Yep, Im considering giving that impulse reactor a look.  I'm an aspiring indie game developer, ya know. 

AFAIK the retail version of Dawn of War 2 will only require steam to activate and then will no longer be required to run.

The last time I used GfWL in game, it still had the A and B buttons for a controller - someone was too lazy to change them to okay and cancel/go back.  It also refused to connect while Xfire was running, turning off Xfire let me log into my profile in game.  The only plus side of the situation was that Universe at War was a gift.

To be fair, GFWL improved a ton since its implementation in Universe at War I don't know about connection issues, but in FO3 at least it doesn't look all that bad.

Well the first GFWL game we'll have on Impulse will probably be Juiced 2.  I've been playing it on Xbox 360 recently, but I am curious to see how it works on PC. 

I have yet to play a GFWL game, and there's really not that many out there.  Check out this list ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Games_for_Windows_titles ) of Games For Windows games.  The ones with green checkmarks have the LIVE portion also.  As you can see, unfortunately only a small percentage go the extra mile and implement the LIVE features.

Wait...

Dawn of War 2 forces you to install the Steam Client... and use it... just to PLAY? That is fundamentally freaking wrong. This is like some kind of screwed up video game totalitarianism bullshit right here.

Guess I won't ever be playing DoW2, which is a shame, since I'm a fan of WH40K (the tabletop game) and have all of the previous DoW games.

Needing another program (such as Impulse, heh...) to access the patches and what not, is one thing - and I can accept going that far (because hey, atleast you can turn it the hell of when you don't need it!)... but being required to run a god damned program in order to access your game (aside from Windows, heh...) is just, wrong... that and it leaves less resources for running the damn game. Plus it's a program that's connected to the net, that has personal information on you, and knows what and when you are playing and for how long... invasion of privacy much?

This seems like some sort of strange attempt to phase out PC Gaming... I mean... If I wanted a computer that has run a mini-OS JUST FOR GAMES to function, that handles all the other aspects involved in relation to the game, and connects me to their store 24/7 I'd just buy a fucking Wii.

If this is the future of PC Gaming... privacy invasion, control, and strong-arm tactics on anti-piracy to the detriment of the honest consumer... then I'm out.

It is as I posted in another thread, Steam's new business model is to become the ubiquitous digital distribution (DD) platform, Internet based game or not.

In the future when Steam conquers all booting up your PC will mean having to first log in to your computer and then having to log in to Steam. Gee what fun.

Nah. Google will either buy Steam or most probably create their own "Google Steam". No one can stop the "Evil Plans of Google TM". Before you notice it, you will be eating "Google Food", watching TV shows in "Google Channel", making your shopping in "GoogleStops",... And no one will complain because it's not named Microsoft. * And why have more than one option when you can have all in one?

*

PD I miss a preview feature in the Quick Reply thing.

It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me... I mean, if I can't get the game at the store, then where do you think I'll go to get it? Bingo! The internet, from places like Steam or D2D.

As someone else pointed out, most of these stores make their money from console games (be it new or used), the PC section of a store, if there actually is one, is just a minor nod to get the occasional foot traffic sale:  I've seen such places as Game, Virgin Megastores, HMV and the like selling what are now budget PC games in their original (and dusty) initial release packaging... for full RRP.

It's also true that console publishers would love nothing more than to kill off the second hand market.  It's a sale of which they see nothing.  Nintendo, are one of the first to sell a once use peripheral for the WII (the microphone/webcam thingie) it can not be resold once registered/installed/used. 

I think its fair to say that the next generation of consoles will have bigger storage capcities and be plugged in to their respective owners stores with only a minor nod to the retail stores.

Of course, being cynical, I fully expect to see the internet explode, once the PR campaigns are in progress to stop the  second hand market, when console gamers are told "Sorry mate, you could of copied it" and sent on their merry way.

And as for DOWII needing BOTH Steam and GFWL installed I point you to my thoughts in frogboys thread "Do you reall want Steam to be your only option"... That's one game TWO widgets and officially I say it is taking the mickey.

I dont like the idea of buying a retail game with no mention of STEAM on it, forcing me to install to STEAM.  Before everyone gets riled up, I like STEAM, Impulse and GamersGate. I dont like that STEAM is so unflexible on where you can install the application, which is not a problem with GamersGate, you install where  you want, and I think Impulse also allows for this. Im already bordering on the limit to my drive that STEAMs installed on. Larger drive is not an option and shouldnt have to be. Surely Valve can make things a little easier by having STEAM more flexible on where it can install games. I dont care if there is a STEAM folder on all 6 partitions as long as I the user can choose to install where I want it, and in most cases like now, where Im running out of options for space. Handcuffing you to one drive is not a good option for most gamers, and I think Valve needs to seriously consider revamping STEAM so that the user can install to a drive of choice.

Basically you need to install steam to where you want the games to install to (same drive) :/