It appears that Games for Windows - Live is to receive a new feature at the end of the year in the shape of Live Arcade, allowing PC gamers to download retro games, updated versions of classics and new arcade titles created by developers.
1UP reports that Microsoft plans to release a dev update for Games for Windows tools "in anticipation of Xbox Live Arcade games rolling out in holiday 07."
We've always expected a Games for Windows - Live version of Live Arcade to materialise. Speaking to Rich Wickham, director of Games for Windows, in March, we were told Microsoft's goal is to "get to a place where Games for Windows - Live is exactly the same experience that you get on Xbox 360 Live."
Microsoft was unavailable for comment on Games for Windows - Live Arcade appearing this Christmas at the time of writing.
But what games would you like to see on Games for Window - Live Arcade? Let us know in the comments field below.
Not sure how much Live Arcade can bring to the PC table. On a platform that has enjoyed free downloadables and online flash games for years, seems like the market for small and simple games may already be cornered. But then again, you can't get Geometry Wars for free...
i can't see this working. some flash games are great at the moment and free. but most importantly of all if you're sitting at your pc we have the world of emulation at our fingertips. snes, n64, nes, genesis etc etc the roms are freely available now from the likes of romnation, as I think (dont quote me) that the copyright might have expired on some but it's clear these roms are not being hidden. i download them every time i see a vc update or just fancy a 5 minute retro bash or to download onto my psp (vacation only as it props up my books the rest of the time!!!). you also realise how much games have moved on once you play an old favourite. they are mostly five minute wonders now, although i do love the retro scene there is no way i would be paying 4 or 5 quid for these roms. the updated graphics don't add much either.
i can't see this working. some flash games are great at the moment and free. but most importantly of all if you're sitting at your pc we have the world of emulation at our fingertips. snes, n64, nes, genesis etc etc the roms are freely available now from the likes of romnation, as I think (dont quote me) that the copyright might have expired on some but it's clear these roms are not being hidden. i download them every time i see a vc update or just fancy a 5 minute retro bash or to download onto my psp (vacation only as it props up my books the rest of the time!!!). you also realise how much games have moved on once you play an old favourite. they are mostly five minute wonders now, although i do love the retro scene there is no way i would be paying 4 or 5 quid for these roms. the updated graphics don't add much either.
I agree, dont see how this will work, ill stick with my mame and a host of other emulators. Oh and its still 'illegal' to download the roms
I think this is a very bad idea. I say this because like many pc gamers i love emulation. Although downloading ROMS is illegal, developers tend to turn a blind eye at the moment. The problem is going to be when these developers realise they can make money from these old games. Once this happen they will start to enforce the law and demand that all ROMS are removed from ROM sites.
If it's used by people that develop small but interesting new titles it will be a good thing.
Geometry wars may offer nothing to spectacular in the graphics or sound department as we have seen such good textures and effects in all modern games for some time now. However, where they score is in the gameplay department.
This goes for older retro stuff too as it's played not because of how it looks or sounds but because of how it plays. This is something a lot of people miss as they look at these old titles and think 'that's not very good' or 'how can that be any good' and all they judge that on is the graphics they see without actually playing.
Of course, the biggest pull is for people that played these original games in their original time as they bring back the memories of their earlier years, which were probably happier and more carefree than they may be now, what with families and responsibilities suchlike. We all like happy memories, wherever they may come from. People tend to forget (or want to) the bad times.
With limited memory, graphics and sound capabilities programmers had to focus on gameplay....it's all they had in order to stand out. These are the roots we need to get back to, the PC especially. I'm not saying graphics and sound are not important, they are, we just need to stop the constant slog of similarity that is confining the PC at present and smaller more directly accessible smaller games may lift the PC back to the spotlight it deserves for all round gaming.
Spending 40 hours playing one game is ok, but maybe people would enjoy 2 hours each of 20 different games?? Pickup and play without the long learning curve or hours needed to become proficient for latter levels....
Hopefully it'll be exactly the same the 360 version. Then I will still be able to play the games I got on live arcade but can't play now as I got shot of my 360.
Spending 40 hours playing one game is ok, but maybe people would enjoy 2 hours each of 20 different games?? Pickup and play without the long learning curve or hours needed to become proficient for latter levels....
Only if those games are cheap enough. People aren’t gonna want to pay 30 - 50 pounds (or whatever your choice of currency) for something that will last two hours at most. 20 games (even on Live market prices) would cost a small fortune! It seems to be way the market is heading though...
I’m not sure if Live Arcade has any place on the PC. As people have already said, there are already many sites where you can download free home made games (some of them pretty damn good) and the whole emulation scene that has been alive on the PC for years. When we've already got everything Live has (and more) for free, why on Earth would we want to pay for it?
I think what MS are trying to do is to try and restore order to PC as a gaming platform. At the moment its not really a profitable platform due to many factors, some of which have been mentioned in this thread.
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