Games for Windows - Live

Infobox Software
name = Games for Windows - Live



caption = Games for Windows – Live's "Guide" menu
author =
developer = Microsoft
released =
latest release version = 1.2.0241
latest release date = December 11, 2007
latest preview version =
latest preview date = September 5, 2007
operating system = Microsoft Windows
platform =
language =
status =
genre = User interface, Voice chat, Text messaging
license = Freeware
website = [http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-US/Live/Pages/AboutLive.aspx www.gamesforwindows.com/live]

Games for Windows – Live (trademarked as Games for Windows – LIVE [cite web | url = http://www.microsoft.com/library/toolbar/3.0/trademarks/en-us.mspx | title = Microsoft Trademarks | publisher = Microsoft | date = 2007-12-13 | accessdate = 2008-07-28 ] ) is an online gaming service for "Games for Windows"-branded PC titles. It enables Windows PCs to connect to the Live service, which will eventually include other devices including Windows Mobile and Zune. Users, each with a unique Gamertag that carries over from Xbox Live, are able to play online, keep track of their friends' status, send and receive messages, gain and keep track of Achievements, voice chat across platforms, and more. Some games allow for cross-platform play, such as Shadowrun, pitting PC players against Xbox 360 players.

The features of the service will initially be limited, but will grow just as the features of Xbox LIVE have over the years. The service was shown in near-final form at CES 2007 during Bill Gates' keynote speech. Xbox Live Arcade will launch on the service later in the year.

The service is open to 3rd-party developers, but they must be able to meet certain Technical Certification Requirements (TCRs), which include (but aren't limited to): game ratings, total number of achievement points, content, game profiles, and LIVE connectivityFact|date=April 2008. Games for Windows - LIVE games must also meet standard Games for Windows (PC games that don't have LIVE support) TCRs. For more information regarding Games for Windows TCRs, see [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb173456.aspx Games for Windows: Technical Requirements] on the Microsoft Developer Network.

Products

One of the first Games for Windows – Live-enabled title was "Halo 2" for Windows Vista, which was launched to the public on May 31 2007. [cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6171471&part=rss&subj=6171471 | title = Halo 2 Vista delayed again | publisher = GameSpot | first = Brendan | last = Sinclair | date = 2007-05-24 | accessdate = 2008-07-28 ] The game supports all the standard Live features (such as achievements, voice chat, messages, etc.), but does not offer cross-platform play with Xbox or Xbox 360 players.

Another game released was "Shadowrun", which launched simultaneously on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 on May 29 2007 [cite web | url = http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/shadowrun/ | title = Xbox.com Shadowrun - Game Detail Page | publisher = Microsoft | accessdate = 2008-07-28 ] , and is the first game to offer cross-platform play on the Live service. Shadowrun is the first game to be played between Live on Windows Vista to LIVE on Xbox 360.

Sega, Eidos and THQ have signed on to include Games for Windows - LIVE in their upcoming games. Epic Games also included this service in their game engine Unreal Engine 3. [cite web | url = http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/gcdc-cross-platform-floodgates-will-open-in-2008-ms | title = GCDC: "Cross-platform floodgates will open in 2008" - MS | first = Johnny | last = Minkley | date = 2006-08-22 | accessdate = 2008-07-28 ] from Sega includes cross platform play between Xbox 360 and Windows over LIVE.

User interface

The user interface or "Guide" follows much the same layout as the Xbox 360 version. Apart from minor cosmetic differences it also matches the same features as the Xbox 360. This includes messaging (text and voice), friends list, recent players, private chat and personal settings.

The client that provides this interface is included with Games for Windows – LIVE games. It is only available when running a game designed for the service. Access to LIVE functions outside of games is not possible although a Windows client similar to messenger is under consideration for future versions of the service.

The current version of the in-game Live client is 1.2.0241, released on December 11 2007. It is available for Windows XP (Service Pack 2) and Windows Vista operating systems. [cite web| url = http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d6a69b9f-2aef-4125-b162-edf0ae922caf&DisplayLang=en | title = Download Games for Windows - LIVE Redistributable 1.2 | publisher = Microsoft | accessdate = 2008-07-28 | date = 2007-12-12] Version 1.2 added offline achievements and the ability to be able to see if the user's friends are joinable in a game. The client also auto-updates when users are logged-on to a Live-aware game.

Games for Windows Live features

*Single gamertag
*Common gamer profile
*Common gamerscore
*Single player achievements - All titles have achievements, though some share the list with the Xbox 360 version
*Private chat via text and voice
*Common friends list and online presence
*PC only multiplayer including browsing a list of active PC games
*Multiplayer matchmaking with friends
* [http://research.microsoft.com/osa/apg/trueskill.aspx TruSkill matchmaking]
*Multiplayer achievements
*Cross-platform gameplay

Changes

On July 22, 2008 Microsoft's Chris Satchell, CTO of the company’s Entertainment devices division, announced that Games For Windows LIVE would be free to developers. Previously, select publishers and developers used the system and had to pay for it – now, however, it’s free. Also, all Games For Windows LIVE features are now free for gamers, such as matchmaking and cross-platform play. Satchell added that the move was a “way to improve Windows gaming”.

As well as free multiplayer, Microsoft has reduced the technical requirements for those developers looking to utilize Live – such as removing playlist servers, allowing studios to use the Microsoft matchmaking servers instead. They will also be adding a new Marketplace to the PC version of Live later this year. Microsoft is also said to be revamping the UI which should make a debut in late 2008. [cite web | url = http://www.developmag.com/news/30211/Games-for-Windows-Live-now-free-to-developers | title = Games for Windows Live now free to developers | first = Michael | last = French | date = 2008-07-22 | accessdate = 2008-07-28 ]

ee also

*Games for Windows
*List of Games for Windows titles
*Windows Vista
*Xbox Live
*Live Anywhere

References

External links

* [http://www.gamesforwindows.com/en-us/support/live/Pages/default.aspx GfW Live Support page, including client update]
* [http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/mar07/03-14G4WandXboxLIVEPR.mspx Official announcement press release]
* [http://research.microsoft.com/osa/apg/trueskill.aspx TrueSkill Research]
* [http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1960510,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532 ExtremeTech article describing Live Anywhere]
* [http://blogs.ign.com/MGS_HiredGun/2007/05/04/53959/ Article on Dedicated Servers and Halo 2]