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Games for Windows Takes on Steam
Games for Windows Takes on Steam
Shacknews - July 22, 2008
Submitted by Kentor (807) at 1:05PM PST on July 22, 2008
Microsoft today announced that its Games for Windows initiative is set to expand with the launch an online PC gaming marketplace this fall. The service will deliver free and paid downloadable game content, along with trailers, demos, and other content comparable to the company's Xbox Live offerings.
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1apujanata posted on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 3:38AM PST on July 24, 2008. RE: Games for Windows Takes on Steam@apujanata,
I gave a wrong example of cases old timer is nimble enough to crush newtimer. I couldn't think of the right example, so I will just leave it "empty".[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
1apujanata posted on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 3:36AM PST on July 24, 2008. RE: Games for Windows Takes on Steam@lstormy10,
I believe your last paragraph is a little bit "strong", IMO.
Back to topic :
GfW & Steam reminded me of PSN & XBOX Live. They are both newcomer vs oldtimer fight. In every case of newtimer vs oldtimer, if the oldtimer became too complacent / not nimble enough, the newtimer can take away the oldtimer marketshare (Lotus 123 vs. Excel). If the oldtimer is nimble enough, it can crush the newtimer (MS DOS vs. PC DOS a.k.a. CPM).
I don't think it is wise to understimate Microsoft, especially in the software area. The only failure of Microsoft that I know of is Microsoft Money vs. Intuit Quicken. It is still too early to say whether XBOX (and X360) is a failure or not. Microsoft is known to be a failure at first, but became successful later. It should be interesting to watch GfW vs Steam.
Since Microsoft is also a game publisher, I think lots of publisher might shy away from giving Microsoft (as their competing publisher) more money by making their game available on GfW. I could be wrong in this "prediction".[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
0lstormy10 posted on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 6:02PM PST on July 23, 2008. RE: Games for Windows Takes on Steam@Kentor,
Did I call Shacknews a random news establishment? And excuse you for even thinking you know me - not that I questioned your trust in Shacknews for any reason.
In addition, I suggest that you realize that all of my comments were correct in the fact that GfW is not taking on Steam really. Until GfW is finally able to sell games directly from the large number of publishers that Steam offers, then it will be no threat to Steam.
Furthermore, excuse me for not seeing into the future and guessing the contents of your follow-up article.
One word of advice: settle down and grow-up.[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
0Kentor posted on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 9:25PM PST on July 22, 2008. RE: Games for Windows Takes on Steam@lstormy10,
First, it's not my article -- it's Shacknews'.
Second, Shacknews is not some random news establishment: they've been around for a long time and have far more industry contacts then you, hence I trust them.
Third, the follow up article I just posted has Kevin Unangst, Games for Windows' senior global director,
all but confirm the previous article.
For instance:
Shack: Will there be full games for sale on the new Marketplace?
Kevin Unangst: So we're focusing our initial release of the Marketplace on add-on game content, as well as demos and trailers. There's no reason that at some point in the future we will not offer full game downloads on Marketplace. From a technology perspective, no reason that that wouldn't be part of the road map anytime soon.
Shack: So you guys aren't going to say anything about the digital distribution side of things for now?
Kevin Unangst: Well, I should be clear: Games for Windows Live is a digital distribution network. I think the only thing we are not detailing is when you will be able to purchase a full game end to end on our Live service. However, you can download trailers, you can download demos, you can buy add-on content for an existing game, and all of that is digitally distributed. So I think this is the first wave of the type of content distribution, commerce, and really extending those game experiences, that you're going to see from us.[ Elite ] [ Level 12 ] [ Rank: 807 ]bids
-1lstormy10 posted on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 5:57PM PST on July 22, 2008. RE: Games for Windows Takes on Steam@Kentor,
Your article title is pretty misleading. GfW isn't trying to take on Steam as they did not state that they will be selling full titles via GfW - the main point of Steam. Either way, Steam is evolving quicker and remains unthreatened by really any other service on the PC.
I see GfW being revamped as basically taking what all games that use the service used to be able to only do from within the game itself and make it centralized via another application.[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 294 ]bids
14Kentor posted on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) at 1:05PM PST on July 22, 2008. Article: Games for Windows Takes on SteamMicrosoft today announced that its Games for Windows initiative is set to expand with the launch an online PC gaming marketplace this fall. The service will deliver free and paid downloadable game content, along with trailers, demos, and other content comparable to the company's Xbox Live offerings.[ Elite ] [ Level 12 ] [ Rank: 807 ]
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So when Microsoft says that they will be entering digital distribution and games sales, and it's only a question of when and not if, you take that to mean GfW is not a competitor of Steam? Right.
I'll settle down alright, off this site and forum entirely.