Gears of War, BioShock Added to GFWL Download

By Kevin Parrish
published

Microsoft is working on stocking quality PC games in Games for Windows - Live, including the original Gears of War and BioShock.

If you haven't checked out Microsoft's Games for Windows Live (opens in new tab) service for the PC lately, you might be in for a little shock. When the stand-alone client was first introduced last year, only a few PC games were available to purchase and download including Viva Pinata, Fallout 3, Shadowrun and a few others. Now the service offers 49 games to download--but only 9 demos to test drive. Go figure.

The latest additions to Live's Games on Demand library includes the original Gears of War title from Epic Games, costing $19.99 or 1600 Microsoft Points. Other new releases are BioShock for the same price, and the original Max Payne for $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points. Take note that gamers won't need to pre-purchase Microsoft Points in order to buy and download a title from the Marketplace--the client allows for credit card payments and code redemption.

In looking at the hardware requirements, Gears of War will need 12 GB of hard drive space, a 2.4GHz Intel or 2.0GHz AMD processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce 6600 or ATI Radeon X700 card to run the game--low requirements indeed. As for BioShock, PC gamers will need 8 GB of disk space, a 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor or compatible, 1 GB of RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce 6600 or ATI Radeon X1300 card.

Outside these three new additions, gamers can purchase and download LEGO Harry Potter, Age of Empires III, Batman: Arkham Asylum, GTA IV: Episodes from Liberty City, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and many more. Don't have the stand-alone client? Go get it here (opens in new tab).

17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ooh, 49 games. Steam has like 8 zillion. You go, Microsoft!
    Reply
  • maestintaolius
    I'm all for this, more competition for steam the better. I loved the "perils of summer" sale.
    Reply
  • Tmanishere
    I like the competition, but I dread the thought of having more than one client open at a time. That might just be me though.
    Reply
  • Trueno07
    maestintaoliusI'm all for this, more competition for steam the better. I loved the "perils of summer" sale.
    Steam, Battle.net, GFWL, Impulse, competition is great because we get some great prices.
    Reply
  • sliem
    I love steam. I must have spent over $60+ on 10+ games. Borderlands for $10, L4D2 for $10?
    Reply
  • hellwig
    I had to install GFWL to run Kane and Lynch (which I downloaded from Steam stupidly enough). It's buggy (maybe it conflicts with Steam), and it wants my Windows Live ID (which I don't think I actually have, is that the same as my .NET Passport). I think I'm going to uninstall it, the game is not worth playing anyway (it's buggy too).

    Only 49 games? I own more than that on Steam. It might be worth it if they offered something not already on Steam, but there's no good reason to use it right now. Is this the same system they use for X-Box live? Not that I own an X-Box, but do GFWL and X-Box live interact (i.e. with points, friends, etc...), or are they completely unrelated services? Knowing microsoft the two aren't anything alike (except they can use the same Live! ID).
    Reply
  • bustapr
    i dont think this would affect steam as to make lower prices. Steam makes special offers almost every week and they are all awesome. This weekend we get serious sam 2 free test drive and 50% off.

    Last week I bought the half life 2 pack for a measilie 7 bucks.
    Reply
  • the_krasno
    bustapri dont think this would affect steam as to make lower prices. Steam makes special offers almost every week and they are all awesome. This weekend we get serious sam 2 free test drive and 50% off. Last week I bought the half life 2 pack for a measilie 7 bucks.
    Correction: almost every day!
    Reply
  • Regulas
    GFWL can take a flying leap of a tall cliff for all I care.
    Reply
  • chriskrum
    I just don't like it when games force you to use multiple online services. GFWL is fine, but why do I have to use it when I buy one of their games through Steam. Ditto for EA Gand Cerberus (what total crap), Rockstar or any game that uses (shudder) Gamespy.
    Reply