Manage updates with the Download AppGames for Windows - Live User Reviews
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"I'd give it less than .5 if I could. Awful at best."
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
None that I can think of.
Cons
Matchmaking service is awful. Selecting "Same skill" always puts you up against someone far superior or inferior to yourself. (SSF4:AE) Had I known when I bought this title (Steam doesn't go out of their way to tell you) that GFWL was the primary MO I wouldn't have bought it. The lag is bad, the matchmaking service is abysmal, and constant crashes make this title, and the GFWL client far less than desirable.(This is with a first-gen i7 machine with 32GB RAM, and a mainstream high-end AMD VGA, so hardware isn't the issue)Microshaft needs tolet Steam control this portion of the market. Their product is vastly inferior, and has little to no merit in the marketplace. Do yourself a favor anddon't buy any GFWL-required games.
Summary
Garbage. The client, tThe GFWL enabled / required games... etc. Just download Steam and make your non-GFWL game purchases through them. SSF4:AE and GFWL are the worst kind of titles. Buggy, and non-supported. Responses like "Did you check your drivers?" While stating you are an IT professional, and your drivers, firmware, etc... are up to date are common redirections from Microshaft and the publisher. Garbage is a disservice to the word. Boycott MS and any GFWL-enabled / required title.
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"Needlessly complicated and overbearing"
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
Well designed interface and polite, informative, error messages.
Cons
Necessity of online access to redeem save files for an offline game despite their being no cloud-synching service for those offline files, sporadic amnesia of a user's login details, support system that I've yet to receive any correspondence from regarding the inability to access my account, advertisements, inability to apply a serial key to separate accounts despite those accounts being linked and having only 3 possible installations on separate computer systems.
Summary
I have Steam; I have a client that keeps my games updated, my saves cloud-synched and my account accessible. I can install the games I have paid for (with their respective save-files) as many times as I damn well please on as many systems as I want because their anti-piracy measures are sensible and well adjusted for the average user. This is how a service keeps customers happy.
Hell, even Origin has the multiple install ability, the save file cloud-synching and the one-time user verification despite it's innumerable quirks.
The truly stupid and incredibly ironic thing about Games for Windows Live is that it's anti-piracy measures have failed miserably; a google search indicates that I can have a DRM-free, cracked install of any game available on their service without any of the issues state above. Yet as a legitimate, albeit forced, user of their festering turd of a client I am made to jump through arbitrary hoops every single time I want to play a game I have paid for. As it stands, I now have no access to my games or any of my previous save files and no obvious way of redeeming either. This is unacceptable and I hope it's resolved. -
"Not the best, but not as bad as you may have heard."
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
- Good selection of games.
- Achievements do something.
- Connection to Xbox LIVE.
- Nice looking overlay.
- Cross-play with 360.
- In game DLC system works like a charm.Cons
- Slow loading times.
- Finding online matches can be hard.
- Voicechat could do some work.
- Lacks party chat.
- Games for some reason are often buggy.
- Marketplace is terrible.Summary
Games for Windows LIVE gets a bad rap from many steam fans. Chances are my review will get more dislikes for me not hating it.
Just looking at the other reviews will show the bias.
Now the client itself is alright, it doesn't have the speed or look of Steam or Origin, but does do the job in the end.
Games load up fast when you click on them, which is nice.
The games which use GFWL are a good selection of games and I highly recommend checking them out.
I myself have never had any issue with a game loading (granted slow), but has always worked.
If you see a game that uses GFWL then I think you should still try it.
Also it's nice having more options, I don't like how almost everygame uses Steamworks, options are nice. -
"Absolute Garbage."
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
It hasn't yet wiped out humanity (not completely anyway).
Cons
I dont think 1000 characters is enough but...
1.Takes forever to update for most people AND very often multipule attempts even though it tells you the update was successful (Steam has usualy been able to update these GFWL games first shot, after GFWL has attempted to 5 times, to no avail.
2.Encrypts saved games making it a huge hassle to transfer from desktop to laptop, especially with 14 games that use it in my library.
