GFW Live Update Will Feature Anti-Piracy Measures, New Marketplace

[Andy Chalk]

GFW Live Update Will Feature Anti-Piracy Measures, New Marketplace

Games for Windows Live [http://www.microsoft.com] service, including a new marketplace and an emphasis on increased anti-piracy measures.

The updated Games for Windows Live will help prevent pre-launch piracy with a "zero day piracy protection" scheme that will include server-side authentication, the company said, which will also be required for online play. A new marketplace allowing sellers to design their own virtual storefronts is being added to the platform while users will be able to customize their settings and then access them through any PC via a new "roaming" function.

"This update and other features currently in development represent a tipping point in the evolution of Games for Windows Live as a leading online PC gaming network," said Games for Windows Live General Manager Ron Pessner. "In the coming months, we will continue to deliver on our promise to provide gamers and publishers with the industry's best connected gaming experiences through the Live service."

"As a publisher, no one is more excited to see the continued growth and evolution of Games for Windows Live than Microsoft Game Studios," added Dave Luehmann, general manager of Windows games at MGS [Microsoft Game Studios]. "We have several projects underway which will incorporate the Live service, and we're continuing to build new developer relationships here at GDC to bring the best in the industry to Games for Windows Live."

Source: WorthPlaying [http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=61046]


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[GoldenShadow]

Steam, this will never be.

 

[Royas]

Another DRM scheme that will be broken by the pirates before release. Seriously, dudes, just give up.

 

[oliveira8]

Funny...In Steam news Steamworks just made DRM useless...

Also the only people excited for GWL is Microsoft...

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Funny how people will bash Microsoft and praise Valve for doing the same thing.

 

[johnman]

People use GFW?

 

[KDR_11k]

Anyone want to bet that the Video Game Industry is going to be the next bubble to pop? All the signs are there just like the housing industry.

Oh don't worry, it already popped, the contents are just falling towards the ground, waiting for the impact. Well, not all of it, of course, the ones riding the wave of the disruption are going to come out of this fine and possibly much richer than before, just the ones swimming against the current are going to drown.

 

[johnman]

Funny how people will bash Microsoft and praise Valve for doing the same thing.

There is a key difference though. Microsoft is going to create and monopolize on microtransactions just like they are doing on the 360. Yes I know Valve just allowed other publishers to sell add-ons like Xbox Live but imagine that to get the most of your PC game you will now have to pay for each part.

Games for Windows is going to monopolize on the PC audience by forcing them to pay for content that used to be given for free after all these years. The cost to play video games is only going to increase.

Anyone want to bet that the Video Game Industry is going to be the next bubble to pop? All the signs are there just like the housing industry.

Also on big difference between GFW and Steam. Offline mode. According to this article you HAVE to sign in to your Xbox Live account(let's be honest, that is what this is) and stay on the account to access any of your games including online ones. Steam is different by having an Offline mode. So to access all your games online or offline games you only need to log on to your account with an internet connection ONCE.

I thought the GFW would of been nice if they took on the challenge of being the supporter for online games but if they are just going to monotize the last bastion of gaming that is affordable you will see the crash of the video game industry.

Well there is still Steam, nobody uses GFW as no matter what they do its shite.

 

[roekenny]

People use GFW?

unfortunately since dow need it just to play single player (what means can't play on laptop at work) and fallout have to us the shitty game points for fallout 3 (but I think after 3rd expansion I will have a zero balance meaning never have to use it again.) On topic I thought they already had anti piracy since can't play half games what use it without been connected on-line but I guess mean an extra minute trying to connect before can play what always welcoming -_-

 

[Royas]

Funny how people will bash Microsoft and praise Valve for doing the same thing.

Actually, I mock Valve for saying that Steam makes DRM obsolete. Steam IS DRM. It's a nicer, friendlier DRM than SecuROM on full bore, but it's still DRM. Specifically, it's an online activation DRM scheme, which I normally despise. At least with Steam, the focus is on digitally distributed games, so you expect to need an internet connection. And at leas they have a pretty store front and offer some services like friends and the like along with their DRM. But, it's still not making DRM obsolete. DRM is obsolete because it's always cracked immediately after distribution if not before. That's what makes DRM obsolete.

 

[sheic99]

This would be nice if GFW didn't suck a load of ass.

 

[cainx10a]

Thanks to GFWL I can't even play DoW2. TY GFWL.

 

[Royas]

Another DRM scheme that will be broken by the pirates before release. Seriously, dudes, just give up.

thats not drm, its authentication servers. like steam.

And that, my friend, is a type of DRM. Just like one of the options for SecuROM that everyone seems to hate. Calling it by another name doesn't change what it is. And yes, I refer to Steam as a kind of DRM also.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Funny how people will bash Microsoft and praise Valve for doing the same thing.

They do the same thing, but with one subtle difference. When Valve do it, it (almost) always works...