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Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows 8

by Brian Leahy, Dec 23, 2010 3:00pm PST

Related Topics – Microsoft, PC, Games for Windows

According to a report by TechRadar, Microsoft could be eying gaming as a big focus for the forthcoming Windows 8. TechRadar claims that "the software giant [is] ready to put its weight behind the platform once more."

Microsoft has also hired Rahul Sood, who came over from Hewlett-Packard and Voodoo PC and is also the guy that blogged that Microsoft scrapped plans for PC and Xbox 360 cross-platform multiplayer because "the console players got destroyed every time" sparking Internet arguments about controllers versus mouse & keyboard.

Last month, Microsoft launched a redesigned Games for Windows Marketplace, which sells digital games and downloadable content. Microsoft's biggest competition will obviously be Valve's Steam platform, which is currently the undisputed king of PC gaming.

Microsoft has quite a large mountain to climb, especially after Games for Windows LIVE.

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39 Threads | 148 Comments

#1

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By: watcherxp x Show Full Post

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Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows 95
Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows 98
Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows ME
Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows XP
Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows Vista
Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows 8

Dec 23, 2010 3:03pm PST

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Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows 95 Report: Microsoft to Focus on Gaming with Windows 9... : watcherxp
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 16 replies.

#58

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By: daggot x Show Full Post

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Considering how much MS has done for gaming with DirectX in its entirety, I think MS doesn't get enough credit for actually trying to do something. Yeah, there's a side gamers don't like, but MS's one of the few company's to put real money into marketing the PC as a gaming platform. DirectX really brought unity to what was the wild west of each card mfr having their own standard. We've come a L O N G ways from individual drivers and messing with autoexec.bat and config.sys files because of MS.

MS's preaching they'll focus on gaming for Win8. Fine. I'll simply keep my own expectations in check until I see real proof. No need to be a pre-hater.

Dec 23, 2010 7:43pm PST

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Considering how much MS has done for gaming with DirectX in its entirety, I think MS doesn't get enough c... : daggot
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 20 replies.

#146

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By: fdxghfh x Show Full Post

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Dec 27, 2010 7:00am PST

welcome to our website ( http://www.b2cshop.us ) Air jordan(1-24)shoes $33 Nike shox(R4,NZ,OZ,T... : fdxghfh

#141

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By: UMG x Show Full Post

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Microsoft is fighting a pretty tough battle at this point. We're seen so many things over the last few years that promised to put the crisp back in PC Gaming's pickle, but sadly none of them have anything to show for it. PC gaming alliance anyone? And then there is the part where they practically forgot that many of their users play games on the PC as soon as the original XBOX hit the market.

Dec 26, 2010 7:05pm PST

Microsoft is fighting a pretty tough battle at this point. We're seen so many things over the last few y... : UMG

#26

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By: Clench x Show Full Post

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I hope all you idiots hating on microsoft are on macs. or at least on PS3s.

Otherwise you're dumb.

Dec 23, 2010 4:43pm PST

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I hope all you idiots hating on microsoft are on macs. or at least on PS3s. Otherwise you're dumb. : Clench
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  Who let this guy in? : Topsiderover
  - the window was open... : Unkei
- Is your name an indicator of what you do when Steve Ballmer sticks his junk in your butt every night? : Agent Subterfuge
- Because having Microsoft lure all of us into some big PC gaming extravaganza demonstration, /w a boatload... : technotica

#18

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By: darkfox321 x Show Full Post

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I lold

Dec 23, 2010 4:02pm PST

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I lold : darkfox321
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- Ditto. M$ <---- asswipe and liar. : godsh3bang
- i too lol'd : technotica

#137

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By: Zolneirz x Show Full Post

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I for one, am not looking forward to once again sharing the same servers as the kids who scream faggot or nigger.

Dec 26, 2010 12:42pm PST

I for one, am not looking forward to once again sharing the same servers as the kids who scream faggot or... : Zolneirz

#135

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By: jtthe2nd x Show Full Post

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Stop making intended-for-pc games into Xbox exclusives then maybe, MAYBE you'll get some credibility among pc gamers, until then, piss off.

