What's so bad about GFWL?

[Durxom]

For some reason, whenever I see some stuff about certain PC games, I end up seeing a lot of hate against Games for Windows-Live. So basically my question here is why?? Why does it get so much hate?

Sure, I only play about 2 games with it, those being Street Fighter 4 and Resident Evil 5, but I haven't come across any problems with either of them and the service. Heck, I can only see the service as a good thing, since, if I add the games onto my Steam account, I can chat up with my PC friends, and the friends of mine who just play on their 360. So, whats the big deal here? =S

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

'It's not Steam.'

Seriously though I think it's glitchy for a bunch of people and lots of people just don't like it on principle.

For the record I love GFWL.

 

[SomebodyNowhere]

back when I was playing through Fallout 3 a lot and I wanted to get some of the DLC it was awkward having to get Microsoft points cards instead of just being able to buy the DLC outright.
I don't have a problem with GFWL, but I know there's a load of people that just don't want any extra programs running in the background taking up their computer's resources.

 

[Talshere]

snip

GFWL is a HORRIBLE platforming system. It is slow and cumbersome to use, it is notorious for dropping people mid game for no reason. Is renowned for disliking various routers, and should you try to connect to a game using one of these routers you will get the NAT error. You cant be n the middle of a game when suddenly it doesn't like your router, and 4 hours later suddenly its fine again. It doesnt allow a function for rejoining a game after its decided to kick you. If your net isnt fast enough it will decide you have disconnected and kick you. There is no room AT ALL for modding with GFWL.

Seriously its one of the worst bits of software ever developed right in front of Iward.net. Relic have made no bones about the fact that chosing GFWL as their multiplayer host was the worst decision they very made, it made multiplayer damn near unplayable for 50% of users for the first 6 months after release. 1 year and and it STILL donts work properly.

 

[Liberaliter]

It's a bit unnecessary, I'd rather we didn't have all these platforms competiting in the PC market, it only serves to divide the users.

 

[Woodsey]

The main problem I have is when it tries to updates, because apparently it expects me to update something or rather first, only it doesn't tell me and then crashes when it does try to update.

And why the fuck does it save my MSN password when I click to save my password on GfWL?! They may be the same account used but they're 2 different fucking programs!

It's also surprisingly intensive on processors I believe (for what it is).

Oh, and the overlay never aligns to my mouse properly.

And for some bizarre reason, if you login online and save, then log in offline, your save is restricted to the online login, despite it being on the same account.

 

[Nmil-ek]

I dont like it for the same reasons I dont like steam, get your online shit out of my singleplayer game I payed for your freaking cd key, I let you put in your bullshit limited installs now kindly fuck off.

 

[Frenger]

I had to go into my firewall and open up certain ports for the shit to work, and still it disconnects me randomly and sometimes it doesn't work at all. And the interface in some games are slow and unresponsive. Fallout 3 is one example, where I have to aim the mouse above the button for it to react(doesn't matter what screen resolution I use). And sometimes the client forgets my username and password.

It's been like this for years, I've given up now as it seems like MS have give up on the clusterfuck aswell. I only use it to buy MS points these days.

At least they made steam somewhat decent after a while, now I hardly notice it running in the background.

 

[Aeriath]

It gives me the most obscure and worthless error message in existance when I try to install it. None of the solutions online have worked, and they were few and far between. It made me rage incredibly hard when I was trying to reinstall Fallout 3 and GFWL was what was stopping me from doing so.

 

[Stormz]

It gives me the most obscure and worthless error message in existance when I try to install it. None of the solutions online have worked, and they were few and far between. It made me rage incredibly hard when I was trying to reinstall Fallout 3 and GFWL was what was stopping me from doing so.

I thought Fallout 3 had securom? wtf.

Anyway. Because it's horrible. I shouldn't have to have another program running for a game that I BOUGHT. I still have trouble with steam. New Vegas is Steam required and I'm not happy about it.

 

[Aeriath]

SNIP

I thought Fallout 3 had securom? wtf.

Anyway. Because it's horrible. I shouldn't have to have another program running for a game that I BOUGHT. I still have trouble with steam. New Vegas is Steam required and I'm not happy about it.

