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Help Give Games For Windows Live's Client A Less Sucky Name
Posted by Luke Plunkett at 5:30 PM on September 10, 2008
When Microsoft made Games For Windows - LIVE (ungh) free back in July, they also announced the impending arrival of a standalone client that'll act as a marketplace for the service. Something to manage your downloads, transactions, that kind of thing. That service needs a name, and in an attempt at giving it one that doesn't suck as hard as Games For Windows - LIVE (ungh) does, they're turning the naming process over to you, Joe Public. Their "helpful" suggestions include such gems as "Games for Windows - LIVE Dashboard" (ungh) and "Games for Windows - LIVE Client" (double up ungh ungh), but surely you can do better. Losing the Games For Windows - LIVE bit would be a start. You'd then have to move onto giving it a name that actually sums up what the client's doing. And no, you can't use Steam. Can't use Steam - LIVE either, you cheeky sod.
Help With Games for Windows Naming [GamerScore]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
denki
Posted 6:04 PM 10/9/08
@Sullyville: ARG damnit, I just had to type so much more and post later...
denki
denki
Posted 6:03 PM 10/9/08
Even though this changes the lyrics slightly (using "Live" instead of "life"):
Games for Windows - "LIVE? Whattya mean LIVE? I ain't got a LIVE!" "Boy, your soul better belong to Jesus, mmm-hmm, cuz your ass belongs to ME."
Games for Windows - LIVE and let Playstation Network (live)
Blah blah blah - LIVE in a shithouse, smell like shit
Seriously, they couldn't just use something like....Windows Games?
ooh, wait!
Games for Windows - LIVE NUDES!
denki
Sullyville
Posted 6:03 PM 10/9/08
XXX Games for Windows - LIVE GIRLS XXX
Sullyville
coffinmouth
Posted 6:03 PM 10/9/08
Inigo Montoya: Offer me money
Games for Windows: LIVE: Yes
Inigo Montoya: Power too promise that!
[he slices Games for Windows: LIVE's cheek]
Games for Windows: LIVE: All that I have and more. Please.
Inigo Montoya: Offer me everything I ask for.
Inigo Montoya: Anything you want.
Games for Windows: LIVE: [Games for Windows: LIVE attacks but Inigo grabs his arm and stabs Games for Windows: LIVE in the stomach]
Inigo Montoya: I want Ensemble back you son of a bitch.
[Inigo plunges the sword into Games for Windows: LIVE's gut and he falls down dead]
coffinmouth
Sullyville
Posted 6:02 PM 10/9/08
Project Origin.
Sullyville
HanSolomente
Posted 5:59 PM 10/9/08
Win-Dohs!
HanSolomente
King Seafoam
Posted 5:55 PM 10/9/08
When a player enters an empty game server, does it make a sound?
King Seafoam
Murderdolls
Posted 5:51 PM 10/9/08
@Fryfat2: lulz
Murderdolls
The_Inquisitor
Posted 5:51 PM 10/9/08
So if you click through, it seems you're stuck with the "Games for Windows: LIVE" part. And the only options are for the word following LIVE.
Might as well just put "Games for Windows: LIVE is a terrible name."
The_Inquisitor
demonotaku
Posted 5:50 PM 10/9/08
Games for DRM - Live!
demonotaku
ShaggE
Posted 5:49 PM 10/9/08
"Games for Windows - LIVE Client" (double up ungh ungh)"
My bladder leaked. Well played.
But yeah, my vote goes to "Gaseous", to avoid the "Steam" name while still acknowledging the obvious me-too-ism.
ShaggE
Fryfat2
Posted 5:49 PM 10/9/08
NotSteam
Fryfat2
King Seafoam
Posted 5:48 PM 10/9/08
Serious? Were going to nit-pick at another title? Didn't we already have this discussion with the Wii?
King Seafoam
AnonTipster
Posted 5:47 PM 10/9/08
Games for Windows LIVE free or die hard?
