Does Microsoft really care about PC gaming?

It's seems all Microsoft does with respect to their Games for Windows program is an afterthought. I had many issues with for example, GFWL where my saved files in Gears of War disappeared, Dirt 2 saved files disappeared, which caused me to spend time trying to fix it (which I eventually did).

Aside from that with respect to games, they didn't bother to bring Gears of War 2, Fable 2, or Alan Wake (which according to the developer wasn't their decision; I am guessing Microsoft prevented them from bringing Alan Wake to PC).

It seems like the PC is an afterthought to them and they are obviously more focused on the Xbox 360.

So, does Microsoft really care about PC gaming?

No. They will add GFWL to the next windows by the sounds of it... Why? Because they want the PC to be the xbox. Hell even the fact that they tried lots of **** at the first version of GFWL and hoped that PC gamers would just smile and get ***** from behind (kinda like xbox users) it say alot when they even tried to pull that crap.

edited so i dont get another warning >.

I think it depends on what you mean by "care". MS has an entire division for Windows, so it's not like MS puts those programmers on ice when the next version of Windows is a few years away.

They're clearly supporting it with the various versions of DirectX, but when they have no direct competition for PC gaming (in terms of hardware) - Windows is just one part of the platform - essentially they can only provide other companies a way to make their hardware or software work.

Beyond saying "Buy a PC!" there's not much they can do - with so many manufacturers making PCs, they'll only upset someone if they say buy Dell/Alienware/Compaq etc. Windows is still mainly used in an office environment - there are millions more PC in businesses compared to gaming rigs.

Windows is ultimately general purpose - MS has to please a vast array of users with Windows - from surfers to businesses all the way through to gamers - which a console just doesn't have to cater for. I'd say they do a good enough job given the open nature of the PC platform.

And it's that open nature that will decide the fate of GFWL - it's been a washout so far, so unless MS can do something to make it drastically better, it will get ignored. We've seen MS up their game in the browser market in response to Firefox/Chrome, so if they wish to keep GFWL going they'll have to do something noticeable.

Care about pc...yes...

Care about pc gaming...no...

I think it depends on what you mean by "care". MS has an entire division for Windows, so it's not like MS puts those programmers on ice when the next version of Windows is a few years away.

They're clearly supporting it with the various versions of DirectX, but when they have no direct competition for PC gaming (in terms of hardware) - Windows is just one part of the platform - essentially they can only provide other companies a way to make their hardware or software work.

Beyond saying "Buy a PC!" there's not much they can do - with so many manufacturers making PCs, they'll only upset someone if they say buy Dell/Alienware/Compaq etc. Windows is still mainly used in an office environment - there are millions more PC in businesses compared to gaming rigs.

Windows is ultimately general purpose - MS has to please a vast array of users with Windows - from surfers to businesses all the way through to gamers - which a console just doesn't have to cater for. I'd say they do a good enough job given the open nature of the PC platform.

And it's that open nature that will decide the fate of GFWL - it's been a washout so far, so unless MS can do something to make it drastically better, it will get ignored. We've seen MS up their game in the browser market in response to Firefox/Chrome, so if they wish to keep GFWL going they'll have to do something noticeable.

LordRork

We should all get Mac's to spite Microsoft. Lots of games on the App Store. :| k0r3aN_pR1d3

Gamers should get Macintosh?

microsoft (like most other companies) cares about the money

that's all they care about

Yes and no

Yes. They are a company. Companies want to make money. PC gamers buy alot of products. I would say they care a great deal. i5750at4Ghz

Then how would you explain the total lack of Microsoft branded games ever since X360 was released? A thing that's been going on for 6 years now? Just a temporary coffee break?

It is literally this simple, they follow the profit...

As Far as PCs go, their money they make from it, is not really from gaming... its from all other computer use....

As far as profits made from gaming goes, they get the considerably largest portion from the xbox360... (It is why the even got into the console market to begin with)

Follow the money, you will find your reasons... remember profit is the F-incentive!