No idea about the Securom, was too busy trying to skip installing GFWL. I got the non-GotY edition (physical copy), not sure if that makes a difference. I'm alright with Steam, I haven't been bitten in the arse by it yet so I'll hope the good times keep rolling.

 

[LightOfDarkness]

It doesn't fuck up your game beyond the ability to play the damn thing.

 

[Durxom]

snip

... There is no room AT ALL for modding with GFWL...

Do you mean the actual platform, or the games themselves? Because FO3 and SF4 would like to have a word with you if you mean the games.

Seriously its one of the worst bits of software ever developed right in front of Iward.net. Relic have made no bones about the fact that chosing GFWL as their multiplayer host was the worst decision they very made, it made multiplayer damn near unplayable for 50% of users for the first 6 months after release. 1 year and and it STILL donts work properly.

Well, I haven't really play DoW2 all that much(since I liked DoW1 better), but this just seems to be a seperate case though. I mean I play Street Fighter 4 all the damn time over GFWL, and I haven't run into any problem with it..at all.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Because I buy almost all of my PC games on Steam... so running a game through Steam and Games for Windows Live is annoying... it's not that bad, but sometimes it needs to update a game and it can only update while you're in game... but I do like how it logs your achievements and you can view them on your 360.

 

[Delusibeta]

Let Shamus explain [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=8059]...

 

[Stormz]

SNIP

I thought Fallout 3 had securom? wtf.

Anyway. Because it's horrible. I shouldn't have to have another program running for a game that I BOUGHT. I still have trouble with steam. New Vegas is Steam required and I'm not happy about it.

No idea about the Securom, was too busy trying to skip installing GFWL. I got the non-GotY edition (physical copy), not sure if that makes a difference. I'm alright with Steam, I haven't been bitten in the arse by it yet so I'll hope the good times keep rolling.

Maybe it's the American DRM, I dunno. I'd like someone to confirm this. I want to buy it at some point because I'm getting NV, plus I'm a Fallout fanboy.

Steam isn't really BAD per say, but it makes me feel like my 60$ purchase was useless because I still don't technically own it. Steam could just take it away whenever they felt like it. Don't tell me they won't. That's not the point.

 

[Ascarus]

For some reason, whenever I see some stuff about certain PC games, I end up seeing a lot of hate against Games for Windows-Live. So basically my question here is why?? Why does it get so much hate?

i'm not a fan of this emerging trend where i have to log into a network (e.g. cerberus network (read: bioware) or games for windows-live). it's a single player game FFS, why do i need to log in? i don't give a rats ass about trophies, achievements, ladders and the like, so make the log in optional for single player game play.

 

[lacktheknack]

It gives me the most obscure and worthless error message in existance when I try to install it. None of the solutions online have worked, and they were few and far between. It made me rage incredibly hard when I was trying to reinstall Fallout 3 and GFWL was what was stopping me from doing so.

There's a mod for that.

 

[Atmos Duality]

It acts like a piece of malware that does absolutely nothing for my gaming experience.
Every single utility it provides, I already have access to better.

 

[Folio]

You already read that it's not Steam, but I'll tell you why.

Steam gives a lot of freedom. I can change my username any time I want without it complaining. Downside: looking for someone with the same name might be difficult, yet putting your real name on your profile will help a lot. GFWL let's you pick one name only and you have to stick with it.

The matchmaking on Steam is better. I just open the window and check everyone in my friendlist, see what they are playing and join if I can. Easy as pie. If I wanted to add a friend on WL, I would open my message window, try to remember the insane name the player has, because Player12878 is taken, so I have to memorize Player12879!

Steam doesn't garble your voice or forces you to use the auto-mic or a single, non-customisable button. '~' is not an easy button to reach, it's like saying: don't bother!

And last on my list (I'm not going to talk about achievements): Why would I judge random players? Their 'Rep'? Players will judge me by my Rep, not how I play. So one childish guy actually has to put his energies into judging my playstyle even though he's just pissed at losing and blames other players.

I don't even know half the players I meet. DoW2's Last Stand let's players come and go at random, I'll never meet them again.