Microsoft appoints new Games for Windows boss

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Following Microsoft's announcement of 5,000 job cuts last Thursday and the subsequent sacking of former boss Chris Early on Monday, Ron Pessner is to head up the Games for Windows team with renewed optimism.

The service, which launched in 2007, was quickly criticised for being a subscription based service on what is traditional a free gaming platform. Combined with a plethora of problems of which many were never resolved, the platform became free in July 2008 with little interest shown. Despite the success of it's older brother, Xbox Live, the Games for Windows Live platform has never been able to find it's feet in a market already heavily dominated by Valve's Steam.

However, Microsoft is still keen to "invest in Windows as a first–class gaming platform through great Windows out of box experiences," today's statement reads. Despite titles such as Shadowrun, which pitted both Xbox 360 and PC gamers against each other, failing to catch on, Microsoft insist they are committed to their in-house game development team.

Are Microsoft able to salvage the sinking ship that is Games for Windows Live?

(1 reply) #1 nutterguy on 28 Jan 2009 - 02:01

It would sure need a lot of work...
RockPaperShotgun article on getting the new Fallout3 DLC
Right now it looks and feels like a beta and there is no point to it at all...
Here's hoping Steam crushes it!

#1.1 toadeater on 28 Jan 2009 - 08:03

It's amazing how MS must always use every means available to try to force IE and other mediocre, self-serving MS standards on people. ***Games For Windows doesn't offer any benefit to gamers***, it's not a "service," it's an extortion scheme. At the very least, it's an unnecessary hassle. If the DLCs are free, why go through this insane security procedure?

Btw, when are they going to be out on Bittorrent?

(1 reply) #2 toadeater on 28 Jan 2009 - 07:51

Please, no more console-PC crossovers like Shadowrun!

#2.1 +TCLN Ryster on 28 Jan 2009 - 17:55

I agree it's not suitable for most games, but things like card games can work really well in this way and increase the playerbase for both parties. Uno for instance.

#3 deanparkr on 28 Jan 2009 - 13:00

Maybe this new person can re-instate Ensemble Studios and ACES Studio so that we can get some quality first party games from "Games for Windows" on the PC!!

#4 Gersson on 29 Jan 2009 - 02:47

Or this person's job can be to put the final nail on PC gaming (from MS point of view)

#5 tpfareavip on 29 Jan 2009 - 03:01

After they shut down Ensemble and ACES I don't have a clue as to the logic behind Microsofts decisions anymore! Two of there most successful studios and they don't even cut back they just closed the doors....Ages of Empires? Flight Simulator? those wherent making enough money!? Come on is that any way to run a gaming bussiness? so now everything is going to be based on HALO right! You can only milk a mediocre franchise so much.

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