AnonTipster
BossVersion1
Posted 5:46 PM 10/9/08
Vapor
BossVersion1
bighit006
Posted 5:44 PM 10/9/08
How about "the Dog Brother Jihad" Something really outta left field to get the punters interested.
bighit006
francoamerica
Posted 5:43 PM 10/9/08
Just stop the madness
francoamerica
EaGle1337
Posted 5:43 PM 10/9/08
Games for Windows online? Games for Windows client? Games for Windows? those are all better then there recommendations.
EaGle1337
akumaserge
Posted 5:41 PM 10/9/08
"Don't pirate our games - LIVE"
akumaserge
JASONSPAZ1
Posted 5:40 PM 10/9/08
Windows "Live Games" Connect
JASONSPAZ1
Archaotic
Posted 5:40 PM 10/9/08
How about..."Games For Windows - We Know Nobody's Playing This Anyway"?
Seriously, Microsoft should just give up with this whole GFW Live thing...almost all of the biggest PC games out now don't even use it, and it reeks of desperation.
Archaotic
Jest
Posted 5:39 PM 10/9/08
@Touy: The bravest of all toasters.
Jest
Touy
Posted 5:36 PM 10/9/08
Subreactive
Handholding
Interface
Technology
What's my prize?
Touy
Murderdolls
Posted 5:36 PM 10/9/08
"Windows Live"?
Murderdolls
Annex1
Posted 5:35 PM 10/9/08
Can't it just be called "Live for Windows" or "Games - Live"?
Annex1
.endejas.
Posted 6:32 PM 10/9/08
"LIVE Dashboard" would be fine. That is all the PC-side client would be, no?
.endejas.
Rob Phelps
Posted 6:31 PM 10/9/08
Microsoft needs to completely re-imagine gaming on the PC. A unified save game model, managed by a standardized system for ALL GAMES that want GFW certification. A intuitive system for detecting the correct settings for a game to run without hiccups, as well as telling you whether or not you should even try running it in the first place. A task-watcher that suggests running processes to kill before launching a game. Oh and all this voice chat/friends list/achievement mumbo-jumbo, obviously.
Almost forgot the other key XBL component: a Marketplace with demos/games/etc.
And here it is: Games Live.
Rob Phelps
KEELr
Posted 6:31 PM 10/9/08
ViTALiTY
RELOADED
PROCYON
...LIVE
KEELr
Netnavi
Posted 6:29 PM 10/9/08
Uh... Why can't they just have a side emblem that says Xbox live enabled, or cross compatible? They did it with the regular old xbox when live first came out. But really, what's in a name but cheap marketing. I don't know that anyone cares about this or that they even fully knows what it all does at all. I surely don't.
Netnavi
Shockeh
Posted 6:27 PM 10/9/08
What I don't understand is, Microsoft are usually at the forefront of promoting web-based applications.
So why do we need a standalong client?
@H8ff0000: Just an aside, but the reasons for the 'Games for Windows' existence brand should also be noted that it gives MS a bit of 'dirty branding', implies that Games for Windows are NOT Games for say, Apple, or Linux.
You can't slate your opponents, but you can imply they can't do what you can. :)
Shockeh
EaGle1337
Posted 6:25 PM 10/9/08
how about live live, windows live.
EaGle1337
SleighBoy
Posted 6:24 PM 10/9/08
How about "Steam"?
SleighBoy
CukyDoh
Posted 6:16 PM 10/9/08
Has anyone else tried voting btw? You can't actually remove live from the title even on your own suggestions. The best vote you get is "I would call it 'Games for Windows - LIVE '" and then you only get like 10 characters to input :(
No LIVE at all please!!
CukyDoh
kickass solo
Posted 6:15 PM 10/9/08
they should take a cue from live mebers and name it
xXGAM3SF0RW1ND0WSXx
kickass solo
H8ff0000
Posted 6:14 PM 10/9/08
@Murderdolls: I agree, Windows Live is the best.
Games for Windows was a stupid branding idea to begin with. Sounds terrible. Windows LIVE however, seems perfect.
