Games for Windows

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 19 Sep 2006, 11:39

What can you tell me about this "Games for Windows" certification, that you can find in certain games? Is widescreen support one of the requirements, that the game must meet, in order to be "Games for Windows" certified? What all kind of standards does it need to fulfil and how is it actually done - some sort of Microsoft testing the game when it goes gold or what?

illuminati · Post by **illuminati** » 19 Sep 2006, 11:51

Well looking at their website on the subject, it appears that they just certify it if it runs on xp.. so basicly every game. Just another stupid ploy by Microsoft to get dumb people to buy games.

"oh its microsoft certified, it must be good" etc

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 19 Sep 2006, 12:00

I asked, because i read this

Btw, this is one of the first games with the official "Games for Windows" branding from Microsoft. It's not just an ad for MS and Windows, but it's also a certificate which requires the game to fulfil certain standards. Supporting widescreen monitors is one of them. :)

in here
[url]http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/node/6719]

Post by **skipclarke** » 19 Sep 2006, 13:16

Lego Star Wars II had the logo and is a Certified Game. I tried to Google for this, but couldn't come up with anything beyond marketing fluff. Will be interesting to see the ratio of games marketed under this that support WS.

CodE-E · Post by **CodE-E** » 19 Sep 2006, 15:21

I found a link to this on another forum. It's a list of some stuff which "Game for Windows" certified products have to comply with:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/directx9_c/Games_for_Microsoft_Windows_Logo_for_Applications.asp

I'm not sure if that thing is complete though, as it doesn't list widescreen resolutions or compatibility with XBox 360 controllers. But it has some other interesting points like supporting Alt-Tabbing out of the game, and not f***ing about with private or secure files on the operating system. So games with intrusive copy protection systems like StarForce will probably not get certified, I guess. :)

Microtia · Post by **Microtia** » 19 Sep 2006, 15:24

I'd be happy if the ONLY thing required was something like that :D.

EmThor · Post by **EmThor** » 19 Sep 2006, 16:21

as I've read right now: games for windows MUST SUPPORT WS resolutions!
:)

Post by **skipclarke** » 19 Sep 2006, 18:50

MS has been planning this for sometime, and yes, its basically just a way of rearranging the marketing presentation to directly tie in pc games to the Windows platform.

Luck posted the heads up a while back, (before the mods removed the links :cry: to the article) which detailed a hypothetical storefront arrangement for pc games. It looked pretty nice actually, I'd love to see stores integrate a slicker, more streamlined presentation for games.

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5148

Post by **Paradigm Shifter** » 19 Sep 2006, 20:36

There was talk that it was to try to combat the slowly vanishing PC game segment in high street game stores - the PlayStation 2, XBox, GameCube... etc... etc... all have their own little 'flash' across the top which allows you to determine what platform they are for. PCs, up until now, didn't really have that.

Although I think that design is a little too complex... just the four Window colours and 'Windows PC Game' in white on a black background would have been adequate.

Post by **The_cranky_hermit** » 19 Sep 2006, 22:26

MS Flight Simulator X is vert -, so I think we can be sure that good WS support is not a requirement for the "games for Windows" label.

Post by **skipclarke** » 20 Sep 2006, 09:47

MS Flight Simulator X is vert -, so I think we can be sure that good WS support is not a requirement for the "games for Windows" label.

As far as I know, widescreen support is part of what a game needs before it gets the "Games for Windows" label. At least this ensures some form of widescreen; a standard is better than nothing.

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 23 Sep 2006, 21:47

Games for Windows trailer on gamespot

irect download link (only for members, free membership)
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/middleearthonline/download_ini.html?sid=6158123&id=6158123&mode=gameplay

or on right side of the screen one of the videos
http://uk.gamespot.com/games.html?type=games&platform=5&letter=T&dlx_type=all&sortdir=desc&tag=browse;T

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 28 Sep 2006, 08:44

Czech gaming website games.tiscali.cz informed, that in order for game to achieve "Games For Windows" mark, it needs to have

-easier installation
-64bit compatibility
-widescreen option
-xBox360 gamepad compatibility
-Windows Vista functions compatibility (Games Explorer, Parental Controls etc)

I will try to find out more about it.

List of current and announced "Games for Windows":

Company of Heroes, LEGO Star Wars II, Hellgate: London, Rail Simulator, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures, Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs, Alan Wake, Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania, Flight Simulator X, Shadowrun, Halo 2.

update: Original Microsoft's new from X06 in Barcelona:

[i]Microsoft also provided attendees with an update on Games for Windows and announced several exciting new Games for Windows titles, including Ã¢â‚¬Å“BioshockÃ¢â‚¬Â

Kon$olE · Post by **Kon$olE** » 28 Sep 2006, 13:55

I didnt know there were any requirements for it, but its great that they need to support WS and a 360 gamepad. Both of which i have!

Personnally, i think its a good way to compete with consoles, they all have X-box/PS2/360/Gamcube labbeled over the top of their boxes, while PC games dont have any unifying label.

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 02 Oct 2006, 17:20

Some related information on Games for Windows:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4391

no word about widescreen in this report

Bet · Post by **Bet** » 02 Oct 2006, 18:12

MS Flight Simulator X is vert -, so I think we can be sure that good WS support is not a requirement for the "games for Windows" label.

Vert- can be ignored as a negative for flight sims fortunately, especially those with TrackIR support, since you can change the FOV at will, among other things. With FSX and Lock On, there's also 6DOF with the TrackIR so vert- seems more a concession to the fact it's easier in some form to spend more time on things like solid TrackIR support.

That said, for anything but flight simulators, anything less than native Hor+ widescreen support is disappointing. And I got a good chuckle out of seeing that Games for Windows on my copy of Company of Heroes. Nice that it supports Hor+ out of the box as well, although it's a shame that widescreen support isn't a stipulation for certification :(

xocomaox · Post by **xocomaox** » 02 Oct 2006, 18:14

Just another thing that microsoft has which could be really useful, but isn't functional yet.

misadlouhy · Post by **misadlouhy** » 08 Dec 2006, 14:59

So it is official:

Games for Windows mark can go only to such a game, that supports widescreen monitors.

official site http://www.windowsgaming.com/aboutGFW/gamesForWindows.aspx

IGN
http://pc.ign.com/articles/749/749845p1.html

Games for Windows games need to include:

# Games Explorer support
# Parental controls
# Compatibility with the Xbox 360 controller (where applicable)
# Widescreen support
# 64-bit processor support
# Multi-core and multi-threading support
# Media Center support (Premium and Ultimate Vista packages ship with Media Center)

..just read that IGN article..

tomatomanzseedlezz · Post by **tomatomanzseedlezz** » 10 Jan 2007, 20:26

Hmmmz.. well, the first time i heard abt this "Games for Windows" label.. its to show its Windows Vista compatible... :oops: :roll:

Cheers 8)

NickD25 · Post by **NickD25** » 11 Jan 2007, 02:20

Well then almost every EA Games aren't Games for Windows :lol:

Widescreen Gaming Forum