3.Is extremely insecure, even 2 years after this release, I was told I was blocked due to spam as a result of malware on my system when there was NONE on either my laptop or desktop(if you read my reply to the only review that didn't give this crap 1 star, you will see I specialise in malware removal)
4.The support team is useless, they copy and paste solutions without reading your previous messages and when they send a link, it is just to a support page, not directly related to your problem.
I am out of room, just as I knew I would be, I have about 5 more points.Summary
Do I really need one?
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"A Genuine Garbage Product..."
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
Nothing at all...
Cons
Though I gave 0.5 star actually I meant -5 stars. Every you start the game it will start, whether offline or online. Won't update in a single go..Doesn't recognize my user name and password out of the blue and then accept it. Simply Junk Software.
Summary
God knows why they use it. Why don't they keep things simply by removing all those third party annoying software like this to run and irritate people. I got irritated while playing GTA-IV and GTA-Episode from the Liberty City. Please stop using software.
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"THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO EXIST"
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
IT SERVES NO PURPOSE. so NONE
Cons
It needlessly complicates games.it is mandatory for some otherwise good games and just dealing with it completely ruins any fun that could have been had from the game. It is mandatory for offline play too.
Summary
I CANT PLAY GTA 4 BECAUSE GFWL IS messing with steam or something, and wont update, and gfwl wont even launch reinstalling it does nothing i dont even have the patience to fiddle with gfwl to get it to work. why the F_U)))___CK cant i just play my game. I dont want anything to do with GFWL. but microsoft is forcing it on us. like a giant sweaty jailhouse Schlong in the shower
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"THERE IS NO MIDDLE FINGER BIG ENOUGH!"
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
Absolutely none.
Cons
I've been locked out of my account multiple times for no apparent reason.
Adds nothing to the gaming experience other than redundant sign-in and activation code screens.
I lost hours of saved progress because of GFWL. I bought a game on Steam and launched it 4 or 5 times the day I bought it. Everything was fine (i.e GFWL had yet to interfere). The next day, I tried to launch the game and GFWL is in my face. It made me enter my activation code, and then all my saved progress was gone.Summary
worst service I've ever been forced to use
From now on I will not buy any game with GFWL support. -
"Slow, greedy, much better options"
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
None, everything is below average
Cons
You need to sign in to save your game. Playing online is next to possible. Advertisng everywhere.Much better options if you have a choice.
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"Kiss your money goodbye!"
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
None, there simply aren't any!
Cons
1)If your game is reliant on GFWL and your account becomes compromised, you are screwed. Their support is abysmal, not to mention rude.
2)Forget EVER having your account access restored.
3)There is not a darn THING you can do.Summary
I had Rising Dead 2, Red Faction Guerilla, Fallout 3 DLC content. As a result of not being able to access my account I cannot save progress in Red faction Guerilla and Rising Dead 2 or download my DLC for Fallout3. This has lead me to follow the following questioning when I buy a new game. 1)Is it dependent on GFWL? If it is, I'll pass on the game. Sadly there are a few games that rely on it that I'd love to play but I'm not prepared to deal with this BS anymore.
One has to deal with activating the game with a key because of DRM but then you have to keep signing in to play and save progress? Sadly I can't voice how truly frustrated I am by GFWL as language is a factor in having these reviews posted. But know this, I don't support GFWL and I never will. Those days are over and it was a costly lesson, over $200 or more of worthless games. Thanks Microsoft you F@%!heads!
This just drives my support for PIRACY! -
"Why does this exist?"
Version: Games for Windows - Live 3.2.217
Pros
People know it's bad, few people support its existence
Cons
My first game using this software had inverted controls (with no options to fix it) and deleted my save file after only a week with the game. Also, the CD key really serves no purpose if the game is on steam. I bought the game when it was half off, and it's a really good game, but this software is so bad that I still feel like I've wasted my money.
Summary
Microsoft is worried about people pirating their games, and then they do something like this. Yikes, I'm surprised GFWL is still in business.
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