games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Brad Wardell on GFWL: 'You can't do that on the PC' photo

In an interview with Shacknews, Stardock's Brad Wardell gave some great insight into why the company has been fighting so heavily for PC gamers' rights, which you should read about. But for the sake of this story, however, we are going to look at the man's thoughts on Games for Windows LIVE.

"I intended for Elemental to be on Games for Windows LIVE, but then as we got closer, the Xbox group took it over more and more," he says. "They have things where, oh, if you want to use Games for Windows LIVE to update your game, you have to go through [their] certification. And if you do it more than X number of times, you have to pay money."

"It's like, 'My friends, you can't do that on the PC.' On the console, I don't have to update my game because an anti-virus program got an update and is now identifying my VB scripts as viruses and I have to apply an emergency patch."

"If Games for Windows LIVE maintains that strategy and they take over, I'm done. I'm not making PC games," explains Wardell. "I would be done." Continuing, he says "I wish Microsoft would do a lot more in making the PC better as a gaming platform."

"For example, the Demigod fiasco with the multiplayer should never have happened. Developers on the PC should not have to license a third-party NAT facilitator. If I was making a game for the Xbox, I get that for free. And I would love if Microsoft would make these servers available -- and they do under Games for Windows LIVE -- without having all these strings attached."

Strong words, indeed. It seems like every time GFWL gets brought up on gaming sites, colorful words naturally follow. Something tells me that isn't about to change anytime soon.

[Image: Sklathill]


Continue: More Stardock stories





prev next

20 comments | showing # 1 to 20

matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 01:09
matrixdude171
I don't have many problems with GFWL, but for the most part I update manually because automatic upadtes are typically untrustworthy. This is just another thing reinforcing the fact that Microsoft is trying to kick pc gameers off their pc's and onto the 360.
Damnation02's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 01:23
Damnation02
I hope it get's fixed though. Almost every new GFWL update introduces stuttering to a few games. Once an M$ employee replied, saying: "We do infact test the updates....· But the next one was screwed as the last.
superezekiel's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 01:35
superezekiel
I'd love if GFWL didn't freeze at 99% everytime I try to update GTA IV or Fallout 3.

And why it isn't an external app, I'll never fucking know.
psycho terror2's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 01:38
psycho terror2
360 pad support = good
everything else = bad

PC games worked just fine before GFWL. i actually kind of like the idea of the GFW branding, but i wish MS would just leave it at that.
TurboHyperFighting's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 03:53
TurboHyperFighting
I see his point. Sometimes it's as though the MS gaming branch is full of software nerds (I use the term with affection) who have only been trained in MS infrastructure. It's like handing an architect a recipe for clam chowder.

I think the PC gaming industry needs to evaluate itself in comparison to the competition: Consoles.

I'll be the first to argue that PC gamers are 'wai moar l337' than console gamers (I've been doing both since the early '90s, blah/etc). That doesn't change the fact that from a business standpoint PC gaming is a market that is more or less (LESS!) an overlooked demographic.

To make a long story short:

I think the PC demographic is either too unregulated or restricted by individual user competency (this includes those with the newest and oldest of hardware).

Personally I am able to keep up with the latest in PC happenings and hardware. Not to say that mine is the latest-and-greatest. Some of us are no so fortunate.

This is the bane of PC gaming: Contemporaries and hardware lollygaggers.
Yehat's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 04:55
Yehat
The horrible quality of GFWL is so utterly baffling that I can't help but ask why Microsoft even bothered?

And it's not like they were inexperienced in this field, the client systems to Allegiance, Freelancer, the original MSN gaming client for Age of Empires 1 & 2. It's like somehow they just allowed themselves to become grossly stupid.
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 05:16
Tarvu
@ psycho terror2

The 360 pad support is shit too, If not done perfectly it will constantly change it's mind, switching the controller back and forth between default 360 layout.
SASUGA RIVAL's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 05:18
SASUGA RIVAL
I think Microsoft secretly wants to kill gaming on the windows platform. 360 is much more profitable for them considering they can nickle and dime the shit out of players.
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 05:51
Volomon
Ah MS does everything this way, the only difference is the Xbox360 has a more experienced team under it's belt. The reason GFWL does not have the same level of experience is because everyone avoids the piece of crap like the plague.

However even though no one here apparently remembers LIVE for the console had the same growing pains. It just isn't as recent. Some examples might be limitation on file size for DLC, which prevent some games from ever coming out on it. Holiday growing pains, of not being able to get online at all.

Xbox 360 is the second iteration of the console LIVE! version. GFWL is still going through basic operating tweaks.
ZethUK's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 06:35
ZethUK
Microsoft either needs to put more effort into GFWL or just forget about it really. As plenty of people have said before, PC gaming was fine before GFWL and since it launched we haven't been given anything to think of it as a must have component.
Turbofail's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 07:18
Turbofail
haha, he programs in VB
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 08:51
PhazonYoshi
@Turbo; VBScript is a fairly powerful scripting language built into windows, VB is an awful programming language with an equally bad IDE. VBScript is nice.

GfWL, however, is not. Bloody awful program.
gamadaya's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 09:05
gamadaya
So don't use it.
gains's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 09:48
gains
GFWL will not launch on my PC. Tinkering, emails, help from friends, service calls, patches, OS update . . . still nothing.

I installed it so that I could get the Fallout 3 expansion packs. Now, it's too late. That's a real shame because I love Fallout. They made it too hard for me to give them my money, so I'm keeping it.
Minago's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 09:49
Minago
"GFWL is the devil"

nuff said
hpv's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 10:29
hpv
Hey look, Microsoft found the market where their monopolistic, authoritarian culture can do well. They should drop their OS division and just become a console manufacturer. That sort of platform ownership is much more in tune with their business strategy than a personal computing platform.
psycho terror2's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 11:18
psycho terror2
@ gamadaya

you don't really get this do you.
dwolfwood's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 12:18
dwolfwood
Sony OS, GO!
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 13:21
brainderailment
Not surprised.
Tarvu's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/02/2009 13:30
Tarvu
Simply avoiding it is not an option for people who want to play games with the hideous mark upon the box.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos

    Win this!
    Dive in! meetup+play for a chance to win a PC

    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles review
    Left 4 Dead 2 review
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex review
    Arkedo Series - 02 SWAP! review
    EyePet review
    more reviews
    Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks
    Monster Hunter Tri
    Hooking onto, under and above Just Cause 2
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 50693 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing
    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Think L4D2 is an expansion? You're a f*cking idiot





















    More Destructoid Originals



     Popular now more






















    Team Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief    		 Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor    		 Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Dale North
    News Editor    		 Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor    		 Colette Bennett
    Tom Fronczak Brad Nicholson
    Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
    Conrad
    Zimmerman    		 Chad Concelmo
    Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Will Maddock Matthew Razak
    Dyson Joseph Leray
    Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
         
      Dexter
    Adam Dork
    Daniel Lingen
    Hollie Bennett
         		Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Stella Wong
    Josh Tolentino




     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    		 support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    		 keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online     		seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap     		our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?



    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006