Games for Windows

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Games for Windows

Games for Windows campaign logo
Basic data

developer Microsoft
Publishing year 2005
operating system Windows
programming language Various
category platform
German speaking Yes
microsoft.com

Games for Windows was a gaming platform and marketing campaign by Microsoft that was launched in 2005. Games for Windows is no longer supported since Windows 8 was released in 2012 and the Xbox Live services were integrated . Games for this platform should meet certain certification standards, compliance with which, however, has not been verified by Microsoft. The aim of the campaign was to make computer games for the Windows operating system more accessible and user-friendly. The Games for Windows client is available for download, but since the marketplace was discontinued, no further games can be purchased and therefore only titles that have already been purchased can be downloaded.

The advertising campaign has been promoted by booths at trade shows and other events since 2005.

On August 22, 2013, the "Games for Windows" marketplace was discontinued. Games for Windows Live was supposed to be completely switched off on July 1, 2014, but Microsoft made it clear a few days beforehand that the service would remain in effect for the time being. Many developers have started to switch the copy protection of their games from GfWL to Steamworks .

Platform standards

Games that should become part of the Games for Windows platform should meet certain requirements set by Microsoft. These included, among others:

  • An “Easy Install” option that enables the product to be installed on the PC in as few steps and with as few mouse clicks as possible.
  • Compatibility with Windows Game Explorer (see below)
  • The game had to install and play on x64 versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7 and be compatible with 64-bit processors (even if the game could be a 32-bit application)
  • The game had to support "normal" and widescreen resolutions , i.e. aspect ratios of 4: 3 (800 × 600, 1024 × 768), 16: 9 (1280 × 720, 1920 × 1080), and 16:10 (1280 × 800 , 1440 × 900, 1680 × 1050, 1920 × 1200)
  • Support of parental controls in Windows Vista and Windows 7
  • Start option from Windows Media Center
  • Support for the Xbox 360 - controller , the game provided that such input devices supported

However, manufacturers were later able to “certify” their products themselves with Games for Windows, which is why some games do not meet these requirements. The “Games for Windows” logo can also mean that only one Xbox 360 controller gamepad works to control the PC game. Game titles such as “Blur” or “Mafia 2” only support the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller, all other gamepads could only be used with the help of additional software such as B. the Xinput Driver, or you played with the keyboard.

Online platform

Since May 31, 2007, some Games for Windows titles had access to Microsoft's Live Network, a network for online games, which also offered voice chat, a messaging function and friend lists. An Xbox Live username was required to sign in, and some games support cross-platform multiplayer. However, these were only available if a corresponding service was subscribed to.

On July 22nd, 2008, Microsoft announced at Gamefest 2008 that the use of the live network would be free of charge. Furthermore, Microsoft announced online sales with the name Games for Windows Live Marketplace . Similar to its counterpart for the console market, the Xbox Live Marketplace , it should be possible to download game content such as demos and additional modules. It was also announced that the live interface would be more PC-friendly and the technical requirements for developers would be reduced. Microsoft was thus in direct competition with the leading online sales platform Steam from Valve .

Windows Games Explorer

Windows Games Explorer is included in all versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7, hidden in Windows 8. (1) and Windows 10 (it can be called with the following clsid: explorer shell ::: {ED228FDF-9EA8-4870-83b1- 96b02CFE0D52}). This special folder displays the games installed on the computer. If a compatible game is installed on the computer, the operating system adds a link in Games Explorer and also downloads the cover and information about the age rating ( e.g. ESRB , PEGI , CERO, etc.).

Compatibility depends heavily on the age and level of awareness of the games. If a game is incompatible with Games Explorer, the user can enter it manually, but this does not guarantee that the corresponding cover and the age rating can be downloaded.

Windows Games Explorer is compatible with the parental control function of Vista and Windows 7. Parents can limit how long their child can play and which games they can play (based on the age rating or the selection of specific games).

Tray and Play

In Tray and Play is a system developed by Microsoft for Windows Vista technology, which allows users to directly after inserting the CD with the games to begin. Meanwhile, the game installs itself in the background and loads the data required for playing from the CD with minimal caching , similar to that of game consoles. The first and so far (as of September 2009) only game to support this is the Windows version of Halo 2 .

packaging

Games published on the platform appeared in standardized Games-for-Windows packaging. A feature was the eye-catching lettering with the logo on the front of the box .

In a report on the progress of the campaign in December 2006, Microsoft told IGN that the Games-for-Windows logo would be printed on all game packaging from the partners of the program. The sales of the games in connection with the marketing campaign have increased especially among the dealers who have concentrated more on these games, so it is planned to promote the brand more intensively.

magazine

Games for Windows: The Official Magazine was the title of a computer game magazine from Ziff Davis Media and Microsoft. The first issue appeared in November 2006. The Games-for-Windows-Magazin was the new edition of the Computer Gaming World magazine . The magazine has not been printed since the April / May 2008 issue, and the staff has been integrated into 1UP.com as a PC department .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Rail Simulator at the Leipzig Games Convention
  2. ↑ Xbox.com: PC Games FAQ ( Memento from September 6, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ Eurogamer.de: Games for Windows Live will be discontinued in July 2014
  4. ↑ http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_games.asp (link not available)
  5. ↑ ABOUT GAMES FOR WINDOWS ( Memento from May 17, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ↑ Games for Windows LIVE Fundamental changes
  7. ↑ Games for Windows attacks Steam by developing its own distribution platform
  8. ^ "Legacy Game Support" at Microsoft Developer Network
  9. ↑ Vista and Games for Windows Update (December 7, 206)
  10. ^ Jason Dobson: Ziff Davis Shuts Down CGW, Opens Games For Windows . In: Gamasutra . UBM plc . August 2, 2006. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  11. ↑ Sam Kennedy: Games For Windows Magazine Moves Online ( English ) In: 1UP . Point Davis . August 4, 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2013.