Avatar 55452
20.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 18:44
20.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 18:44
May 6, 2011, 18:44
 
If you really need a history lesson on Microsoft's lack of support for the PC platform then I suggest using Google. You're either thick or just one of those morons who argues the opposite side of everything to be annoying but either way we're done here.
Avatar 54452
19.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 18:29
19.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 18:29
May 6, 2011, 18:29
 
Dades wrote on May 6, 2011, 18:23:
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 18:11:
So one three minute video, that has never been publicly released, that shows a Facebook integration with Farmville and Xbox, and suddenly that means Microsoft wants to turn WGX into Farmville? That's quite a leap there.

Yes it's quite a leap...if you ignore all of their actions for the past ten years and focus instead on a single press release where they halfheartedly suggest they will support the platform.

And what actions are those exactly?
Avatar 55452
18.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 18:23
18.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 18:23
May 6, 2011, 18:23
 
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 18:11:
So one three minute video, that has never been publicly released, that shows a Facebook integration with Farmville and Xbox, and suddenly that means Microsoft wants to turn WGX into Farmville? That's quite a leap there.

Yes it's quite a leap...if you ignore all of their actions for the past ten years and focus instead on a single press release where they halfheartedly suggest they will support the platform.
Avatar 54452
17.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 18:11
17.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 18:11
May 6, 2011, 18:11
 
Dades wrote on May 6, 2011, 16:46:
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 16:40:
Its a video about the integration of Avatars. So what? That's one thing they may be working on and means nothing. And what is bad about this may I ask?

It's a video that includes their vision of how the platform operates. They don't want a vibrant gaming community, they want to monetize the platform and turn it into Farmville.

So one three minute video, that has never been publicly released, that shows a Facebook integration with Farmville and Xbox, and suddenly that means Microsoft wants to turn WGX into Farmville? That's quite a leap there.
Avatar 55452
16.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 16:46
16.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 16:46
May 6, 2011, 16:46
 
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 16:40:
Its a video about the integration of Avatars. So what? That's one thing they may be working on and means nothing. And what is bad about this may I ask?

It's a video that includes their vision of how the platform operates. They don't want a vibrant gaming community, they want to monetize the platform and turn it into Farmville.
Avatar 54452
15.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 16:40
15.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 16:40
May 6, 2011, 16:40
 
Dades wrote on May 6, 2011, 15:50:
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 12:18:
There was an article posted here back in March how MS is committed to making GFWL viable.

http://tinyurl.com/6craueh

This is their idea of making GFWL viable. You would have to be really dense to think they were in any way serious about supporting PC gaming.

Its a video about the integration of Avatars. So what? That's one thing they may be working on and means nothing. And what is bad about this may I ask?
Avatar 55452
14.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 16:09
14.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 16:09
May 6, 2011, 16:09
 
You can't log in with Steam on multiple systems simultaneously, either. The only issue with it and GFWL is that Netflix is tied to the Live account on the 360 and needs to be a gold account to work, otherwise this would be a non-issue with GFWL as well.

Yes, but you can login on two different machines without going through some ridiculous account transfer process. Can't do that with two XBoxes.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." -- Bertrand Russell (I think...)
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13.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 15:50
13.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 15:50
May 6, 2011, 15:50
 
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 12:18:
There was an article posted here back in March how MS is committed to making GFWL viable.

http://tinyurl.com/6craueh

This is their idea of making GFWL viable. You would have to be really dense to think they were in any way serious about supporting PC gaming.
Avatar 54452
12.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 15:16
12.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 15:16
May 6, 2011, 15:16
 
They want you to buy the Family Gold pack, which for the price of 2 gold accounts, they give you 4 accounts. FWIW, that's their solution.

But it's still a pain the ass if you have two Xboxes. I have a "family" xbox on my main TV, and my personal xbox in my office. If I try to play with my kids on the family Xbox, I have to keep my account on a USB stick.
11.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 14:50
11.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 14:50
May 6, 2011, 14:50
 
Prez wrote on May 6, 2011, 11:58:
Blue emailed me a code for the AoE Online beta (probably because I've posted in every thread so far saying I DON'T want one ), and I gave it to my son, who is now 18. He tried to log into GFWL, but it says he needs "Parental Permission", even though he is 18 and the game is rated "Teen" by the ESRB. So I tried to log in as his parent and it said my credentials are incorrect. My son got frustrated and told me to forget it; it just wasn't worth the trouble.

The author is correct - GFWL is a broken mess.

Yep, that sounds pretty much like gfwl alright. There's an article in PC Gamer with Kevin Unangst, and how they're "putting all this stuff in that developers want!" and how they're "going to be solid competition to Steam!"

Not a single fucking peep on the horrendous idiocy their horseshit client forces gamers to go through, such as the example above.

/still can't log in to Batman's GFWL.
//FUCK YOU KEVIN FUCKING UNANGST.

Creston
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10.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 14:17
10.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 14:17
May 6, 2011, 14:17
 
Dirwulf wrote on May 6, 2011, 11:59:
I understand Microsoft's thinking. You can't sign into your WoW account but once. I believe this is for security purposes, but obviously in this case it can be a huge pain. So the wife gets a second account for watching movies and such. If she signs in to watch Netflix with her account he can still get achievements, etc. But I guess that "free" part kinda of wipes that out too, since the second account would be on the PC.

So then, MS should make free accounts for watching Netflix on your Xbox if you already have an existing account. But they want you to buy a gold subscription, so that's probably not going to happen.

I wonder what a good solution would be?
Simple solution. Do what Steam does. Let you log in to a computer and a console at the same time.

It makes sense to not let two computers log in or two consoles log in at the same time. But no damned reason you could not let a computer and a console log in with the same account at the same time.
9.
 
Re: Op Ed
May 6, 2011, 14:15
9.
Re: Op Ed May 6, 2011, 14:15
May 6, 2011, 14:15
 
MajorD wrote on May 6, 2011, 12:21:
Full 'Steam' ahead.......

I see what you did there.
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