Can this be played without installing LIVE?

Timusius · 04-06-2012, 09:50 AM

I would like to fool around on the free bit of the game, but there is no way in hell that I'm installing this if it also puts Windows LIVE onto my machine.

So...

Is LIVE installed as part of the Steam installation?

If yes, can it be skipped?

If yes, will the game still work?

bastila13091 · 04-06-2012, 10:09 AM

I think it has to have GFWL on it. Why is that such a problem? Are you running on a linux or something?

delafina · 04-06-2012, 10:25 AM

Steam is essentially an overlay over Flight, which includes GFWL. There's no way to get rid of GFWL.

ForumHelper · 04-07-2012, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bastila13091

I think it has to have GFWL on it. Why is that such a problem? Are you running on a linux or something?

Probably because:
1. We already have Steam installed. No need for additional DRMs.
2. GFWL is terrible and doesn't work for many people/is not available in some countries.

cwangersky · 04-07-2012, 03:34 PM

I will mention that I don't have a GFWL account and won't. It still works... but, apparently, if you want the Stearman, you have to sign in to your GFWL account and associate it with the Steam account.

bastila13091 · 04-07-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwangersky

I will mention that I don't have a GFWL account and won't. It still works... but, apparently, if you want the Stearman, you have to sign in to your GFWL account and associate it with the Steam account.

Is it that much of a problem to have a windows live ID?

Timusius · 04-09-2012, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bastila13091

I think it has to have GFWL on it. Why is that such a problem? Are you running on a linux or something?

No, in fact I do have a GFWL account. I was forced/tricked into getting one when I bought GTA IV a few years back. The GFWL system made it impossible to transfer the savegames when I had to reinstall my pc. On top of that it was just a pain in the umentionable to wait for GFWL to start up every time I just wanted to play GTA.

Sometime later I purchased Red Faction Guerilla and I was furious to learn that this game also utilized the GFWL system. Again I was stuck with a game that takes hundreds of hours to play through 100%, but no way of saving my progress if I need to reinstall my machine. On top of this I spent nearly 3 hours just getting the game to work. The reason was: The version of GFWL that was included with the game was not up to date. And even though it had done a "updating Games For Windows LIVE", it was apparently unable to update it to the newest version. I had to do this manually to get it to work.

Now.. people will write in this thread later and explain to me that "Hey it is possible to move save games... bla bla.. you just have to sign in to GFWL, and remember to do it before you uninstall, and remember to copy this and that file too... and bla bla bla..."
But I think we can all agree that it's not meant to be this way. Both these games are single player games and there is no reason what so ever that these games' savegames should be tied to some online profile.

On top of these problems theres the idea of keeping your machine clean. Why have TWO "friendlist/download manager/achivement tracker" systems when you already have the ONE that you chose to purchase the game through? (Steam)

And the benefit with GFWL is: Nothing!
It tracks some achivements... that I couln't care less about.
It has a friendlist... on which I have no friends.

Thus... I have two games that I sometimes recall owning. Sometimes I might even think about installing them, because they are actually great games!.... but then I remember that they are infected with GFWL, and then I go and play something else.

To play Microsofts new flightsimulator would be fun, but since I would have to install GFWL to do it, this would be the same as saying to microsoft: "Hey, this GFWL is OK. Just keep on harassing the paying customers with your extra wasted CPU cycles and DRM, while giving them things they don't want or need."

I don't want to support it in any way, so I will not install GFWL ever again.

No worries. I'll just play something else.

macwales · 04-09-2012, 07:41 AM

I prefer Steam but GFWL is really no big deal, it just sits there in the background and lets you play games that otherwise you couldn't. I use it for several games including the likes of DiRT 3 and it's never posed me any problems. Miss out by all means but I think your rather cutting off you nose despite your face.

04-06-2012, 09:50 AM	#1
Timusius Join Date: Feb 2006 Reputation: 4 Posts: 54	Can this be played without installing LIVE? I would like to fool around on the free bit of the game, but there is no way in hell that I'm installing this if it also puts Windows LIVE onto my machine. So... Is LIVE installed as part of the Steam installation? If yes, can it be skipped? If yes, will the game still work?

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04-06-2012, 10:09 AM	#2
bastila13091 Join Date: Nov 2009 Reputation: 15 Posts: 730	I think it has to have GFWL on it. Why is that such a problem? Are you running on a linux or something?

04-06-2012, 10:25 AM	#3
delafina Microsoft Game Studios Join Date: Apr 2012 Reputation: 65 Posts: 161	Steam is essentially an overlay over Flight, which includes GFWL. There's no way to get rid of GFWL.

04-07-2012, 03:34 PM	#5
cwangersky Join Date: Nov 2008 Reputation: 83 Posts: 332	I will mention that I don't have a GFWL account and won't. It still works... but, apparently, if you want the Stearman, you have to sign in to your GFWL account and associate it with the Steam account.

04-09-2012, 07:41 AM	#8
macwales Join Date: Feb 2011 Reputation: 1 Posts: 89	I prefer Steam but GFWL is really no big deal, it just sits there in the background and lets you play games that otherwise you couldn't. I use it for several games including the likes of DiRT 3 and it's never posed me any problems. Miss out by all means but I think your rather cutting off you nose despite your face.