Gamers eager to try out Microsoft’s Game Room can today enjoy watching an endless, dimmed panorama of the empty arcade as the loading bar jams at around a fifths’ progress and the chirpy soundtrack loops incessantly. So far, the internet seems relatively quiet on the problem, though the odd disgruntled player is currently voicing their concern over Twitter towards any Xbox or Microsoft figurehead they can find. At present, it seems that clearing the console’s cache, re-downloading the application or game packs or restarting the title have no affect on the problem.

Also suspiciously absent, as of midday GMT, are 50% of the promised launch titles (as you are forced to download them in packs prior to entering the room), as well as the Games for Windows Live incarnation of the applet. First impressions are certainly doing little to quell the widespread cynicism aimed at the retro gaming hub, but at least the repeating textual tidbits on the hanging load screen have educated younguns as to the hardware function of both the Atari 2600 and Intellivision.

Expect a simpering apology from Major Nelson et al later today.

UPDATE: You can bypass the error somewhat by disconnecting from Live (in my case pulling my network adaptor out), loading Game Room and then reconnecting when inside. However, you are unable to purchase any games to play and are limited to time restricted demos. A pretty sloppy workaround I’m sure we’ll all agree.

Still frothing at the mouth from the destruction of all things PC sacred that was Modern Warfare 2, I was looking forward to 2010 as a bit of a redeeming year for PC gaming. Bioshock 2 in particular had my attention. I was looking forward to the multiplayer aspect of it; the simultaneous use of plasmids and weapons in sounded like a refreshing experience after the binge of mediocre shooters that was 2009. That was, of course, until I heard that BioShock 2 was to make use of Games for Windows Live and SecuROM.

‘œAbandon all hope, ye who enter here.’ Those familiar with the Divine Comedy will recognize this as the last line of the famous inscription on the entrance to hell. PC gamers will recognize this as the inscription on the back of every ‘œGames for Windows’ box.

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Childhood loss, bathos:
an exercise in scrolling
spot the difference.

Shacknews has posted a wide ranging, two-part interview with Stardock CEO, Brad Wardell. In it he explains that there is a potential cost to developers who submit multiple title updates through GFW; “if you do it [submit patches through the title update certification process] more than X number of times, you have to pay money.” Wardell continues, “If Games for Windows Live maintains that strategy and they take over, I’m done. I’m not making PC Games. I would be done.”  

He goes on to explain that a majority of the patches to any PC game are not issued to fix bugs endemic in the game software’s code, but rather to fix compatibility issues that arise, post-release with third-party applications such as anti-virus software, drivers, etc. I would have to disagree with him on that point, but I digress.

Wardell also discusses some of the hidden costs to modern game development, such as having to “license a third-party NAT facilitator.” Microsoft offers this and other services to the development community, but only through the GFW program with, “all these strings attached.” 

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Welcome to ‘See Colon Slash’, my weekly column on Negative Gamer. As you might have guessed by the title, the series will be about looking at bleeding rectums. Oh, actually, I got that wrong. It’s actually about PC gaming. If you don’t get the clever pun in the title, perhaps you’re a Linux or Mac user. In your case, the title of the column should be mentally shortened to simply “Slash”.

In my (cynical and jaded) eyes, Games for Windows Live is one of the worst aspects of PC gaming right now. There, I said it. Not content with having the operating system monopoly in terms of games, Microsoft now seem intent to force as many games as they can into relying on an awful and outdated overlay system. I’m sure most people who have encountered the system will know what I’m talking about, but if not, let me enlighten you.

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