Microsoft (attempts) to challenge Steam with new game download service

Windows G.O.D. ??

Correction: The LIVE service is the same thing, on both XBOX and Windows. It's no clone, just a different platform for the same service.

Anyway, it seems like a good way to distribute games. I love Steam, but I tend to find that there are some games which aren't available through it. Games on Demand should fill that void for me.

So, Microsoft isn't allowed to compete with other companies now?

That is so meh... it will be just like Google Lively or Google Knol. Nobody will use it. Steam is already too big for a company even as large as Microsoft to beat it. Knowing M$, they are going to make some sort of mistake and then everyone will use Steam again.

I haven't bought a Games for Windows game in years. Most of them are pretty annoying. They really polluted the notion when Halo 2 was the flagship game with that label...and was only available for Windows Vista.

Still, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Microsoft pulled a surprising move out of their hat with Bing and its subsequent partnerships, and so I wouldn't write off their efforts just yet. But you won't catch me tossing Steam and Impulse in the Recycle Bin just yet. ;)

Just had a look and prices are not competitive. I only use Steam for the sales, otherwise I shop around for cheap retail prices.

Wow, let's see how their download prices stack up when they're subjected to actual *capitalism* (unlike, say, XBLM). Their idea of a "sale" heretofore has been 20% off a 3-year-old game nobody likes, while Steam and D2D have 75% off 3-month-old bestsellers. I hope they figure out the market...

... not quite as punchy as 'Steam' ...

It would be if it was shortened to GoD.

Steam isn't exactly friendly internationally. The prices for international purchasing tend to be pretty high (Depends on where you live) and Microsoft has a bigger presence overseas, where folks may not have even heard of Steam.

Also, competing services isn't always about the consumer, in that it may be cheaper or even free for publishers to put their software on the new Microsoft service, where Steam charges or takes a percentage. I don't know if that's the case or not, but my point is that publishers may choose to deliver content in ways other than Steam if their prices aren't competitive, so having more competition in this marketplace is good to keep everyone honest.

I've been using OpenDNS as my content filter. Gets some people upset that are visiting but I just don't want any of porn on my network. This seems to be a nice portal way of blocking the content but one can easily have a install chrome/etc, use IE, or portable version of firefox.

... so steam client for mac/linux -- right?

ps: password saving app changed my orignal comment

That would be awesome if it had an indie game section for us XNA devs!