Steam or windows games version?

(General_Zod) #1

I have numerous steam games, but call me old school, I like to have a disc. I understand this is available for dig. download via steam or the retail box is windows games.

Does this change how you connect to games? I don’t like the windows games application, and don’t want to install that. Is that optional with the disc install? Or does one have to create a windows games id to play this?

The con for my for steam has always been the same. I can’t sell/give it to someone down the road, thus I don’t own it.

Debating on buying retail tomorrow or preorder on steam today. With steam would it be available after midnight tonight?

(Shadedluck) #2

Nope. It goes through steamworks. Has nothing to do with GFWL. Also, I doubt that it wouldn’t be available after midnight, but you might not get the preorder bonus. Also, there has been times in the past where steam has run out of CD keys. The earlier you get it the better.

(General_Zod) #3

Just to clarify, the retail box that says games for windows does not use GFWL?

(Senethro) #4

GfW and GfWL are different things. Confusing, yeah, but you can be certain of that.

Brink uses Steamworks. The game registers on Steam even if you have a disc.

(Linsolv) #5

Games for Windows is a standard, like ANSI. Games for Windows Live is a release platform, like Steam.

It doesn’t mean that an ANSI-compliant product is made by ANSI, and in this case it doesn’t mean Games for Windows Live.

If it uses their stupid app, it will have “LIVE” on it somewhere.

(BrigandSk(A)) #6

NO

It just means it runs on the operating system: Windows.

(Bridger) #7

FYI, every game you download on steam can be backed up on a disk (or multiple disks, as the case may be). So you could still get it as a digital download AND have a disk :stuck_out_tongue:

(Bridger) #8

[QUOTE=BrigandSk(A);294740]NO

It just means it runs on the operating system: Windows.[/QUOTE]

“Games for Windows” is a standard that Microsoft has been promoting for some time. If a game has that tag on it, then you know for a fact that it’s microsoft certified to use the Xbox 360 controler amongst some other things. Google it if you are really interested.

GFWL is Microsoft’s version of steam, and is totally different from GFW.

(indirect) #9

Let’s all just say thank god for Steamworks.

(General_Zod) #10

Ok, I gotcha. Thank you all for the reply. I ask cause for example, I don’t recall seeing that on ETQW box or other games I have. But I guess more recent games are using the games for windows logo even though they don’t use GFWL.

Yes with steam you can back up to disc, but I still don’t like I can’t sell it. I still don’t know why steam won’t allow that except for the obvious reason that they want to kill the second hand market. I wanted to give me nephew l4d1 when I bought l4d2 and was surprised I couldn’t ‘gift it’ to his steam id. Again, if you can’t give/loan/sell it you don’t own it. But that’s a separate rant about steam…

Ok, now that I know this doesn’t use GFWL, does it use steamworks in that it gets linked to my steam id and the issue I mentioned above (can’t sell/give) applies anyway?

If so maybe I’ll get the steam version cause can’t dodge it regardless and I’ll have it cached for when I get home. Don’t care about the pre-purchase goodies as I think that’s a gimmick