So that's what GFWL stands for...

Games For Windows LOSE. Essential linkage and much whining about Fallout 3 and DLC.

So last night I tried to get Operation Anchorage up and running on PC. I mean, it's not as if I've not already spent enough time playing that game.

Or so we thought... certainly, Games For Windows Live seems to think I've played more than enough, and so it will not allow me to play any more.

Arse.

I could rant near-endlessly about the horrors of the process, but instead I'll simply point you to another game-journo's similarly painful experience, over at Rock Paper Shotgun. I was lucky enough to be given a download code for it (the perks of being in the industry), so at least I was spared the pain and indignity of the whole Microsoft Points farce.

And services like GFWL, and even Steam, are now being recruited in the fight against PC game piracy, which isn't making things any easier. Fair enough, the process of sending out pre-release code, or even just sending out final code early, to journos might be considered a weak spot in controlling a game's disemination, but the countermeasures are fiendishly annoying.

Take Dawn of War 2. I've been playing a preview (see issue 98, onsale in about a week and bit, for deets), but to get that up and running was an epic process of GFWL fuck-uppery, which has left me with two seperate GFWL installs and two accounts. Having one is annoying enough, but two? Especially as I am left with the lingering suspicion that the modifications that allow DoW2 to run are what's getting in between me and Operation Anchorage.

And isn't the whole point of DLC the fact that it should be free?

It's unsurprising, perhaps, that in these dark economic times that those within an organisation who underperform are going to be finding themselves without a job. It's telling, then, that in a recent round of layoffs at Microsoft, one of the 5,000 or so scalps belonged to the head of GFWL, Chris Early.

Hopefully his replacement, Ron Pessner, can iron a few bugs out of the system. In the meantime, gamers are going to be staying away from GFWL as much as they can.

We don't blame them.

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15 Comments

Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.

iamthemaxx Jan 30, 2009 12:17 PM	Ay that was mentioned in the Forums - http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?s=3a85d62f8fee3f30941432f5114b00ca&showtopic=9246 As much as I loved FallOut3, I am sticking clear of this. Which is a huge pity.
Hawkeye Jan 30, 2009 12:30 PM	It's so damned annoying. Then again, I am reading quite a few mixed reviews of Operation Anchorage, so maybe it's a mixed blessing? - DH
Ihsan Jan 30, 2009 1:18 PM	You had troubles getting GFWL working with DoW2? Odd, the group of us that have been playing all just signed up an account and started playing without an issue (apart from the sometimes laughable matchmaking system) in under a minute.
Hawkeye Jan 30, 2009 1:26 PM	Ah, but I've had to use a 'special' version of it to get access to the full game, not just the beta that you guys are playing. Let's just say it was an... involved process :) - DH
iamthemaxx Jan 30, 2009 1:40 PM	This sort of thing is also why I have stayed away from GTA4 (apart from all the bugs).
hectorbustnuts Jan 30, 2009 2:11 PM	You'd think it'd be a pretty painless system by now. How long has the internet been around for? Steam seems to have no hassles these days...mind you, it WAS very shit to begin with. Should we allow GFWL the same length of time to get their shit together? (Asked not knowing how long GFWL has been around) I'm glad the Xbox marketplace hasn't had the same Fallout 3 DLC hassles. I hope it's all up and running ok by the time DoW2 proper hits though.
Ihsan Jan 30, 2009 2:20 PM	If you've got a special version you deserve every problem you get for not sharing it with the rest of us...
Hawkeye Jan 30, 2009 2:49 PM	There's this thing called an NDA... - DH
Ihsan Jan 30, 2009 3:02 PM	There's this thing called an accident...
Hawkeye Jan 30, 2009 3:43 PM	You know, I've received far more threats of physical violence since starting at Atomic than I have in the past ten years. A lesser man might get worried. - DH
orcone Jan 30, 2009 4:11 PM	I'm going to blow your nuts off with a bowl of Sultana Bran. God damn it I'll get it to work.
t8y Jan 30, 2009 4:43 PM	yep, its whats keeping me out of gta4 aswell.. if i bought it via steam, would i have to go through the GFWL bullshit aswell? i was tempted to grab it at EB today but didnt want the GFWL, rockstars loging thing, plus it doesnt work well on ATI cards apparantly
smakme7757 Jan 31, 2009 2:18 AM	Get Fucked With Love - Typical Microsoft!
Waltish Jan 31, 2009 4:34 AM	Hawkeye I don't think Ihsan is a threat making type of guy, he may have been suggesting accidental breech of the NDA. Feel free to correct me If I am wrong Ihsan. {:)
Quazar Feb 1, 2009 10:49 AM	Hawkeye at least you can the impression of being able to play, Gear of War owners don't even get that as of the 28-1-09, seems microsoft thinks that expiring the digital certificate that allows GoW for Windows to play is kind of funny. I know its not quite the same, it is however no less frustrating.

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Issue: 109 | February, 2010

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