G4WL - worse than I was expecting

FoxEye

FoxEye

FoxEye

Caporegime
Joined
17 Feb 2006
Posts
29,263
Location
Cornwall
I swear, after trying to play GTA4 today, I will actively be avoiding any games using G4WL until they sort their ()*&(* out.

In its current state, it is the most craptastic program I've encountered in years. Here is my experience.

I click the GTA4 icon on my desktop.
(I skip all the prompts about Rockstar Social Club, that is another, unrelated rant for another time).

GTA4 tells me I have to download an update for G4WL. I click OK.
A progress bar appears for a minute. It returns me to the game.
GTA4 tells me I have to download an update for G4WL.
It's the same update. I click OK.
It downloads and returns me to the game.
GTA4 tells me I have to download an update for G4WL.
It's the same update :/

I exit the game, search Google.
I find a Rockstar page with an update for G4WL. They say "you cannot apply this update inside the game client - there is a known problem. We're very sorry"
I apply this update.

I restart GTA4.
I am asked to sign in. I try.
I get an error code. An 8 digit error code. No explanation.
I google the error code. Apparently my profile needed updating with my RL first name. They couldn't just *say* that, they had to give an 8 digit error code instead.

I sign in.
GTA4 tells me I have to download an update for G4WL.
A progress bar appears, then I'm returned to the game.
I'm asked to sign in. I thought I just did?
I sign in.
I'm told my profile is being downloaded.
GTA4 tells me I'm not signed in (???)
I try to sign in. G4WL tells me there is an error downloading my profile.

I give up.

**** you G4WL, you stupid P*S.

This is +nothing+ like the quality XBOX Live system that Just Works (tm). G4WL is what happens with you take XBOX Live and do your best to break it in every conceivable way.
 
Last edited:
Yeah recently having a lot of problems with GFWL myself to do with GTA IV as well.
I haven't been able to play it end of since I updated it, every time I launch the game or LCS it just crashes back to desktop after going to a black screen. ¬_¬
 
Had problems with GFWL as OP on same game, haven't purchased another one requiring GFWL since. I don't like being forced to sign into something I'll never use in order to play a game I paid for. If I'd pirated the game I'd have no problems with GFWL, it's legit players that get hit every time.
 
I have NEVER had a single problem with it. Nor do I ever expect to :).

Nice to read another GfWL bashing bandwagon thread though. They never get old.

Oh and you have to fully star out your swearing. Wouldn't want your pathetic rant to get you suspended now, would you? :)
 
Memphis said:
I have NEVER had a single problem with it. Nor do I ever expect to :).

Nice to read another GfWL bashing bandwagon thread though. They never get old.

Oh and you have to fully star out your swearing. Wouldn't want your pathetic rant to get you suspended now, would you? :)
Click to expand...

How is it bandwagon bashing when I CAN'T PLAY MY OWN GAME THAT I JUST BOUGHT?

Welcome to my ignore list, idiot.
 
you never expect to have any issues ever with it? hmmmm if you say so. Ive heard a lot of bad things when it comes to GFWL. Im pretty sure edge done a article on it not long ago predicting its death as its such a poor service.
 
I'm not even MS bashing here. When I owned a 360 I thought the Live service was pretty seamless, unintrusive, and well done.

How could they make such a naff version for PC when they got it right years ago on XBOX?
 
Isn't this just a problem with GTA4? Was always a pain in the arse updating that, the rest of the games I've used using GFWL have been fine.
 
Semiskimmed said:
i bougth gta4 and the episodes last night and had them update just fine so i would certainly check everything and try again :cool:
Click to expand...

Did you make a new Live profile and gamertag, or did you try to use an existing profile (from XBOX)?

I'm not doing anything wrong since I'm just clicking OK here and there and watching the thing just outright +fail+ to do whatever it is it's trying to do.
 
Memphis said:
Scottish
Click to expand...

G4WL is an absolute abortion, I had to watch my mate sit through the exact same process as FoxEye to no avail. It's an absolute abortion that asks you to sign in multiple times and when you do, it doesn't work. Weird how I have this on Steam and it seems to work just fine without any errors so i've lent him my account for the week so he can have a game in, bar the DLC which i'm planning to buy when Steam has a sale on.
 
FoxEye said:
Did you make a new Live profile and gamertag, or did you try to use an existing profile (from XBOX)?

I'm not doing anything wrong since I'm just clicking OK here and there and watching the thing just outright +fail+ to do whatever it is it's trying to do.
Click to expand...

im using a old live account i used before on Pc games, ive never had a xbox running though to use the account with.
which error are you getting, i did have problems with compatibility but changed them to win2000 and it worked fine
 
If it's any help FoxEye I had similar problems with GFWL not updting games correctly (Fallout 3) and it turned out to be GFWL not liking my router settings. I lowered the firewall settings from High to Medium and now it works fine.

I also hate GFWL though, especially when it treats me like an xBox customer :mad:
 
Been using GFWL since it first came out in 2007 never had any problems with it. I have plenty of people on my GFWL friends list who never had any problems. There are lots of young gamers who use it & never have any problems...................

Hmmmmmmmm so someone gets issues & it must be GFWL & not their Restrictive Firewall/NAT/AV/PC Security Settings or all the other people I know of are just lucky ;)

Maybe research it in future as its not exactly rocket science ;) & the GFWL website has all the technical info you need as well as plenty of employed technical staff to assist if its something else.

1: Ensure your AV & or Firewall are not blocking the GFWL client.
2: Ensure your Router/ISP is configured for an Open NAT (many keep resetting this to Closed NAT every month).
3: Ensure you have the latest GFWL marketplace client installed (this installs the GFWL software as well). Also make sure you have the latest Direct X & Dot.net installed via Windows update or direct from the websites most games will install these for you anyway.

That's it really GFWL will work perfectly if your having issues just look at your GFWL Guide under the Network settings & ensure you have an Open NAT & UPNP enabled. If Closed NAT & UPNP are not available you will run into problems then you need to resolve those & find out what security settings you have in place which are blocking this. A lot of PC gamers disable the SSDP Discovery service as they read some crappy optimise windows guide which recommends this but guess what disabling SSDP prevents your PC from Port sharing & gives you no performance benefit if its disabled anyway :rolleyes:

It sounds a lot to do but in reality its about 2-3 mins work tops & once done you will never have to do again unless your ISP reverts you back to a closed NAT.
 
Memphis said:
I have NEVER had a single problem with it. Nor do I ever expect to :).

Nice to read another GfWL bashing bandwagon thread though. They never get old.

Oh and you have to fully star out your swearing. Wouldn't want your pathetic rant to get you suspended now, would you? :)
Click to expand...

Honestly, did you even read the original post? Twit :mad:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom