Games On Demand For Windows To Get Day-And-Date Releases

In advance of E3, Microsoft says Games on Demand for Windows is poised to begin keeping up with the release dates of games. In a recent press release, the publisher stated that the digital platform "will soon be the home of day-and-date releases," citing 2K Games, Capcom, Microsoft Game Studios, Rockstar Games, THQ, and Ubisoft as partners. In addition, the service will also begin distributing non-Live-enabled games. Starting this afternoon, one will hit every week throughout the year, kicking off with Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and several other games, all published by the aforementioned partners: 

• Age of Empires III 
• Assassin's Creed 2
• Borderlands
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
• Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

mm no quest? :|
 
i just stick with steam

This make no sense. Who uses xbl on pc ?

Steam is better.

I don't think they're going to steal much business from Steam. Even if they offer a game for a couple of bucks cheaper, I'd still prefer to stick to one service for my digital library of games. Though, I'm actually a primarily retail copy person myself.
 
@VicRattlehead said:

" mm no quest? :|  i just stick with steam "

Games for Windows could have been something great, but it just turned out to be a fourth rate Steam that will all be forgotten within a few years, if not sooner.

It's all about the deals for me. If they can match some of the great deals you get on steam I might take notice. Otherwise, not really interested.

They're still trying, huh?
Challenging Steam is like challenging WoW; futile.

Does Games for Windows Live provide any usefulness?

Baby steps for Microsoft 
F-1 flight for Valve

" Does Games for Windows Live provide any usefulness? "

If microsoft does weekly sales like Steam does, it will gain a following.

Will the servers be cross platform? That's my biggest question.

I am a points whore and love to see games tied to the same achievement system, but at the same time if it's already on Steam then I can just get that.  Besides the Xbox Live connections, there's no reason for Games for Windows to even exist, really.  Valve has had that market cornered for years.

Don't they understand how much PC gamers hate Live???  Don't they understand how much PC gamers love Steam???  Knowing Microsoft they'll take games they're putting on live off of Steam.  hopefully not.

Are those older games tied with achievements? If so, then TAKE MY MONEY!

I'm glad Microsoft is trying to make GFW Live current. I can't wait to play hot new releases like Age of Empires III and Max Payne 2. Next week, a day and date release of Flight Simulator '95. 

Too little, too late.

" Are those older games tied with achievements? If so, then TAKE MY MONEY! "

Maybe Microsoft should just buy Valve and combine Steam and GfWL into something a little be more awesome than Steam (ie. where achievements actually count for something). 
 
I hope not though :p

" Maybe Microsoft should just buy Valve and combine Steam and GfWL into something a little be more awesome than Steam (ie. where achievements actually count for something).  I hope not though :p "

I'm sure all of those games are also available on Steam. Without the factor of achievement points, Games for Windows Live is useless.

Guess this is the reason that Fable 3 is getting a PC version. They needed some big time exclusive content to help push this latest attempt to break into the PC DD market. 
 
I am all for more competition in the DD space myself. Leads to better sales and lower prices from all of the major DD sources. I like Steam, but would never want it to be the only game in town.

Obviously trying to compete with Steam but I don't think Steam will be deeply threatened by this.

" @Kibblez said:

" Are those older games tied with achievements? If so, then TAKE MY MONEY! "

No, they aren't. If they did that, I would love GFWL and buy my games from them...Steam achievements suck. "

Gears of War please.

I know that I should know better, but this news kind of gets my hopes up that Microsoft will even acknowledge the PC's existence at this years E3. Oh who am I kidding, they probably just said this now to keep them from needing to take 5 seconds away from their precious 360 during the press conference.

this is great
more support for the PC and a better competitor to steam is good
small baby steps but GFWL has potential
 
just logged onto the client after maybe a year and I find it funny that it uses the 360 boxart for some of the games
catalog of games still suck since the last time i logged into it

" @Spekingur:  Say what? Achievements count for something? Since when? You mean Gamerscore? More like epeen. "

If they can have the amazing deals Steam has every week, I might use it. 
However, they need to do away with those Microsoft Points for PC games. I'm fine with them on my 360, but that's where they should be left.

So those games are getting achievements for Pc?
 
Edit: Nevermind, I'll still stick with steam.

When I play a game on the PC... who am I playing? I really don't care, I'm just playing a game.

I'll just use Steam and GoG for my digital distribution needs.

Cool I guess.

Well, at least they are trying. Right?

The subtitle to this story sounds like a Curtis Mayfield reference... nice.

still waiting for Age of Empires II. III was disappointing.

I think its completely ridiculous that they are still sticking with the microsoft circus bucks (points) as payment for some games and addons for GFWL

" This make no sense. Who uses xbl on pc ? "

How could they just blindly overlook adding their own achievements that they have in place to GWFL games? If you were at that meeting they had to really try and push this DD thing, wouldn't that be the first thing you would mention? How dense can they be?

I agree it's Steam all the way (and Direct 2 Drive)...

And I'll just keep on buying stuff from Steam, thanks.  MS really should just get the fucking message and put their stuff up on the pre-existing services.  The only ones who get it right are Valve with Steam and Stardock with Impulse.

 i probably consider downloading the demo if all those games were $10 each