GFWL. Have Microsoft lost the plot?

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 17:07

So I went to buy HQ revenge for Arkham City this morning. I can't download it off Steam because the missis bought me the DVD version, so I'm stuck with GFWL.

All went ok, until I clicked on 'buy now'. Sorry, please log in from your trusted PC, Mark-PC. Except that's the whole problem, I already AM logged on and using my PC. I'm not on a different one, I'm on the right one.

So I phoned their tech support, where the guy who definitely wasn't UK based said they were conducting a huge overhaul of their security systems, and my only option was to wait a month, and then see again if it works. He said it's all tied into Win 8.

He then openly admitted, no word of a lie, that they released OS's in an up / down manner.

XP

Vista

Win 7

Win 8. You get the picture. Even recommended I don't upgrade to 8 and stay with 7.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 17:47

KIA said:
This.

Ditch it and grab the game you want in a Steam sale.

I was thinking of doing that. I read that GFWL encrypts the save files though. Jeez, it just seems like they are out to completely alienate everyone. There's might be a way round it with a bit of googling.

I've never bought anything off there before (GFWL Marketplace). I can see why everyone hates them. Steam is so much better.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 17:49

lurkio said:
yes , MS have lost the plot

I read somewhere last week that they were considering bringing back the start menu to Win 8

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 17:57

FoxEye said:
At the rate they are going, MS could be a footnote in history before too long.

They should stick to what they do best and accept that their stranglehold on the whole of the world was going to end sometime or other. Trying to knock a dent in the grasp on the market Android and Apple have was very brave, one could almost say, foolish.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 19:11

Antar Bolaeisk said:
If it makes you feel any better I haven't been able to play Harley Quinn's revenge either due to GFWL.

What error message do you get? The same one?

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 19:25

I never have any headaches with Steam, ever. Have bought the game off Steam and got rid of GFWL. Never, will I go near it again.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 19:29

chaparral said:
But some games on steam still need GFWL ..

Steam do the GOTY version of AC, I've bought that so I can have a bash at the DLC. Some lads might be wondering why I'm so up in arms about it but you spent £1000 on a 3D Vision 2 set up to play AC in its full glory like I did, it kind of winds you up.

In future, if a game needs Games for Windows Live, I'll just boycott the game.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 20:50

chaparral said:
I just tried starting batman AC on steam and got this

Lol. More like Games for Windows has quality issues and should be resigned to the scrap heap. Talk about a headache. How can it be a piracy measure? We all know the official releases from Skidrow and alike always contain a workaround. It doesn't stop them.

God only knows why they keep it going.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 21:48

Ill be joining you in the anti gfwl party. Steam only from now on. Not even buying dvd copies. Steam only.

Michaeljcox24 · 24 Nov 2012 at 21:51

yashiro said:
Remove GFWL that was installed with Batman. Install the latest standalone GFWL client and the latest Windows Live ID Sign In assistant (comes with Windows Live Essentials).

Once they're installed run the Games for Windows Marketplace app and make sure you can sign in and so on. Batman should work fine on your next run.

Yes, GFWL is a bit ropey.

I did that today. Still borked.