Games for Windows FAIL

[JohnTomorrow]

I feel for you Shamus. I downloaded Dead Rising 2 off Steam, thinking it was just going to be the game. Unfortunately, i also got GFWL with it too. Apparently you cant run one without the other. Every time i try to play, i have to download updates for GFWL. Every. Single. Time.

Not only that, but my version runs fairly well (aside from the whole constantly-needing-to-update thing) - my friends, the one i like to play CO-OP with, doesn't. His version is messed up. And it has ruined many a game because of it.

Assholes.

I'm happy i read your article, however. I didn't realise that it kept running after you quit the game. Now every time i play DR2, i'm going to have to remember to dig through my processes to kill it. Christ, how can Windows mess up this badly?

 

[ultimateownage]

13) One Microsoft rep suggests closing GFWL, and letting the game download "in the background." Wait, so when I close GFWL it's still running? It's not visible in the system tray, or on the taskbar, but it's there in the background eating CPU and bandwidth? Do I need to explain why this is a horrible setup and disrespectful of the end user?

Reminds me of Windows Media Player, except that horrid pile of shit not only runs in the background but CANNOT be ended. If you end the process it just restarts without your permission automatically.

Let's say you got a song playing in WMP and want to close it, using the [X] button. It will only minimize itself and you have to force close it threw the task manager which is bs...

Nope, force closing through task managed doesn't work. Go try it for yourself, it will disappear and then a couple of seconds later it will be climbing up the list back to the highest processing power eater out of every programme. It has crashed my computer many a time with how horrid it is.

 

[thiosk]

ITS TRUE.

GFWL labels on a box will cause me to immediately put down the spur of the moment purchase, and go home to try to download on steam or impulse.

The folks in charge of that seem utterly disconnected with regards to what customers want.

 

[Kouen]

I Love steam <3

also ya this has been alot of what ive gone through with GFWL when dev's tied it into the game, say what you like about steam being mandatory with a game... but at least it works xD

 

[Chess__x]

I had the exact same problems trying to install AoE 3. Although possibly even slightly more annoying as after many tries, it happened twice that the download actually completed and THEN it crashed, even taking the effort to get rid of the files it had previously downloaded (I viewed them in a folder, they were there) and start again. It still isn't installed because I got fed up with it.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

I'm actually quite surprised to read this after I bought and installed AoE with practically no fuss beyond a very laggy internet connection because I'm in a house of 5. I never thought GFWL was better than Steam but it all went perfectly fine for me on the first attempt.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

When a program "working perfectly" involves that program freezing up, you know you seriously need to rethink your business model.

I said worked perfectly for this.

This being the downloading and playing of AOE3.

 

[Something Amyss]

Not really. I'm sure some pirates like that they DO circumvent this crap, but probably not many actually intended it for that purpose. It just sounded like something good to shout. Maybe some dunce at Microsoft will spring to action because we're all afraid of piracy now.

More likely they'll just find some way to sue you.

 

[kebab4you]

13) One Microsoft rep suggests closing GFWL, and letting the game download "in the background." Wait, so when I close GFWL it's still running? It's not visible in the system tray, or on the taskbar, but it's there in the background eating CPU and bandwidth? Do I need to explain why this is a horrible setup and disrespectful of the end user?

Reminds me of Windows Media Player, except that horrid pile of shit not only runs in the background but CANNOT be ended. If you end the process it just restarts without your permission automatically.

Let's say you got a song playing in WMP and want to close it, using the [X] button. It will only minimize itself and you have to force close it threw the task manager which is bs...

Nope, force closing through task managed doesn't work. Go try it for yourself, it will disappear and then a couple of seconds later it will be climbing up the list back to the highest processing power eater out of every programme. It has crashed my computer many a time with how horrid it is.

Ah, I didn't mean it like that, you have to force close it to make the video,song w/e that you got in WMP at the moment go away. But if you´re lucky there is like a 1/100 chance that it will do what it was meant to do. T.T"

 

[Sixties Spidey]

For the love of Cthulhu, email this to them! They might actually listen to you.

Are you shitting me? This is Microsoft we're talking here. Their customer service is so horrible they make Dell look like Gods.

 

[Mr Companion]

My first run in with GFWL was pretty bad. I bought a game, played a few hours, the game kept bugging me to log in to GFWL so I did. GFWL wouldn't let me make an account for reasons it wouldnt make clear. I decide to leave the login for now, only to realise I now cant play the signl player game because I dont have a GFWL account. I ask my older tecno genius brother who specialises in programming to help. He assumes I am a computer idiot who breaks at the slightest issue. Only he cant help either.

It takes about a whole day to simply make an account, in order to play a single player game. I cant even remember what was wrong or how we solved the problem.

Edit: OH and further more it was a game I bought on steam. GAAAH

 

[Lordmarkus]

Is it just me or does this guy have extremely high amount of problems with computers? I've used both GFWL and Fallout: New Vegas and never encountered any major faults or crashes.

 

[Anaphyis]

Man, this sounds awful... I've never tried it, but it's caused me to stay away from a couple of games.

Just to confirm, will I need GFWL to play BioShock, if I get it off Steam? Because I want to try it out.

Bioshock 1, no. Bioshock 2, yes.

 

[FalloutJack]

Not really. I'm sure some pirates like that they DO circumvent this crap, but probably not many actually intended it for that purpose. It just sounded like something good to shout. Maybe some dunce at Microsoft will spring to action because we're all afraid of piracy now.

More likely they'll just find some way to sue you.

Sure, sure. And after their database keeps them logged out, holds them with red tape, crashes, AND blue-screens...they'll rage-quit THAT idea in a hurry.

 

[RoyalWelsh]

Wow, the more I hear about GFWL, the more I stay away from it.

 

[Void(null)]

Lets not forget GDWL only allows you to install any game a maximum of 15 times, and every-time you add the same CD key to the exact same GFWL account it counts as an install.

Reinstall Windows? Need to re-add all your CD Keys. Uninstall the game and reinstall it? Need to add it to GFWL yet again even though its the same PC and yep... that counts as another install with no way to revoke licenses.

 

[mogamer]

This sounds like user error to me. I took full advantage of the sale (I even bought Bishock for $1.99 the day before) and the only problem I had was that I had to wait for a cd key for AOE3. I did receive mine less than 24 hours later. Of course I do keep my pc completely updated. .net is very useful, so I always keep it up to date on my pc. I have used GFWL before and even in the early days, didn't have any problems. The biggest problem with GFWL is when you install a game that uses more than one client (i.e. GTA IV or DOW II). Now that is a real pain in the ass.

 

[xqxm]

Microsoft are master trolls. Not content with having the shittiest console on the market, keeping the progress back even worse than the Wii, they have to crap out the worst digital delivery service for the PC as well. I guess they can go hang out with Blizzard, they also have a thing for ruining your mind with shitty services.