How Microsoft is Making Gaming Easier, More Fun, and More Social

Back in tardily October Microsoft had appear that information technology would be completely rebuilding the Games for Windows Marketplace and updating the Games for Windows Alive software (and website) to adjust those changes on Nov 15th. True to their word, they did.

At first glance, Games for Windows LIVE won't appear to have been changed whatever more than a slight UI color change from white background to black background. I was fooled by this also - for many of the changes are nether the hood. Unexpected news from Redmond came in the form of a standard printing release from Microsoft's News Heart stating how Microsoft is planning to take another stab at the the coincidental gaming demographic. Taking a cue from sources similar Facebook and Steam and listening to the demands of gamers that simply want to play with other people and users who frequently boast about their new high scores has set Microsoft on their new form of activeness.

The Games for Windows Marketplace has been improved in it's functionality more than than annihilation that's been washed to the user interface. Information technology's at present much easier to search for and sort games by category, toll, or release date. The Marketplace also has new filters to sort out demos, video, downloadable content, and which games are Live-enabled (pregnant Leaderboards, Achievements, forms of multiplayer and conversation).

Games Spotlight, Peak Downloads, Daily Deal and Deal of the Week features are all nevertheless there every bit well. I've noticed that the shopping cart and checkout procedure runs much smoother with 2 less steps than before. I didn't have to sign in twice to confirm that I was making a purchase and I didn't have to re-load the website when switching my payment method from a credit card to Microsoft Points. I'd still like to see a gift option to purchase game content to send to a contact on the friend list, like to what Steam currently offers, simply I suppose nosotros'll eventually go at that place.

Much more of the work has been done to the Live interface, specifically the in-game HUD. Signing in and out of the Alive service while in-game wasn't a completely awful experience before this update merely information technology wasn't all that pleasant either with stuttered connexion issues and the annoyance of running the service on top of a running game. It looks as if the update has the whole upshot ironed out and, dare I say, streamlined.

The Alive HUD, similar before, hangs delicately along the top heart of the screen merely is much more responsive to refreshing content, appearing, and then disappearing when ordered to (by pressing the Home key - default setting). The Games for Windows Alive HUD is now more reminiscent of the Xbox 360'south Guide menu in that information technology has quick admission to everything you'd desire to access chop-chop - your own profile, your friends list, messages (Yep, works with Messenger), recent players, Alive settings, and (from the looks of it) a new simplified chat interface. How or if this is going to work at all with Microsoft's make new Games Hub hasn't been revealed all the same.

The more fun, more social, more unexpected news about Microsoft seemingly going most unifying all of their web-based gaming platforms for the casual gamer. The Games Hub, which is up and running right now if you want to check it out, will run in a frame adjoining the games featured on Bing Entertainment, Windows Live Messenger, and MSN Games (information technology looks like MSN Games is still in preview).

By signing in with a Windows Live ID and/or your Facebook credentials you lot'll be able to save your favorite games, mail service high scores to your wall, encounter what your friends are playing, and even transport or receive game invitations and challenges to and from your pals. Michael Wolf from Xbox Product Marketing went on to country in the press release that, "It doesn't matter where you play – on Messenger, on Bing, on your mobile device, or on your PC. You tin can accept that sense of connectivity and contest regardless of platform, which is something no i'due south ever really done earlier." Nosotros sincerely dubiety that he had deliberately meant that this is something that could be showing up on our mobile devices and probably did just use information technology as an example, but we exercise love to presume the all-time.

And then how about it social gamers? Anyone upwards for some competitive mobile Zuma or Text Twist?

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-microsoft-making-gaming-easier-more-fun-and-more-social

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