H8ff0000
CukyDoh
Posted 6:12 PM 10/9/08
"Steam I Am Not And Never Going To Be So I May Aswell Give Up Now." - Yay! Do I win? :D
CukyDoh
Asbestos_Underwear
Posted 7:01 PM 10/9/08
(1) The service formerly know as Live
(2) Still no reason to upgrade to Vista.
(3) GfW - Dividing the customer base since 2005
Asbestos_Underwear
SSJ4_Macd
Posted 6:56 PM 10/9/08
Hows about Maets!
SSJ4_Macd
hagridore
Posted 6:56 PM 10/9/08
How 'bout Newton? Oh, right...
hagridore
TeknoVagrant
Posted 6:50 PM 10/9/08
@Shockeh: Because if it was web based MS couldn't find a good excuse for making it only work on Vista?
TeknoVagrant
Geckosan
Posted 6:48 PM 10/9/08
Simply "Steam"
Geckosan
theMockingNoob
Posted 6:44 PM 10/9/08
"Remember me - I am a-LIVE"
(see what i did there. Alive. Live.)
theMockingNoob
crunks
Posted 6:42 PM 10/9/08
Stream
crunks
Shockeh
Posted 6:41 PM 10/9/08
@Shockeh: standalong, pssht. Learn to proof, Shockeh. :(
Shockeh
pokebud
Posted 7:24 PM 10/9/08
Why not just
Windows LIVE! A Personal Gaming Experience
LIVE! is already known as a gaming medium from Xbox LIVE! so you can keep that name and PC gaming is aobut as personal as it get's with all the mods and tweaks out on the inter-webs.
pokebud
Jellocakes
Posted 7:22 PM 10/9/08
Gwin
Jellocakes
mind in rewind
Posted 7:50 PM 10/9/08
The unexpected "Baby Got Back" reference just made my night. Thanks, Luke!
mind in rewind
cdammers
Posted 7:36 PM 10/9/08
Coal
cdammers
That1GuyNess
Posted 7:33 PM 10/9/08
How about this.
Games for windows AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
That1GuyNess
toejam316
Posted 8:16 PM 10/9/08
I choose to ignore you and say Steam anyway.
Otherwise, Microsoft are just being big old floppy twats.
toejam316
Anaralia
Posted 8:14 PM 10/9/08
Not As Good As Steam - Live?
Anaralia
theadept
Posted 8:14 PM 10/9/08
Ensemble Murderers - LIVE
theadept
TheTimeisback
Posted 8:40 PM 10/9/08
Windows Online
TheTimeisback
NinjaMarion
Posted 9:05 PM 10/9/08
"Garbage: Online"
Although, I suppose if it MUST have Games for Windows - LIVE in the title: "Games For Windows - Live - Sucks"
NinjaMarion
Talleh
Posted 9:04 PM 10/9/08
How about just LivePC. I think that's what it is, just Xbox Live, on the PC. And there isn't really and Xbox involved, so...it's Live, on your PC.
I always did wonder what the Games for Windows bit was about. Is there another 4-5 OSs out there that I don't know about that act as primary gaming systems, so they need to make that distinction?
I mean, instead of a big bar at the top of every box, why not just have a little logo on the back that says something like "LivePC Supported" down by the requirements. Because when box art is shrunk down, and suddenly you've got some nice balanced good looking box art, then this big bar reminding you that you're buying a PC game. If I remember, on PS3/360, the system denotation is much smaller compared to GFW games.
Talleh
Billkwando
Posted 8:57 PM 10/9/08
How about "Sir Games-a-lot", Luke?
Billkwando
Zentac
Posted 8:56 PM 10/9/08
Games for live?
Water "just slightly less hot then Steam"
Zentac
jonomcleish
Posted 10:15 PM 10/9/08
What about a directX theme - like how the (direct)Xbox got it's name...
Let's see... Xlive sounds bad... can't have Xsteam... got it - Xteam!! :D
Anyone know if it's likely for games to be downloaded through this service without crappy software like SecuROM coming with it?
jonomcleish
Quicksilver4648
Posted 10:06 PM 10/9/08
Steam!
