On December 15, Games for Windows – LIVE will evolve beyond LIVE gaming and include a portal for accessing and downloading your favorite LIVE-enabled titles…courtesy of Games on Demand. Games on Demand for Windows lets you easily purchase and download great titles from the Games for Windows – LIVE library right from your computer, and re-install your games whenever you want, wherever you want. Games for Windows – LIVE now gives you the flexibility to access and play your games where and when you want, all straight from your PC.

“With Games on Demand, we didn’t just want to create a cut-and-paste version of existing digital distribution services,” said Mike Ybarra, general manager of LIVE Engagement Services. “We challenged ourselves to deliver an integrated platform that takes full advantage of the unique capabilities offered by the LIVE service. Our goal has always been to create a seamless online gaming experience for the Windows community, and Games on Demand is a great step toward that end.”

The launch lineup will include recent hits like “Resident Evil 5” (Capcom), “Red Faction: Guerrilla” (THQ), and “Battlestations: Pacific” (Square Enix), as well as new exclusive LIVE-enabled versions of popular digital games such as “World of Goo” and “Osmos,” distributed by Microsoft Game Studios. All games can be purchased either by credit card or with Microsoft Points. Games on Demand for Windows will be available in markets that currently have the Games for Windows – LIVE service. Microsoft is also offering an updated LIVE-enabled version of “Tinker,” formerly an exclusive Windows Vista Ultimate Extra, as a completely free download from the Games for Windows – LIVE client.

“Connected digital experiences are defining the continued growth of Windows as a gaming platform,” said Chuck Osieja, creative director of Games for Windows – LIVE. “Today marks Microsoft’s return to delivering Windows games built on unique LIVE experiences.

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Today Microsoft released the new v3.0 update for Games for Windows - LIVE. This new update adds some protections such as server-side authentication and a promise to be DRM-agnostic (as in the devs choose if they want DRM or not).

Microsoft aims to bring more a 360-like experience to PC gaming, and thus will continue supporting the GFW-LIVE platform

The most prominant part of the update though, is the ability to purchase DLC directly from the game instead of the client. After installing the update that be downloaded seperately here, I booted up Fallout 3 and installed the latest patch for that. Once that was done I was able to log in to LIVE and be greeted with a message about the latest update. I went over to the Downloads portion of Fallout 3 and it had a new link to purchase new content. THis in turn opens up the Dashboard allowing you to purchase directly from the game. Additionally, you can purchase Microsoft Points and change your Gamertag all from within the game.

Hopefully more games will support GFW-LIVE in the future making it easy for me, or anyone else to purchase new DLC, such as Mothership Zeta. You can ask them to put in new features in v4.0 in this thread: http://forums.gamesforwindows.com/t/6459.aspx (All you need to log in is your Windows Live ID).



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