What to expect from the Games for Windows Live Marketplace

by Randy Nelson { Nov 13th 2008 at 9:00PM }

One part of the new (Improved? You decide.) Games for Windows Live is, well, live. That would be the in-game interface we covered yesterday. It's fast, functional, and even swaps Windows UI elements out for 360 controller button icons when you connect a 360 controller to your PC (a nice touch).

The next element of the GFWL reset is due next month: the Marketplace. We got to go hands-on with this standalone app and ... it's very much what you would expect. The Marketplace app will become available once the first GFWL DLC rolls out; load up a GFWL game and it will auto-download. Similarly, GFWL games will check upon starting up if there are any title updates – just like 360 games – and download / install them with no muss, no fuss.

The Marketplace app runs in a small, tabbed window. The main screen has options for add-on content, trailers and demos – again, pretty much what you'd expect. Right on the main screen is a display of your current MS point balance, with an option immediately below it to purchase more.

Also on the main screen is a spotlight on new DLC, demos, videos, etc. and a listing of content available related to your most recently played games. Clicking through the other tabs provides direct access to a full screen for DLC, the media you've downloaded, and a screen for launching demos.

The app doesn't need to be running while playing GFWL titles, but will load when you select it from the in-game interface (or a title's menu). We asked if it's skinnable and were told no; what you see is what you get. There also aren't any full game downloads yet, but MS says they're definitely on the way – as are the very long-awaited Games for Windows Live Arcade titles. These are on the Games For Windows team's roadmap ... it just hasn't been unfolded to reveal exactly where they're at yet.

Tags: games-for-windows, games-for-windows-live, games-for-windows-live-marketplace, hands-on, joystiqfeatures, microsoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

MOT @ Nov 13th 2008 9:08PM

So where can I find this standalone app, or is it only available to journalists? Because I searched the site yesterday and couldn't find a download link.

Cody @ Nov 13th 2008 9:25PM

Read the article. It's due next month. Joystiq got an early copy.

NeoK-182 @ Nov 13th 2008 9:31PM

it's not out yet. it won't be out for another 2-3 weeks.

Sokkratez @ Nov 13th 2008 10:04PM

I'm pretty happy with the changes to the in-game application. It actually looks and performs as if it were designed for PC games.

WTangoFoxtrot @ Nov 13th 2008 10:08PM

glad to see its a standalone app at last !

Chin-Poh @ Nov 13th 2008 10:12PM

Hopefully, we'll see the GTA4 DLC come to this marketplace and hope it can be as great as the 360's one. : )

Dan CiTi @ Nov 13th 2008 10:16PM

This might mean Microsoft cares about PC gaming.

Sora @ Nov 13th 2008 10:44PM

If they didn't, why would they be revamping GFW?

Ihavepants @ Nov 13th 2008 11:36PM

I don't understand why they were making it look like they didn't before though... I mean they own the PC gaming platform. I suppose it's because they don't really have any competition.

Haggard @ Nov 14th 2008 2:52AM

Yeah, they set up GFW and then their own executives were saying "we're trying very hard to piss off PC gamers so much that they buy xboxes"

Albanian_Killa @ Nov 13th 2008 11:52PM

Hasn't Steam been doing this for a while now? You know, title updates, offering demos, etc.

I wonder about the add-on thing. End to mods? Add-on packs not cost money for PC gamers? Hmmm...

Anyway, I'm no PC gamer, in fact, only PC game I play is Counter-Strike Source. I think that Steam should be the main platform for all developers though, because it is very well built. We'll see how this GFW - Live approach MS is taking will work out.

Geist @ Nov 14th 2008 1:02AM

You make it sound like Steam is actually well-designed and maintained. You're so crazy.

(It's good, why the hell did Microsoft make some other poorly-made system.)

Anchel @ Nov 14th 2008 2:43AM

Actually I find Steam to be way too resource-intensive. I've used Steam on 4 different computers and it always slows them down. In some cases, the games even refuse to work properly.
Two examples are Audiosurf (demo) and Trackmania Nations. I've used both the standalone and the Steam versions of both games. The standalone ones worked perfectly while the Steam versions took forever to load plus they had major slowdowns (specially for the Audiosurf demo).
So no thanks, I'd rather Steam never became mainstream for developers.

Ihavepants @ Nov 14th 2008 2:54AM

Anchel

How old were these 4 computers?

Anchel @ Nov 14th 2008 3:11AM

The oldest one was from 2005 - the newest and current one is a VAIO FW laptop from this August, which I would call anything but old (the graphics card is the ATI Mobility HD 3650, good enough to play today's most demanding games like Crysis).

I don't know... I've never really liked Steam very much. I like how it is an easy way of distributing games, but after that I find it a clumsy way of actually LAUNCHING the games. I hate having to access Steam to play Trackmania when the standalone version opens up in just one click on the desktop.

Brian Alexander @ Nov 14th 2008 5:35AM

does the stand-alone client have chat support? and when i boot it up can people on xbox tell I'm online?

MagusDF @ Nov 14th 2008 10:31AM

Microsoft botched the whole games for windows thing from the start. So badly thay you could even question if they did it intentionally to drive up 360 sales or adoption.

Now the real question is does this use real cash for purchase or is it all space MS points. Because if its MS points they can keep that crap.

I have the ps3/360 but the pc is still the prefered platform for me. Steam picked up the slack since MS dropped the ball and has made massive strides to be ahead.