Dec 26, 2010 8:29am PST

Stop making intended-for-pc games into Xbox exclusives then maybe, MAYBE you'll get some credibility amon... : jtthe2nd

#62

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By: Fred Garvin x Show Full Post

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Waiting for the archvile to post... oh damn...

Dec 23, 2010 8:13pm PST

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Waiting for the archvile to post... oh damn... : Fred Garvin
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  Waiting for Fred Garvin to pull a Fred Garvin... oh damn... : greasyjohn
  - toggle
    I don't even know who the fuck you are, but you know who I am. Congrats. : Fred Garvin
    - lol : freshyk
    - Fred Garvin post combo : chrisschutz

#118

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By: PredatorPR x Show Full Post

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Sorry Microsoft you missed your chance, Steam is now the standard way to buy games. But let see what happens, When the first Xbox came out everyone say that it will be a failure against the PS2. Want a good start? Bring Halo 3, Reach an Forza series to PC, and ill start believin, and of course in Direct x11.

Dec 24, 2010 12:34pm PST

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Sorry Microsoft you missed your chance, Steam is now the standard way to buy games. But let see what happ... : PredatorPR
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- Exactly. Microsoft claimed they were eyeing PC gaming as a big focus back when Vista was launching too, ... : kevlarcardhouse

#73

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By: Prospero424 x Show Full Post

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Look, until you actually start releasing "exclusive" MS games like GoW 2 and Halo 3 for Windows, nobody's going to take any of your PR BS about how you "care" about games on Windows seriously, Microsoft.

We all know that Xbox is the good kid who gets all of the attention and Windows is the bastard child, and no amount of lip service will change that.

Walk the walk or SHUT THE FUCK UP and let those who actually DO care about PC gaming handle it.

Dec 23, 2010 10:45pm PST

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Look, until you actually start releasing "exclusive" MS games like GoW 2 and Halo 3 for Windows, nobody's... : Prospero424
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 7 replies.

#3

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By: dreohboy x Show Full Post

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Give me Halo Reach and Forza 3 at 1680 x 1050 with 8xAA at 60 fps and maybe I'll believe this "commitment to the PC".

Til then, I'm not holding my breath. I'll be using Windows 8 though as my gaming OS. :-D

Dec 23, 2010 3:08pm PST

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Give me Halo Reach and Forza 3 at 1680 x 1050 with 8xAA at 60 fps and maybe I'll believe this "commitmen... : dreohboy
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- Agreed; they need to prove themselves. They really need to prove themselves. Rahul Sood is going into... : the archvile
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  Oh god please no fuck that demon resolution in the ass : Endymion_
  - toggle
    1680 x 1050 is the new 1280 x 1024. : the archvile
    - this. : kwperley
    - I'm still with 1280x1024 :( Well atleast I got dual monitors! : raxtor
  - toggle
    what's your problem with it? It's the perfect resolution for 22" which is the most common size for PC mon... : flasher 907
    - Agreed here. : mobab
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      Why would they run a set res? why wouldn't you expect variable resolution out of a PC port? : supaslasha
      
      It's better than what Reach and Forza 3 natively run on the 360 (1152 x 720 for Reach, tiled 1280 x 720 f... : the archvile
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  1920x1080 ftw. : Unkei
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    If you're going to do that, 1920 x 1200 : mobab
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      Why? The rally point should be 1080p due to hdtv sets which are starting to pull double duty as monitors : Dr_Cube
      
      yes...retarded...1080p or nothing. Why have a bunch of different rezzes? : Rape.Farm
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    1920x1200 pwns : PytoX
    - This. : fade2black244
    - Signed. 1080p is garbage for PC's. Why would you give up nearly 10% vertical space when a huge portio... : flasher 907
- I personally like 1600x1200, but I still refuse to use an LCD monitor for anything but laptops (CRTs for ... : Vorlonesque
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  Jesus, you guys are retarded sometimes. He's just saying he wants those in his native res, which is much ... : pyide
  - Dude, its fun to be obtuse. : Vorlonesque

#121

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By: et72 x Show Full Post

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"the guy that blogged that Microsoft scrapped plans for PC and Xbox 360 cross-platform multiplayer because "the console players got destroyed every time" sparking Internet arguments about controllers versus mouse & keyboard."

