Yeah I know, I was tempted to get a pirate but I managed to get a legit copy of XP pro on the cheap so now I don't need to go through hoops just to grab a new patch. Everything else I have is open source so its only the OS (and games) that I still pay for.
i won't install a pirated XP on the basis that anyone who preinstalled hacks to circumvent activation and WGA may very well have included hacks to report what i'm doing.
I was listening to the 1UP Yours podcast at work today and they had an extended interview with Mark Rein and Tim Sweeney from Epic, a company who is quite cozy with Microsoft at the moment. Even they had some harsh things to say. http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5157&Itemid=2
So basically, it's just that the developers are feeling forced into implementing a feature set. Well, yeah...that's the intent. A standard feature set means that it's easy to implement cross-platform. Easier to provide quality of service. They talk about how PC gamers want things for free, yet the silver membership is free - somehow, I don't think the benefits of Gold membership are really all that common in the free online gaming world.
Kyle, to be fair, you're not exactly playing many modern games are you? Things like voice chat, and ingame buddy systems are getting quite common among new games.
Per the Wikipedia on GfWL on Gold Membership, it's the following features: In other words, it sounds like you'll still get your buddy lists and voice chat. I find the following much more disconcerting, and I didn't even think about this: That is the angle the article should have taken.
That's just a list of some of the features, not a definitive one. I think in this case I'll trust the guys from Epic and other I have talked to who are actually working on games that would have to be altered if they became GFW.
I for one am glad Epic isn't sold on GfWL; for one thing, can you imagine, even for a moment, that Microsoft will publish an API that will allow Mac versions to connect? I can't. There's been a LOT of anticipation on the Mac side for UT2k7, and I'm certain that few people will want to have to buy Windows and install it just to play multiplayer versions of games they already have. Of course, that's likely MS's goal in all this.
Yes, I'm sure it's Microsoft's goal to try to kill the laughable Mac gaming "industry." They won't develop an API because, quite truthfully, the folk who would be using it are a minority of a minority. Meanwhile, I would love to support an industry-decided standard for an online gaming experience, but it seems like only MS is willing to step up and provide the infrastructure for that. Steam is close, but even then, with most games, it's little more than a program launcher.
If this was the case, then why is the IPod supported on say the XBox360, when MS has it's own IPod with the Zune out there? Bill Gates has always had a soft spot for Apple.
