Ok. I haven’t seen much press on what happened this week for console gamers around the world. What am I talking about? Games for Windows - Live is upon us! The PC equivalent to Xbox Live is born with the release of Shadowrun and Halo 2 for Vista. Console owners will now be up against PC players via the Games for Windows - Live initiative.
Here’s a reminder of what to expect if you’re a PC gamer.
Silver Membership Features - Free
• Single gamertag
• Common gamer profile
• Common gamerscore
• Single player achievements
• Private chat via text and voice
• Common friends list and online presence
• PC only multiplayer including browsing a list of active PC games
Gold Membership Features - $49.95
• All Silver membership features
• Multiplayer matchmaking with friends
• TrueSkill™ matchmaking
• Multiplayer achievements
• Cross-platform gameplay (play games versus Xbox Live console gamers)
If you’ve signed up for GFW - Live, send me some feedback on how it is etc. I want to know.
I know many of you have been wondering what’s next after the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta? What can Xbox 360 owners look forward to playing as the wait for September 25th begins? Here’s my rundown of titles that you can look forward to and some that you can head out to play right now (or again).
Forza Motorsport 2 - May 29
Racing fans around the globe have been eagerly anticipating the release of this sequel. It’s the Xbox 360’s premiere simulation racer so you know the goodies are packed within. Try playing it with the 360 wireless wheel for maximum experience.
Shadowrun PC/Xbox 360 - May 29
Hey you asked for something to do while you wait and this is a very viable option. If only for the PC to Xbox 360 play, Shadowrun is worth a test drive. The multiplayer has as good a chance as any game to be great especially considering it’s the only option available.
Almost 5 years ago, Microsoft changed the way we game with a little service called Xbox Live. It ushered in a new era of gaming for console owners across the world! Today they announced a date for the next change in the way we game! Console owners and PC owners mark this day on your calendars as Microsoft will unite Xbox gamers and PC gamers with the debut of Games for Windows Live. (or Xbox Live for PC) What say you?
Press release:
Microsoft Corp. today announced the extension of the Xbox LIVE® games and entertainment network to the Windows® platform, bringing together the most popular online console game service with the most popular games platform in the world. Debuting on May 8, 2007, with the launch of the Windows Vista™ version of the Xbox® blockbuster “Halo® 2,” Games for Windows - LIVE will connect Windows gamers to over six million gamers already in the Xbox LIVE community. Then, launching in June, “Shadowrun™” will for the first time connect Windows gamers with Xbox 360™ players in cross-platform matches using a single service. “UNO®,” releasing later in 2007, will also support cross-platform play between Windows and Xbox 360.
The launch of Games for Windows - LIVE marks a major expansion of the Xbox LIVE service across multiple platforms, uniting gamers with a single identity, a single gamertag, a single friends list and a single list of achievements attainable on the Xbox 360 and a Windows-based PC. Games for Windows - LIVE gamers will be able to easily find and play supported titles online with their friends across a Windows computer or an Xbox 360. As a unified service with Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows - LIVE will be available in every country and region supported today by Xbox LIVE.
Interesting news has been filtering out of the GDC 07 so far with none more interesting than the annoucement that Halo 2 for Windows Vista will include Achievements! There are legions of Halo 2 fans out there and I wonder how many will purchase the Windows Vista version of Halo 2 in order to amp up their Gamerscore.
What Achievements will the folks at Bungie come up with and how will current players of Halo 2 respond? Other news from the conference is the detailing of the Live for Windows pricing structure. Current Xbox Live Gold subscribers can breathe easy as their subscription will cover Xbox Live play across Xbox, Xbox 360 and any Games for Windows that have the feature. New users to Xbox Live can also relax as the price will stay the same as it is now for a 12-month subscription to the service. Just like with the Xbox 360 there will be a free Silver package as well as a Gold package which retails for $49.99 for a year subscription, $7.99 for one month, and $19.99 for three months.
Microsoft is on full media blast with the coming release of its next operating system, Windows Vista. Even more important than the new OS, is ofcourse the new initiative Games for Windows. The entire OS has been built as a gaming platform and that means good things for people like myself. Sure you might say this has nothing to do with Xbox 360 but then you’d be dead wrong. One of the games under the new Games for Windows brand is Shadowrun, the first Live Anywhere title to pit Xbox 360 and PC gamers together via Xbox Live.
I want one! (and no I’m not talking about the girl) I know I’ll need to upgrade my PC in order to take advantage of games like Crysis. I’m still hoping for an Xbox 360 version though. Excited about the Vista release? Geared up for more with the Games for Windows brand? The guys and gals over at Gamerscoreblog have more photos from events in San Francisco and New York.
I know some of you have emailed and expressed interest in Microsoft’s Games for Windows. Well, here’s a little something concerning the matter…
Microsoft and Leading Game Publishers Unveil First Wave of Games for Windows Titles
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and Company of Heroes blast off on the Windows scene with the new Games for Windows packaging, branding and game features available only on the Windows platform.
Microsoft is excited to announce the recent release of the first game titles carrying the new Games for Windows branding bar and packaging, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy from LucasArts and the Windows exclusive, Company of Heroes from THQ. Coinciding with the retail availability of both titles, gamers will easily be able to identify the Windows version with new branding and a familiar DVD-style package.
