Microsoft: Please scrap GFWL right now.

Batman: Arkham Asylum for the PC uses Games for Windows: LIVE features and this is the story of the harrowing experience that the author encountered with getting GFWL to work.

[krouse93]

I agree with this one hundred percent. Because I purchased the game Red Faction Guerrilla and I was unable to play the game and save without doing the update. So I let the update run.. and run.. and I decided to go out and come back and 3 hours later it was almost done. I still have yet to play the game because the stupid game for windows live update is so much of a pain that I would rather pass a kidney stone.

[ATi_Elite]

I don't know about pissing Kidney Stones as I have heard that is the male equivalent of having a baby.

Anyway we all know GFWL sucks balls so just BUY the GFWL retail copy and apply a nice big fat crack. I'm gonna avoid GFWL like the plague but I'm not gonna miss out on Batman AC. The editor is right as GFWL severely punishes those who bought it while those using cracks get to enjoy the game without issue's.

[Charmers]

The best way to combat GFWL is to NOT BUY games that use GFWL. Most developers are already coming around to the fact that GFWL = death sentence for game sales on the PC. There are very few developers still sticking with the service but they will eventually come around.

The problem is not GFWL though the problem is Microsoft is NOT committed to the PC platform. The GFWL service could be one of the best services available on the PC it could even rival steam. But for some reason MS does not seem all that bothered about supporting the service.

So since MS can't be bothered with GFWL I don't see why I should be bothered with it either. I will stick to steam until a better service becomes available. If developers bring out a game that is GFWL I just don't bother with it.

[Baka-akaB]

this , it's idiotic to advise buying them then cracking them .

Once purchased you already funded the war effort .

Get those from steam already when possible or dont (i dont even wanna hear about the obvious third alternative)

[Arup02]

I was invited to the beta of Section 8: Prejudice. But i had to update the game. I let the update run and got out. When i got back the update wasn't even at 1%. Now i have the beta but i'm unable to play. Fuck you GFWL

[StarScream4Ever]

In the image:
-Batman is Steam choking GFWL.

:P

[Megaton]

Joker is way cooler than GFWL.

[radphil]

Woah woah woah woah. That's an insult to Joker.

[radphil]

StarScream, we know you were joking like the rest of us here. :p

[StarScream4Ever]

OK geez ppl, I like Joker too...

[jillthornton]

Actually I implied that the user was joker being choked on the the burly hands of a dark, shady billionaire.

*Wink wink*

[Ducky]

Why do devs even bother with GFWL?
It doesn't stop pirates, neither does Ubisoft's fancy DRM, nor steam.

[jillthornton]

Steam does stop pirates. It stops them by making the act of buying the legit game a better experience (online features, achievements, friends list, in game interface, weekly deals, etc.) than the pirated version.

[Karum]

Last time I reformatted my machine and installed Arkham Asylum on Steam I had to sign into my LIVE account (use the same one for GFWL as I do for Xbox) and had to download an update and install it....I had to do this like 3 times at least before actually being able to complete the login process and actually play the game. I wouldn't have bothered with it but I was forced to in order to be actually able to save my game. Ridiculous.

I simply do not see the point of it all.

[Megaton]

My first experience with GFWL was recent, when I bought Batman:AA GOTY for $7.50 during a Steam sale. Had to spend a good 20 minutes downloading and updating that mess before even being able to start my game, then I find out I'm not even allowed to SAVE unless I'm on my Gamertag. Intrusive as all hell. Not buying another game that requires it.

[FordGTGuy]

You do realize that online multiplayer is free with a silver account on GFWL.

[Megaton]

Yes, as it is everywhere else outside of the 360 and certain MMOs.

[FordGTGuy]

What a fucking cry baby, ohh you had one bad experience trying to get a PC game to work maybe you should run back to your console.

You want bad how about I have to start GTA IV at least 10-15 before it will work because of SecuRom.

I have DIRT 2 the all I had to do was put in my code for GFWL and everything was smooth after that, I have the same experience with every GFWL game I have ever owned.

If this guy thinks this is bad wait until he has to spend hours searching for solutions to play a game because the developer is a lazy bastard.

[wu-stix]

And people wonder why piracy is rampant on PC. Even if you buy the game it can be better to get the pirated version without all the DRM. I just hate that if you buy a game in a b&m then you still have go online to even be able to play the game. This is inconvenient for me as I work in remote locations where we don't always have internet (no cell phone often either). Instead of pirating though I am just playing portable games psp or ds.

[FordGTGuy]

BECAUSE IT IS FREE.

[FordGTGuy]

http://steamcommunity.com/g...

I copy and pasted the below so it would stop saying spam....
**I have DIRT 2 the all I had to do was put in my code for GFWL and everything was smooth after that, I have the same experience with every GFWL game I have ever owned.

If this guy thinks this is bad wait until he has to spend hours searching for solutions to play a game because the developer is a lazy bastard. **

[Baka-akaB]

Piracy was already widespread when the word DRM didnt even exist .

It's obviously a deciding and aggravating factor for some , but it's an abused excuse those days .

[aaaaaaaaa]

Wow reading so many articles like this for so long now and how they(everyone) all seem to say things like its the pirates fault, thers so many combinations of hardware to take into accont or **** coding lazy coding and hundreds of other reasons.

Wouldnt it be nice if everyone within the games industry right from people who make hardware to manufacturing & distribution were put in a room and not let out untill they found a solution to all our gaming problems, i know it'll never happen.

Me personally i blame everyone not one person/company in the games industry not the consumer who always seems to be left to pick up the stick by the brown end

[killershadow117]

Wow, you guy must be idiots because I have never had a problem with GFWL at all. You all need to go to a computer class or maybe, oh I don't know, actually have some common sense.

[John Kratos]

I bought Batman AA off of steam during the holiday sale and I didn't have a problem with GFWL. I really haven't had a problem using any of my GMFL games like Gears, Dirt 2, Halo 2, etc. Honestly signing and using the service is just like using Xbox Live. I really haven't ever ran into big problems. It might be where I use my Xbox live sign in. I don't really know.

[Revvin]

I found GFWL easy to setup and use, its basic as hell and not even close to competing with Steam but the writer of the article really needs to learn how to use a PC.

I'm a happy user of Steam, have been since its launch but I'm all for competition and I've said for a long time I'd like to see Microsoft really put some money into GFWL and use some of the development they have done with XBOX Live.

[kagon01]

So GFWL constantly is downloading updates before you play your game?

If that's the case then there is the possibility you're actually unloading instead of downloading...(probably your information)
In my opinion of course...

[spdarksky]

I purchased Resident Evil 5 and Bioshock 2 retail. I had no problem running it on XP but then i need the DX10 galore so install this game on my Vista (dual boot).

Sign In --> Downloading Update. Eh? I think i already update GFWL client outside of the game. Why do i need to download another update.

OK, sign in, update.....Halfway download error? WTF?

Restart PC, open game again, sign in. Download update...WTF! start downloading from beginning? Microsoft does not support continue downloading update! F@@@CCCKKK!!!

GFWL!! GO TO HELL!!! Steam cloud all the way!!!!