games-for-windows-live posts

Just a few years ago Microsoft was one of the most prolific first and third party publishers for PC games, releasing titles like the Age of Empires/Mythology series, the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, the Mechwarrior series, Freelancer, Impossible Creatures, Rise of Nations and many more. However Microsoft has been doing some cost cutting in the past 18 months as they have shut down a number of their internal PC developers such as ACES Studio and Ensemble Studios while cutting back their third party PC game publishing lineup.

At the same time, Microsoft has tried to work with third party publishers on their Games For Windows marketing push for PC games, They have also tried to improve their Games For Windows Live online service which got off to a rocky start just over two years ago but has made improvements since then. Big Download got a chance to chat with Michael Wolf, the Senior Marketing Manager for Games for Windows Live, to get an update on their PC game development and publishing plans and their future plans for Games For Windows Live.

Eidos's recent WWII action-strategy game Battlestations Pacific was released last May and later this month folks who picked up the title will be able to download two new content update for the game. One of these updates is called the Mustang Pack which will add six new units to the game including the P-51 Mustang plane, the US Navy's Alaska Class cruiser and the Japanese Super Yamato Class, a bigger version of the legendary Yamato battleship that in real life was never made.

The second content update is the Carrier Battles Map Pack which adds four new maps to the game that can be played on all five of Battlestations Pacific's multiplayer modes. The map pack even includes a level set in Aleutian Islands near Alaska. PC owners can download the Mustang Pack sometime today for 160 Microsoft points on Games For Windows Live. The Carrier Battles Map Pack will be released on July 23 for 800 Microsoft points.

This trailer for the upcoming Volcano Island Map pack for Battlestations: Pacific, which adds two new areas to the game. The first map is called simply Volcano and the other is Choke Point. Both support different modes of play. The map pack is scheduled to release on June 25th and will be available to PC players via Games for Windows Live for 560 Microsoft Points.

Download HD Battlestations: Pacific 'Volcano Island Map Pack' Trailer (168 MB)
Check out all Battlestations: Pacific downloads

Eidos is continuing to promote its recently released WWII naval action-strategy game Battlestations Pacific and in celebration of this weekend's Memorial Day holiday they sent word on new Play and Win sweepstakes that will begin on Friday and last until Sunday. You have to have a Games For Windows Live membership in order to win.

Simply sign onto the Games For Windows Live client and then download the Battlestations Pacific Registration video from its online marketplace. Then play at least one Battlestations Pacific multiplayer session between this Friday and Sunday and you will be registered to win. The grand prize winner gets, among other things, a new gaming PC rig, new Microsoft PC gaming mice, 4,000 Microsoft points and more.

We've been looking forward to returning to Mars to break stuff in the upcoming action game Red Faction Guerrilla but it looks like us PC gamers are getting the shaft once again as it looks likely that the Volition-THQ game won't have the PC version come out day-and-date with its console brethren.

While the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions are due out in early June, retail web sites like Gamestop and Amazon are now showing an August 25 release date for the PC version of the game. The port, which is actually being handled by Reactor Zero, will have support for Games For Windows Live (which is a mixed blessing at best). While there's no official word from THQ about a PC version delay it's not likely that the retailers moved the date back just because they wanted to.

While Microsoft's Xbox 360 division is going all out for their E3 2009 presentations, don't look for anything major from their Games for Windows/Games for Windows Live group. Big Download has learned from a company PR rep that Microsoft has no plans at all to use the larger and revamped E3 to promote or announce new games for their PC gaming marketing brand and online service. According to the PR rep, Microsoft feels E3 is more of a console game show than a PC game event (never mind that there will be a number of PC games shown at the show, but oh well . . . )

This is a different attitude from last year's E3 where Microsoft held a press briefing about Games For Windows Live during the event. Since then the service has launched a stand alone client and a revamped user interface that has gotten mixed reviews. At GDC last March Microsoft announced they would be putting in new features for the client but so far those features have not been implemented.

Update: While there won't be any Games For Windows Live announcements, Microsoft is planning to hold a Windows 7 reception at E3 where several games will be demoed on Microsoft's upcoming PC OS.

Looks like LucasArts is giving PC gamers a bit of attention based on a new trailer that debuted this week over at the Entertainment Weekly web site. The game is Star Wars: The Clone Wars Republic Heroes and is based on the current Cartoon Network TV series.

Developed by Krome Studios, the third person action game is set for release on Sept. 15 and based on the logos shown at the end of the provided trailer it looks like it will not only be coming to the PC but it will be a Games For Windows Live title. That means things like achievements, voice chat and more will be supported (although we wouldn't hold our breath for Xbox 360 multiplayer cross-platform support).

[Thanks The Weaponeer]

Last Tuesday we thought we were going to enjoy playing Broken Steel, the third and final (for now away) downloadable mini-expansion for Fallout 3. However install errors that were apparently on the Games For Windows Live client side of things caused problems for PC users and the decision was made to pull the download for Broken Steel.

Now it looks like everything is back to normal as the Broken Steel download is once again available for Games For Windows Live members to download and add to Bethesda Softworks' hit RPG game. As we have mentioned before the expansion continues from the ending of Fallout 3 and raises your character's level cap from 20 to 30. It still costs 800 Microsoft points (about $10) to purchase.

It's been a long, long time since on of the big fighting game franchises has made an apperance on the PC but Capcom is still planning to release Street Fighter IV to our platform. While the publisher still hasn't revealed a release date for the PC port the Capcom Unity blog has revealed some new info on the new PC features.

The game itself will be a Games For Windows Live title which means support for things like achievements and voice chat. You can also expect higher resolution support and a way to switch the shaders on the game to look different. In addition to the game's normal look there will be art shaders for "Watercolor," "Poster," and "Sumi-e ink" styles. You can see two sets of examples of those shaders in our new screenshot gallery.

Eidos has been promoting the heck out of Battlestations: Pacific, their upcoming sequel to the 2007 released WWII naval action-strategy game Battlestations Midway. This week the publisher sent over 10 new screenshots. many of which show off more of what we like best in these kinds of games; blowing stuff up real good.

As we have mentioned before, Battlestations Pacific will allow players to command the large navel fleets of both the US and Japan in separate single player campaigns as well as full multiplayer support. The PC version also will support Games For Windows Live.which should mean things like achievements will be supported. The game is currently due for release in mid-May.