LOL some morons actually argue over that? Mouse is more accurate, end of story

Dec 24, 2010 2:24pm PST

"the guy that blogged that Microsoft scrapped plans for PC and Xbox 360 cross-platform multiplayer becaus... : et72

#69

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By: MeestaNob x Show Full Post

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Report: Valve to Focus on Operating Systems with Steamworks 2

Dec 23, 2010 10:19pm PST

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Report: Valve to Focus on Operating Systems with Steamworks 2 : MeestaNob
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  Steam operating system (centered in gaming) will rock xD. Specially if they somehow managed to make it a... : Longgshot
  - Lol, you just described the virtual machines. : raxtor

#33

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By: wytefang x Show Full Post

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I'm amused at the part where the article states that Rahul's comments about controllers vs. K/M sparked internet arguments - there's really nothing to even argue about. It's a known fact (by nearly any level-headed perspective) that the K/M is a tighter control scheme when put head-to-head with a gamepad (it's the main reason I can't stand nor enjoy FPS games on consoles). Not sure what basis gamepad-using gamers could have to even found an argument upon, in that regard. :(

But other than that - we've all heard them (Microsoft) say this before. A big "YAWN" is probably coming from most PC gamers who have read this. :(

Dec 23, 2010 5:13pm PST

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I'm amused at the part where the article states that Rahul's comments about controllers vs. K/M sparked i... : wytefang
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- this. : Unkei
- But how can I game the system by letting the auto-aim tell me when someone is around a corner in CODBLOPS... : Derringer

#102

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By: Dr_Cube x Show Full Post

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Nothing will change. Their problem is unified community features and ease of pirchase and installation not tech like a new version of directx. GFWL is their problem. Whatever focus on gaming they come up with, it will have to be focused around GFWL and making it work more like steam but they can't do that because the architecture for GFwl is decided and dependent on Xbox Live. No significant changes can be made to GFWL until xbox live receives a major overhaul and that won't happen until new consoles arrive.

Dec 24, 2010 5:12am PST

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Nothing will change. Their problem is unified community features and ease of pirchase and installation no... : Dr_Cube
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  I agree. No One is complaining about their continued support for DirectX. Its the joke that has been GFWL... : Gyruss
  - It's now obvious that he who makes their gaming platform (PSN, Live, Steam, battle.net) work cross platfo... : Dr_Cube

#98

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By: matthaeus x Show Full Post

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Worst problems of Windows Live:
- On some computers it never installs correctly. Thats cool, especially in games like Batman which require Windows Live for savegames
- It reconnects everytime you start a game. Really annoying.

Dec 24, 2010 3:11am PST

Worst problems of Windows Live: - On some computers it never installs correctly. Thats cool, especially ... : matthaeus

#13

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By: Bensam123 x Show Full Post

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Unless this "Focus on Gaming" allows my computer to emulate their latest console, which would be really cool I might add, I doubt it's going to be that amazing. Their GFWL is just a money grab at what Steam has. Of course they caught on too late after the market was almost already completely decided and now they're going to use their OS to try and leverage control from Steam. They'll probably attempt to break steam and list it as a compatibility concern as well.

Too bad big software companies don't try to do something bleeding edge... you know, like what Steam did when they first started up... that may make their own pie that other people try to get a piece of.

Dec 23, 2010 3:45pm PST

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Unless this "Focus on Gaming" allows my computer to emulate their latest console, which would be really c... : Bensam123
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.

#94

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By: brabee x Show Full Post

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I dont give a rat's a$$ until they bring Alan Wake to PC.

Dec 24, 2010 1:43am PST

I dont give a rat's a$$ until they bring Alan Wake to PC. : brabee

#60

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By: Lightzout x Show Full Post

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MEMO: Consoles killed PC gaming!

Dec 23, 2010 8:04pm PST

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MEMO: Consoles killed PC gaming! : Lightzout
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- That is wrong, let me correct. Microsoft tried to kill PC gaming with their console and GFWL. An... : Longgshot

#8

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By: Haxim x Show Full Post

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What exactly does 'focus on gaming' mean? It's a pretty broad statement. Are they talking about performance at a system level or something like GFWL integration?