Does this mean that MS doesn't support pc games at all? No (they still get even some profit from it)

[QUOTE="i5750at4Ghz"]Yes. They are a company. Companies want to make money. PC gamers buy alot of products. I would say they care a great deal. N30F3N1X

Then how would you explain the total lack of Microsoft branded games ever since X360 was released? A thing that's been going on for 6 years now? Just a temporary coffee break?

They may publish alot of games, but actul development is rarely done by Microsoft.

Tbh, I think it's more important for Microsoft to stay with tweaking Windows and Direct-X, as well as granting WHQL certification for GPU drivers.

Then how would you explain the total lack of Microsoft branded games ever since X360 was released? A thing that's been going on for 6 years now? Just a temporary coffee break?

N30F3N1X

Does that really matter, though? I'm not too bothered whether MS is specifically bringing out games - there are a lot of PC-only and multiplat developers creating games for the platform. There is a level of tacit support for the platform given the general "Games for Windows" brand (not GFWL).

MS can't do everything (and quite often gets taken to court when it tries ;) ).

they dont care about us.. they want pc gaming to evolve into bit sized games like the stuff you see on the kinetic or wii or xbla or iphone/ipad

they want us to grow into bit sized games.. hence their recent trailer depicting the new windows 8 gaming features including the porting of the xbl pointless avatar feature and other stupid nicknacks.

yes microsoft doesnt even like pc gamers and its their platform!

Im gonna have to say no... but I think they are trying too now with seeing how their new Age of empires online and fable 3 PC sell Im assuming if they sell good they will bring more games to PC, which is why im buying fable 3 pc day oneBangerman15

they dont care about us.. they want pc gaming to evolve into bit sized games like the stuff you see on the kinetic or wii or xbla or iphone/ipad

they want us to grow into bit sized games.. hence their recent trailer depicting the new windows 8 gaming features including the porting of the xbl pointless avatar feature and other stupid nicknacks.

yes microsoft doesnt even like pc gamers and its their platform!

ionusX

Aren't you tired of "sensationalism"?

They can't force anything, and like you probably would be able to figure out by yourself, they want to bring PC and Xbox together, many might not care, but others will, are they doing something for you, a person that doesn't care? no, should you feel forced or insecure? sure, if you can't think for yourself.

They also don't like or hate, they care for money, there's money to make from absolutely any game on Xbox, so obviously they focus on that, on the other hand, on PC MS is gaming itself (Windows/DX).

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

they dont care about us.. they want pc gaming to evolve into bit sized games like the stuff you see on the kinetic or wii or xbla or iphone/ipad

they want us to grow into bit sized games.. hence their recent trailer depicting the new windows 8 gaming features including the porting of the xbl pointless avatar feature and other stupid nicknacks.

yes microsoft doesnt even like pc gamers and its their platform!

DanielDust

Aren't you tired of "sensationalism"?

They can't force anything, and like you probably would be able to figure out by yourself, they want to bring PC and Xbox together, many might not care, but others will, are they doing something for you, a person that doesn't care? no, should you feel forced or insecure? sure, if you can't think for yourself.

They also don't like or hate, they care for money, there's money to make from absolutely any game on Xbox, so obviously they focus on that, on the other hand, on PC MS is gaming itself (Windows/DX).

oh so you WANT to see pc gaming and xbox gaming to be udner the same roof yeah thats a really smashing idea..

in fact you probably were one of the fools tempted to buy one of these..

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015675-1.html

MS is only interested in PC gaming if it helps sell millions of copies of windows. Otherwise they are sticking with X-Box which is a money milking machine (Lems should really the Cows) if there ever was one.

I think this shows how much M$ cares about us by this point.

Not at all, but maybe in the future. The consoles are getting older so it might be a little bit of shift towards pc in the near future. Nothing like back in the AOE, Flight Simulator, Crimson Skies days though.guynamedbilly

When the consoles get old they make a new one. Sheep will buy them if they're the same thing. Hell, they resold the 360 like 3 times even though it plays the same games.

they stopped caring when they sacked all the PC devs like the developers of age of empires, and the devs that made flight simulator.

