Games on Demand, the Xbox 360's digital distribution service for full retail games, is now a thing on PC through Games for Windows LIVE. The main difference here is fiercer competition (Steam, Impulse) and a different selection of titles to choose from.
As of now, when you go to download the free client the following games are in the Games on Demand line-up: Fallout 3, DiRT 2, Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter IV, Battlestations Pacific, FUEL, Viva Pinata, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, Shadowrun, Section 8, Juiced 2, and Red Faction: Guerrilla.
It's worth noting that both Viva Pinata and Shadowrun are currently 50% off, which means $9.99 a piece. While Microsoft is strictly going by whatever price it damn well pleases for the Xbox 360 side of things, it's good that for the PC market, the company is willing to budge on prices. It appears as such, anyway.
Also, Tinker is being offered for free. The game has got 200 Gamerscore points, and it's absolutely free. Free, I say. Free. What's that? You're already downloading this application as we speak? I don't blame you.
[Thanks, TheWeaponeer]
Contest:
3:00 AM on 12.16.2009
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Also baiting achievement whores with free games is real classy.
Please employ a designer to make your games service next time, instead of a one armed monkey with no eyes who does nothing but mimic software conventions from the mid fucking 90s.
As for GFWL I have no interest in it beyond exclusive download-only titles like said Tinker. That's both because 1) I still prefer retail boxed copies for more ownership rights, and 2) because when I do buy digital Steam has me covered.
I don't think any digital distribution outlet requires you be online at all times to play games, only when installing.
That alone is annoying though, I would agree, but much less horrible than you imply.
Any PC could run Tinker dude, just download it. PC gaming will not hurt you.