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Games for Windows

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For the magazine, see Games for Windows: The Official Magazine.
The Games for Windows logo
The Games for Windows logo

Games for Windows is a gaming platform and marketing campaign by Microsoft that dates back at least to 2005, and was revised in 2006. Games for the platform must meet certification standards similar to those of modern popular videogame consoles. The campaign aims to make video gaming on Windows operating systems as easy and accessible as on popular video game consoles.

The campaign has been promoted through convention kiosks and through other forums as early as 2005.[1]

Website

The Games for Windows website shows information about and links to Microsoft products, as well as links to specific video games, computer hardware, gaming tips, new game releases, bestsellers, and general gaming information about Windows games and related software.

The website has a "Windows Game Advisor" which has some more links to specific games, as well as more game rankings and a registration section which appears that allows visitors to find games that suit their tastes.

Game packaging

Games released on the Games for Windows platform are released in standard Games for Windows packaging. Packaging features include a prominent "Games for Windows" logo stripe across the upper front of the box, and harder and more sturdy case material than the traditional thin cardboard Computer Game case.

In a December update on the progress of the marketing campaign, Microsoft stated to IGN.com that "the Games for Windows brand will sit on a stripe across all of the PC game boxes that are partners with this effort." Microsoft states they have increased their sales of Games for Windows brand games in stores that have been giving the games greater focus, and say they plan on increased marketing efforts of the brand. [2]

Platform standards

Games which wish to be included in the Games for Windows platform must meet certain requirements regulated by Microsoft. These include,[3] but are not limited to:

  • An "Easy Install" option that installs the title on your PC in the fewest possible steps and mouse clicks
  • Compatibility with the Windows Vista Games Explorer (see below)
  • Compatibility with the Xbox 360 controller (where applicable)
  • Installs and runs properly on x64 versions of Windows Vista and is compatible with 64-bit processors (though the game itself can be 32-bit)
  • Supports normal and widescreen resolutions, such as 4:3 aspect ratio (800 x 600, 1024 x 768), 16:9 aspect ratio (1280 x 720), and 16:10 aspect ratio (1152 x 720, 1280 x 800)
  • Launching from Media Center (Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate have Media Center)

While not a required feature at this time, some Games For Windows certified games are playable during the game's installation, making PC games more convenient and more similar to console games, in that players aren't required to wait until the game's installation is complete before they can play the game. This feature is known as Tray and Play, and is available in Halo 2 for Vista.

Online Play

Main article: Games for Windows - Live

Starting with Halo 2 for Windows Vista on May 31st 2007, some Games for Windows titles will have access to Microsoft's Live network for online play and other features, including voice chat, messaging and friends lists, acessed from an in-game menu called the "Guide". Users can log in with their Xbox Live Gamertags to gain achievements and play games and chat across platforms (not every game supports cross-platform play.) Some features, including cross-platform multiplayer and multiplayer achievements, require a subscription to Live Gold.

Windows Vista Games Explorer

Vista Games Explorer showing information for the Hold 'Em poker game, including performance and content ratings.

Included with all versions of Windows Vista, this special folder showcases the various games installed on one's computer. When a compatible game is installed, the system adds the game's shortcut to the Games Explorer and also downloads the game's boxart and content rating information (e.g. ESRB, PEGI etc.) for that game. Compatibility generally depends on the age or popularity of the games with newer games having better compatibility. For example, Starcraft is fully compatible despite being nearly a decade older than Windows Vista. If a game is incompatible with the Games Explorer, the user can manually add a game by dragging a game's shortcut to the Games Explorer (though boxart and rating information will be missing). Games Explorer is fully compatible with Vista's parental controls. Parents can restrict how long a child can play and what kind of games he/she may play (based on ratings and/or specific titles).

Magazine

Main article: Games for Windows: The Official Magazine

Games for Windows: The Official Magazine is the title of a computer gaming magazine from Ziff Davis Media and the Microsoft Corporation. The publication date of its first issue was November 2006.[4] According to Ziff Davis, the magazine is to be a "rebirth" of the Computer Gaming World magazine.

See also

References

  1. ^ PRESS RELEASE: Rail Simulator attends Leipzig Games Convention
  2. ^ December 7, 2006 IGN.com conversation with Microsoft
  3. ^ "Games for Windows Vista" at Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
  4. ^ Ziff Davis Media's Official "Games for Windows" Press Release
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