Dec 23, 2010 3:27pm PST

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What exactly does 'focus on gaming' mean? It's a pretty broad statement. Are they talking about performan... : Haxim
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 5 replies.

#83

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By: Longgshot x Show Full Post

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I REALLY hope that this doesn't mean that they will integrate games for windows live on windows the way internet explorer is now.

Dec 24, 2010 12:08am PST

I REALLY hope that this doesn't mean that they will integrate games for windows live on windows the way i... : Longgshot

#19

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By: satsun x Show Full Post

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This just means that to get DirectX 12 we'll be forced to buy Windows 8.

Dec 23, 2010 4:02pm PST

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This just means that to get DirectX 12 we'll be forced to buy Windows 8. : satsun
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  I'm still waiting for a game that is built from the ground up for DX11 :P When will DX9 just die already... : Epsilon Sector
  - Yeah, I was gunna say when the 360 dies. : robosextoid
  - Well, Windows 8 should be launching around the same time as the next Xbox. The last generation used the c... : loganscar

#44

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By: Bortprime x Show Full Post

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Unless they actually hire somebody who plays game and isn't a total moron, microsoft can stop with all this big talk. I'm so tired of these huge failures and idiotic ideas. Of course they can't crossplatform. It was a waste of money to even try, morons.

Dec 23, 2010 6:02pm PST

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Unless they actually hire somebody who plays game and isn't a total moron, microsoft can stop with all th... : Bortprime
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- toggle
  Read it. Rahul Sood. The same guy who started the PCvs360 rumors, which look a lot more true considereing... : loganscar
  - toggle
    They hired him to shut him up. He knew too much. He was raising the ire of the console gamers he descri... : HisDivineOrder
    - Yeah, THAT is why they hired him. Really, bro, you should check out InfoWars, you'd fit right in. : loganscar
    - Cool story. : TrptJim

#49

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By: 1Mystic-G x Show Full Post

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In other news... Snoop said he's quitting weed.

Dec 23, 2010 6:21pm PST

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In other news... Snoop said he's quitting weed. : 1Mystic-G
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- That must have been after he reportedly met with Willie Nelson at a MAD meeting and discussed the merits ... : HisDivineOrder

#6

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By: Beady x Show Full Post

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I worry that they will just integrate GFWL into the OS and market it to publishers as a way to kill mods while hawking their DLC to newly closed platform.

Dec 23, 2010 3:20pm PST

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I worry that they will just integrate GFWL into the OS and market it to publishers as a way to kill mods ... : Beady
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- toggle
  A little over 2 years ago, then-GFWL head Chris Early spoke to this: Shack: Down the line, do you hav : the archvile
  - Forgot the article link: http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1045&page=3 : the archvile
  - toggle
    The sad thing is that they are the only ones that have that line. Apple doesn't and it surely is using OS... : supaslasha
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  i hope they get slammed with an antitrust before that version of windows ever sees the light of day : flasher 907
  - toggle
    stop posting here : Clench
    - You might consider taking your own advice. : dfay

#63

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By: razorchicken x Show Full Post

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"Microsoft's biggest competition will obviously be Valve's Steam platform, which is currently the undisputed king of PC gaming."

M$ has apparently realized that OnLive is going to end up killing off the Xbox and has decided to do the one thing they are good at:

Leverage their exclusive contracts with developers and their OS monopoly. The bad news is that they have lost the only IP that anyone cares about in Halo and they actually think that pouring money into creating a new IP for the next 10 years is a good idea. The last time they spent 10 years on something it ended up being Vista. Good luck with that.

Dec 23, 2010 8:30pm PST

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"Microsoft's biggest competition will obviously be Valve's Steam platform, which is currently the undispu... : razorchicken
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 4 replies.
- toggle
  OnLive? that piece of shit is dead - nobody is concerned about that. : YoYo
  - its an emerging technology, i have my doubts about its long term future but dont write it off : thewindcriesmary
  - I think you're wrong about "nobody is concerned about that." I think that it's definitely a technology t... : HisDivineOrder

#61

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By: Desmond4231 x Show Full Post

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*Windows 8 comes out*
"Microsoft reports focus on gaming with Windows 9"

Dec 23, 2010 8:08pm PST

*Windows 8 comes out* "Microsoft reports focus on gaming with Windows 9" : Desmond4231

#59

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By: cell9song x Show Full Post

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SUIT #1 -"hey, we have a very flexible game platform on top of our already successful console"

SUIT #2 - "How long have we had it?"

