Note: GFWL is "Games For Windows Live" , the branding that takes a chunk off the PC title's cover box art , annoying and it's resposnible for probably networking, cdkey , protection maybe ... and it nags you with FORCED stuff like chat and other things that PC community wants to have already in the game and or using other NON-REQUIRED programs. All it does it makes compatability issues, annoys the gamer, advertisments, and wants to further take game operations under it's own control, taking the originality out of the game. Plus it's a CRAP code, it's a freaking shoppy cheap laggy FLASH Menu , just like XLive.
http://www.golem.de/1010/78491.html
http://www.pcgames.de/Duke-Nukem-Forever-P...-beides-793410/
Anyways it's in german so i translated it with a translator hope we get the best idea , may not be 100% accurate though but we get the idea. Steam and GFWL have a little chance of being supported, laides and gentleman this is the best news since pax. Dedicated servers , FTW! (not yet confirmed , but it might be ... who knows what else remains, DC are most logical/technical at this point -- remember it's UNREAL engine , GeorgeB. confirmed many times networking,editor, and Unreal Script are still to be used)
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Actually, we wanted to know only whether Duke Nukem Forever Steam or Games for Windows supports Live. The answer of Randy Pitchford, the chief of Gearbox, fell out more extensively than thinks. The man(husband) is dissatisfied with the present whole situation on the PC.
" For a moment we are tormented by Steam and Games for Windows Live (GfWL) because Valve and Microsoft want to control their(her) customers... I understand this, but customers do not want to be controlled nunmal ", told Randy Pitchford to Golem.de
Pitchford is a chief of Gearbox and he(it) looks for an answer to the question how players in the PC should combine with each other. On the consoles this question is clarified: on Xbox 360 the subscription service Xbox runs Live, on the Playstation 3 the Playstation Network is used. On the PC there are many offerers of different services, for example, Steam, Games for Windows Live (GfWL) or Gamespy. Together compatibly these services never are. Already in the end of 2009 Pitchford had complained to the on-line platform Steam and had reproached with Valve to use player.
Pitchford pleads instead for open systems which are friendly to newcomer. In the interview he(it) compares the situation to the music market from two years ago: " If I have bought a song with iTunes, cost of the 99 US cents and I was bound in iPod. However, the accurately same song with Amazon.com cost only 89 US cents and I could play him everywhere. Therefore, we are changed all to the open platform and have bought from there - from the open service. " Meanwhile, Apple has reacted as it is known and has adapted own system. Songs from the iTunes net curtain have no more copy protection and can be played on all MP3-Players.
This is completely in Pitchfords senses. Would have to act in his(its) view Valve and Microsoft. If Steam and GfWL were connected openly and with each other, all other firms would follow. If this does not happen, new closed systems would start - how Uplay of Ubisoft. This would be bad for the PC market, says Pitchford: " The PC already has enough problems - he(it) cannot still use this. "
On the question, how realistic it is that Microsoft and Valve search together a solution, Pitchford answered dry: " I know that they talk with each other. They say to us that they cooperate. But we all see that this is not the case. "
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Pretty much that's the best news for me yet , dump that limited steam (credit card purchasing is still not majority, only popular in US and West/Central EU), all the other problems and compatability issues as with all 3rd party invading software .. not to even mention GFWL that's .. what is that even DOING on the PC ? It's a scam to control the customers and Picthford got it dead center. Finally some more faith in gearbox , good job , i hope we see dedicated servers , this is the step in the correct direction for the PC ... a vital thing in DNF to revive it... or else it won't put such an impact people should expect in the best case scenario or want it to, it's the PC that will put the game to it's best case scenario expectations of success , and dedicated servers are a vital part, without that , you can't even beat call of duty 2/half life 2.
Good job Pitchford , great , praise well deserved this time

Exactly what i was saying on gearbox forums (previously when i still had access) , don't follow suits with other's standards', who cares about other companies interests. It's Duke , he kicks ass out of everybody else and doesn't need any "partners".