Microsoft: We Need to Step Up PC Gaming

With the recent release of Halo: Reach and the upcoming launch of Kinect, it seems that PC gamers are pushed aside in favor of their console comrades. Even worse, Microsoft's Windows OS dominates the PC sector, yet Games for Windows - LIVE isn't exactly the thriving community Xbox 360 gamers have enjoyed for years--subscription or not. Microsoft Game Studios sees the perceived prejudice and plans to do something about it.

"There’s been a fair bit of criticism aimed at Microsoft that we were spending a lot of our focus on console, and we need to be putting resources behind PC as well," Microsoft Game Studios’ general manager Dave Luehmann said in an interview. "Other companies should look to Microsoft for leadership, but I’m not sure they do. It is our job to lead the way on PC. And in some ways we are doing that and in other ways we are not. So we need to step up."

The studio's renewed focus will start with three big titles--Fable III, Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight--which will use Games for Windows - LIVE. Luehmann reassured PC gamers that more big titles were on the way, however the studio plans to test new ideas. After all, it's Microsoft's job to experiment with new business models that will inspire 3rd-party publishers worldwide.

"I think it is the responsibility of first parties to push the business models into new directions," he said. "We will test some ideas--some will work and some won’t."

What Microsoft needs is a new, genre-defining game like Halo for the PC, something so mind-blowing addictive that console gamers will drop their controllers and buy new PC gaming rigs with Windows 7 pre-installed.

  • meat81
    How about bringing the whole Halo series to PC as well. I dont have an Xbox because i have a decent pc rig. Also Microsoft Flight is more of a niche product and is not necessarily going to step you up in the PC market.
    Reply
  • scook9
    Many of us are still waiting for Halo 3, ODST, and REACH on PC....as well as Gears of War 2 (and 3 when it comes out)

    How about you just stop shitting on your entire pc fanbase....
    Reply
  • brennon7
    Gears of War 3 for PC...forget the damn consoles already, they are GARBAGE!!!!
    Reply
  • hellwig
    I had to install Games for Windows Live! to get Kane and Lynch working (even though I bought it off Steam). When you start the game, you get a splash screen for Kane and Lynch that says "Press SPACE to start...". When you press space, the stupid Games for Windows overlay pops-down and won't relinquish control of the interface. You have to close the overlay, which is made more difficult by that fact that it doesn't seem to recognize the mouse.

    Its stupid issues like this (on top of other, more serious issues) that just kill some programs from the start. Why would I consider using Games for Windows if the overlay in my games won't allow me to play my games (if you can't get something simple like an overlay working, do I really trust you do to anything else)? I've never had issues with Steam's overlay that I recall.

    What Microsoft needs is a new, genre-defining game like Halo for the PC, something so mind-blowing addictive that console gamers will drop their controllers and buy new PC gaming rigs with Windows 7 pre-installed.

    2 Words: Microsoft. Halo was supposed to be that game for the PC 12 years ago. Instead, Microsoft needed a big title for their new console, and bought Bungie for the Halo IP (a game that had not yet been released). Now Microsoft needs another Halo for the PC? Maybe they should have left Halo alone in the first place, and never bothered entering a console business that cost them billions.
    Reply
  • crazitrain02
    Just make sure if Microsoft does bring over games from the xBox that they are good ports that actually work well with a keyboard and mouse. I've seen too many ports that make the game crap.
    Reply
  • iNiNe5
    part of the thing going for console gaming is the instant gratification factor.... the average person who wants to play games just wants to plug and play. having a good title won't be enough on a PC. a cultural change is needed.
    Reply
  • jazz84
    As much as I dislike MSFT, I think this is a refreshing step in the right direction. I'd like to see, for instance, a PC version of Kinect. It's pretty clear that with the vastly different control schemes, the PC and Console multiplayer markets will need to remain segregated, but innovation in the gaming world should remain cross-platform IMHO.
    Reply
  • randalthor20001
    If Microsoft really wants to support PC gaming, then it will stop seeking exclusive games and exclusive dlc for the 360. I understand why Microsoft likes to give a Brinks armored truck full of money to every game developer that will agree to only have their game or dlc on the 360 and not the ps3. I know you needed exclusives in order to motivate people to buy 360's. But, I think you've established yourself in the console market enough, that you can stop snubbing pc gamers. So why not have games and dlc on the pc also. The pc gaming crowd is mostly a different market than console gamers. So I don't think you would be loosing any 360 game sales to pc sales, if you brought more games over to the pc.

    I'm also pissed at Microsoft for giving Capcom money to make 2 dlc's for Dead Rising 2, exclusive to the 360. I know you want to force, I mean motivate, console gamers to buy Dead Rising 2 for the 360, instead of the PS3. But why not release the dlc for the pc too? You say you care about pc gaming, but I"m having a hard time believing you. Actions speak loader than words Microsort!

    If you're worried about piracy, you should just give up on Games for Windows Live, and release your games on Steam for the pc. Don't sell any physical copies of your games; that way no one can pirate your games. Steam is a form of drm that most pc gamers are ok with.
    Reply
  • mchuf
    Why aren't they releasing fable III on the pc the same day it's being released on the Xbox 360? Other's are following MS's lead. They're also dropping out of pc gaming or doing later releases. MS doesn't need to release a new mind blowing release on thepc. It just needs to get more big publisher exclusives for it.
    Reply
  • trkorecky
    hellwigHalo was supposed to be that game for the PC 12 years ago. Instead, Microsoft needed a big title for their new console, and bought Bungie for the Halo IP (a game that had not yet been released). Now Microsoft needs another Halo for the PC? Maybe they should have left Halo alone in the first place, and never bothered entering a console business that cost them billions.
    Actually, Halo was supposed to be some haggard RTS for the Mac.
    Reply