SUIT #1 - "I dunno"

these guys are making a minimum of 6 figures per year and I'm slinging a fucking paint brush for a living for pocket change. Something went very wrong in my life.

Dec 23, 2010 7:44pm PST

SUIT #1 -"hey, we have a very flexible game platform on top of our already successful console" SUIT #2... : cell9song

#54

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By: ninjaman23 x Show Full Post

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Yeah good luck with that. If you need me ill be playing all the great games i just got from the steam x-mas sale on steam, the best thing to ever happen to PC gaming.

Dec 23, 2010 6:58pm PST

Yeah good luck with that. If you need me ill be playing all the great games i just got from the steam x-m... : ninjaman23

#53

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By: bung-foo x Show Full Post

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YAWN

Gaming on windows is awesome right now. Microsoft announcing they are going to make it better makes me worry more that they will screw things up than gives me hope that they will improve anything.

About the only improvement I can think of that I'd want that microsoft can control is to be able to voice chat from my pc with my live friends who are on a 360.

Dec 23, 2010 6:53pm PST

YAWN Gaming on windows is awesome right now. Microsoft announcing they are going to make it better mak... : bung-foo

#40

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By: leuthil x Show Full Post

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Microsoft now has proof that PC game sales can be large when done right, so despite everyone laughing about how stupid this is they probably will put in a good effort. Who knows if that effort will actually show or not though.

Dec 23, 2010 5:51pm PST

Microsoft now has proof that PC game sales can be large when done right, so despite everyone laughing abo... : leuthil

#38

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By: dangerdoggie x Show Full Post

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Bring over those retarded "avatars" from xbox live, Microsoft hasn't made users suffer with pop up characters since they got rid of the office paperclip.

Dec 23, 2010 5:42pm PST

Bring over those retarded "avatars" from xbox live, Microsoft hasn't made users suffer with pop up charac... : dangerdoggie

#37

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By: CHROMEFLAMIN x Show Full Post

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In other words, Steam is making enough money to intrest us, says microshaft.

Dec 23, 2010 5:40pm PST

In other words, Steam is making enough money to intrest us, says microshaft. : CHROMEFLAMIN

#23

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By: a176 x Show Full Post

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I'm sure techradar is enjoying all the hits to their site.

Dec 23, 2010 4:34pm PST

I'm sure techradar is enjoying all the hits to their site. : a176

#21

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By: shurcool x Show Full Post

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Hooray for another clean OS reinstall.

Pity the fools who will have to either do a lot of work to reinstall all their apps and settings, or deal with the problems of doing a direct upgrade.

Dec 23, 2010 4:15pm PST

Hooray for another clean OS reinstall. Pity the fools who will have to either do a lot of work to rein... : shurcool

#17

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By: paketep x Show Full Post

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Fuck Microsoft. We're tired of hearing the same tired lie every time you release a new buggy (P)OS.

Leave us alone already, you bastards. And burn GFWL.

Dec 23, 2010 4:00pm PST

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Fuck Microsoft. We're tired of hearing the same tired lie every time you release a new buggy (P)OS. Le... : paketep
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- Then burn the burn. : benwha18

#15

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By: greasyjohn x Show Full Post

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Thanks for this. Always good to have a laugh for the evening.

Dec 23, 2010 3:52pm PST

Thanks for this. Always good to have a laugh for the evening. : greasyjohn

#7

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By: Draco3k x Show Full Post

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Huh. Wasn't VISTA going to be this big gaming platform with DX10 and full-screen optimizations and whatever else turned out to be a total spat to the face?

Dec 23, 2010 3:24pm PST

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Huh. Wasn't VISTA going to be this big gaming platform with DX10 and full-screen optimizations and whatev... : Draco3k
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- Yeah, the fabled "game mode" that never materialized. : slackshoe

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