"And no, you can't use Steam"
Agh... Steam - LIVE!
"Can't use Steam - LIVE either"
Damn you Kotaku, you know me so well.
Quicksilver4648
stretch
Posted 10:46 PM 10/9/08
@Touy: You should sir, you should.
@KEELr: LOL
stretch
Protector one
Posted 10:31 PM 10/9/08
Games for Windows - LIVE Andletdie
Protector one
lumpi
Posted 11:35 PM 10/9/08
"Monopoly - LIVE"
lumpi
dsmx
Posted 11:22 PM 10/9/08
I have a name for you microsoft that does everything live does and will require almost no effort from you it's called steam
dsmx
AntiheroKing
Posted 12:33 AM 11/9/08
Just call the service "Torrent," so the execs can pretend all those downloads are actually sales. ;)
AntiheroKing
Zodduska
Posted 12:30 AM 11/9/08
eViLiVe
GFW-Live
Live or Die
stReam
Zodduska
mergedwarrior
Posted 12:19 AM 11/9/08
The best name is already taken: Battle.net
I'd say something like LIVEnet but that sounds like a cheap webcam porn site. The really should push this damn pc to 360 gaming initiative. I wanna make some x360 fanboys cry hax.
mergedwarrior
Kayonesoft
Posted 1:06 AM 11/9/08
Sex Leg - Live
Kayonesoft
zombie16thc
Posted 1:31 AM 11/9/08
Why don't they just call it LIVE PC no need for excessive words.
zombie16thc
LanciePants
Posted 3:12 AM 11/9/08
Windows Gamer Network
or
Microsoft gaming, FUCK YEA EDITION!
LanciePants
phor11
Posted 3:54 AM 11/9/08
We need another PC games marketplace to split up all the content just like we need another Online TV marketplace...
(see: We don't)
phor11
Darkest Daze
Posted 4:52 AM 11/9/08
How about "WON" or "Kali"?
Honestly, it should something like Windows Live or Live Games. No more then 2 words...the simpler the better.
Darkest Daze
Cue2
Posted 5:44 AM 11/9/08
iSteam, steaMii, or maybe just iLive. using i's is all the rage these days.
Cue2
haggis
Posted 5:31 AM 11/9/08
Games for Windows... Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!
haggis
gblock
Posted 5:57 AM 11/9/08
As the move between liquid and gas, like that of steam, represents a phase change, how's about "phase".
Clever, modern, funky, means nothing, and will ultimately feel ever so slightly off message, just like everything else they release.
gblock
gblock
Posted 5:56 AM 11/9/08
Can't call it Steam, eh?
Microsoft Hot Air; alternately, Games for Windows - Hot Air.
Vapor. Is vaporpowered.com available?
Condensate. rainonmyparade.microsoft.com
Precipitation. No, wait, Google has a product called Precipitate.
Ultimately, you just *know* it's going to be named after a source of power or locomotion. Because they just can't rip off steam without nodding in their direction.
How about Moist? There's a word that's full of potential.
gblock
glutto
Posted 8:26 AM 11/9/08
PC Games.
glutto
boopadoo
Posted 10:34 AM 11/9/08
Keymaster
boopadoo
Crawl to China
Posted 12:13 PM 11/9/08
gee, for my pc i think it would be aptly titled
Nintendo 64 - LIVE
Crawl to China
mind in rewind
Posted 1:01 PM 11/9/08
@boopadoo: Gatekeeper
mind in rewind
Badassiousness
Posted 6:06 PM 11/9/08
Games for Windows - Dead?
Badassiousness
joeloliol
Posted 6:49 PM 11/9/08
PCLA - personal computer live arcade?
joeloliol
ctunightfall
Posted 12:13 PM 15/9/08
1)Totally not Steam
2)Vapor
3)Vapour (It's British)
4)VaporLive
5)VaporWare (FTW111)
ctunightfall