Microsoft will launch an online computer games store on November 15

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    Microsoft has released a press release announcing the Games for Windows Marketplace, the new online computer game store. The store will combine the capabilities of the old Games On Demand service (was not available in Russia) with the previously inaccessible ability to buy games on the web through a browser.

    The store will be closely integrated with Windows Live and Xbox Live services. The first will get a single identifier and authorization system, and the second achievement, a 25 millionth community of players and Gamer Tag. Another feature of the store will be the Deal of the Week system with weekly discounts on a game that is familiar to XBox owners.

    At the start of the store, players will be offered 100 games, among them old and new hits: Fable, GTA III, Dead Raising 2, Gears of War, Flight Simulator, Halo and others. Microsoft will distribute its highly anticipated games in the Games for Windows Marketplace: Fable III, Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight. In addition, it is expected that indie games will be constantly added to the store, the same as those presented in a huge assortment in XBox Live.

    The launch of the store is scheduled for November 15 at http://www.gamesforwindows.com/ .

    The new store, in my opinion, is unlikely to compete with the recognized Steam leader. However, the games of the Microsoft Games publishing house can only be bought here, there will be integration with Xbox Live and there will be the opportunity to buy games at a discount (this also exists on Steam, but two sources of discounts are even better). So the launch of a new store from Microsoft may be successful.

    Another issue is regional accessibility. Will the store be launched for the USA or for the whole world too? Most importantly, will it be available in Russia? The question is still open.

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