These days I wonder what the horses nipples we're buying graphics cards for anyway. Might as well buy an xbox for half the price of a graphics card if the games are gonna look the same. Partridge84

[QUOTE="Partridge84"]These days I wonder what the horses nipples we're buying graphics cards for anyway. Might as well buy an xbox for half the price of a graphics card if the games are gonna look the same. wis3boi

MS is only interested in PC gaming if it helps sell millions of copies of windows. Otherwise they are sticking with X-Box which is a money milking machine (Lems should really the Cows) if there ever was one.

menes777

[QUOTE="DanielDust"]

[QUOTE="ionusX"]

they dont care about us.. they want pc gaming to evolve into bit sized games like the stuff you see on the kinetic or wii or xbla or iphone/ipad

they want us to grow into bit sized games.. hence their recent trailer depicting the new windows 8 gaming features including the porting of the xbl pointless avatar feature and other stupid nicknacks.

yes microsoft doesnt even like pc gamers and its their platform!

ionusX

Aren't you tired of "sensationalism"?

They can't force anything, and like you probably would be able to figure out by yourself, they want to bring PC and Xbox together, many might not care, but others will, are they doing something for you, a person that doesn't care? no, should you feel forced or insecure? sure, if you can't think for yourself.

They also don't like or hate, they care for money, there's money to make from absolutely any game on Xbox, so obviously they focus on that, on the other hand, on PC MS is gaming itself (Windows/DX).

oh so you WANT to see pc gaming and xbox gaming to be udner the same roof yeah thats a really smashing idea..

in fact you probably were one of the fools tempted to buy one of these..

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20015675-1.html

"You" can't change what Microsoft is, Windows and Xbox, even if you or others make up god knows what absurd conspiracy theories and even if most around this forum don't care, there are a lot that will, for example Xbox players that also game on PC and "casuals" that would rather have an easy to use, nice looking central hub for all their games.

Opinion and sensationalism don't mix, you either make a decent opinion (you don't care), or you act purely like this is the end of the world.

While I voted 'no' in the poll I think I tihnk the reality is that they are not indiffrent to PC Gaming. PC Gaming is a piece of what makes Windows polular, but it's important to see things from MS's point of view as well. Why should they really care about PC Gaming?

If you buy a a game for the X-Box MS earn about $10-15 even if it's made by a third pary dev. Buy a game for the PC and Microsoft makes nothing. With that in mind, there's no reason why anyone should expect MS to show support for the PC in the same way as they support the X-Box.

I hope they're not interested in PC gaming. I don't want my pc being turned into a xbox 360 clone.

I think it depends on what you mean by "care". MS has an entire division for Windows, so it's not like MS puts those programmers on ice when the next version of Windows is a few years away.

They're clearly supporting it with the various versions of DirectX, but when they have no direct competition for PC gaming (in terms of hardware) - Windows is just one part of the platform - essentially they can only provide other companies a way to make their hardware or software work.

Beyond saying "Buy a PC!" there's not much they can do - with so many manufacturers making PCs, they'll only upset someone if they say buy Dell/Alienware/Compaq etc. Windows is still mainly used in an office environment - there are millions more PC in businesses compared to gaming rigs.

Windows is ultimately general purpose - MS has to please a vast array of users with Windows - from surfers to businesses all the way through to gamers - which a console just doesn't have to cater for. I'd say they do a good enough job given the open nature of the PC platform.

And it's that open nature that will decide the fate of GFWL - it's been a washout so far, so unless MS can do something to make it drastically better, it will get ignored. We've seen MS up their game in the browser market in response to Firefox/Chrome, so if they wish to keep GFWL going they'll have to do something noticeable.

LordRork

I understand what you are saying. But explain Alan Wake situation on the PC then?

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/27595474/remedy-say-alan-wake-pc-cancellation-wasnt-their-decision?page=0