Support NeoGAF

[nkarafo]

...and just as i was expecting, based on what i read, i wasted my time.

I didn't buy anything, didn't go through payment processes or anything too demanding for Microsoft. Just tried to download a trial (Gears of War 4). Whenever i press the "trial" button the store closes. Or crashes, i don't know, there are no messages or anything. So yeah, not in the mood trying to google whatever is wrong with the thing or spending more than 5 minutes to troubleshoot it. All i needed was to try a demo, out of curiosity.

Is there a way to download these trials/demos outside the store since they are free? Some other server or a place where people upload them?

 

[tomwhite2004]

download phantom dust...

 

[N21]

The store is very fickle. My best advice to you is try and download every free trial or game and hope for the best.

 

[tuxfool]

Download speeds are shit, to boot.

 

[ZanDatsu]

I used it to download the Forza 7 demo then had to google how to uninstall store applications after I was done because it seemed like there was no way to do it. The correct way ended up being that I had to search for the app in the Search Windows function, then right clicking on the result and uninstall from there. How can they still be so bad at such basic things...

 

[xrnzaaas]

I only tried the store once to download Forza 6 Apex. The download didn't start the first few times. Eventually it did, but then the game didn't launch. No errors, no information what's wrong, no nothing. Meanwhile I don't have any problems with Steam or Uplay games. Yeah I haven't used it since then and don't plan to. I have an Xbox for Forza and Gears singleplayer and I don't care about any other exclusives they have.

Also finding something in their store is a chore and what's worse they've merged their Xbox and Windows stores.

 

[AssassiN]

I used it to download the Forza 7 demo then had to google how to uninstall store applications after I was done because it seemed like there was no way to do it. The correct way ended up being that I had to search for the app in the Search Windows function, then right clicking on the result and uninstall from there. How can they still be so bad at such basic things...

Or you can go to Apps in Settings and uninstall from there. No different to any other version of Windows really.

 

[nkarafo]

I only tried the store once to download Forza 6 Apex. The download didn't start the first few times. Eventually it did, but then the game didn't launch. No errors, no information what's wrong, no nothing. Meanwhile I don't have any problems with Steam or Uplay games. Yeah I haven't used it since then and don't plan to. I have an Xbox for Forza and Gears singleplayer and I don't care about any other exclusives they have.

Also finding something in their store is a chore and what's worse they've merged their Xbox and Windows stores.

I don't have an XBOX so the only way for me to try Forza or Gears of War demos is through their stupid store.

 

[Bluth54]

The store is very fickle. My best advice to you is try and download every free trial or game and hope for the best.

The fact that you have to "hope for the best" for the Microsoft store built into Windows is so pathetic.
And they want to compete with Steam. What a joke.

 

[PaulloDEC]

Yup, it's a crappy store. I've only bought one game on it (ReCore) and I had a hell of a time both downloading and later updating it.

 

[City 17]

...and just as i was expecting, based on what i read, i wasted my time.

I didn't buy anything, didn't go through payment processes or anything too demanding for Microsoft. Just tried to download a trial (Gears of War 4). Whenever i press the "trial" button the store closes. Or crashes, i don't know, there are no messages or anything. So yeah, not in the mood trying to google whatever is wrong with the thing or spending more than 5 minutes to troubleshoot it. All i needed was to try a demo, out of curiosity.

Is there a way to download these trials/demos outside the store since they are free? Some other server or a place where people upload them?

You can download the apps using your download manager.

Just grab the link with fiddler, download it, enable developer mode and simply run the downloaded .appx file (like this, it's simpler in Win10 with anniversary update)

 

[Windu]

The store seems to work flawlessly or horribly. Very hit or miss it seems.

I used it to download the Forza 7 demo then had to google how to uninstall store applications after I was done because it seemed like there was no way to do it. The correct way ended up being that I had to search for the app in the Search Windows function, then right clicking on the result and uninstall from there. How can they still be so bad at such basic things...

Eh? go to the app, right click it, uninstall. Not sure why that would be an odd solution. Most modern OS's do something similar and right clicking is a primary windows function.

 

[ZanDatsu]

Or you can go to Apps in Settings and uninstall from there. No different to any other version of Windows really.

I've never once seen this menu before. I guess it's because I've been using a 3rd party uninstaller from day one, but still I think there should have been a way to uninstall from the store page or the My Library menu.

Eh? go to the app, right click it, uninstall. Not sure why that would be an odd solution. Most modern OS's do something similar and right clicking is a primary windows function.

You mean from the My Library part of the store? Right clicking does nothing for me there.

 

[nkarafo]

You can download the apps using your download manager.

Just grab the link with fiddler, download it, enable developer mode and simply run the downloaded .appx file (like this, it's simpler in Win10 with anniversary update)

Thanks, i'll take a look at this when i have some time.

 

[Roshin]

I haven't even looked at the store once.

 

[HowZatOZ]

Great thing is Microsoft made it possible for devs to lock moving games and apps to another folder. Smart move there when my OS drive is a 250GB SSD.

 

[Lom1lo]

I feel like Im the only person who hasnt Problems with it. It even uses my full internet speed like steam, xbox doesnt do this.. still its a very bad look for ms if so many people have problems, they should do better

 

[irrotational]

It's worked flawlessly for me, but obviously that doesn't help anyone else.

I have a pretty vanilla install of win 10...i have steam and oculus on it and that's literally about it. Oh! I installed Chrome too.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Just tried to download the Gears 4 trial. Well, zero problems. Downloading at full speed. Fix your Windows intallations/internet service, people

 

[Windu]

I feel like Im the only person who hasnt Problems with it. It even uses my full internet speed like steam, xbox doesnt do this.. still its a very bad look for ms if so many people have problems, they should do better

I haven't had any problems but this is Windows. Infinite number of Hardware and Software variations, some amount of the userbase will have technical issues with anything that is released. Although, the store seems to have more than most things, or gamers are just a more vocal crowd.

You mean from the My Library part of the store? Right clicking does nothing for me there.

No, the Start Menu etc.. Perhaps they should add an uninstall button on the store page though since they have a launch button already if it is installed. Google play does this. But the proper way imo is what they are doing now. You go to the app, wherever you put it, taskbar, start menu, start screen and you right click it and select uninstall. No need to go to a separate menu. Its similar to ios, osx, android etc... you shouldn't need to go to a settings page or store to uninstall something.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

Just tried to download the Gears 4 trial. Well, zero problems. Downloading at full speed. Fix your Windows intallations/internet service, people

If the OS level App Store can’t handle basic internet issues, something is terribly wrong.

 

[Nev]

I've given it a few tries. Nope, always complete trash.

They had the chance to get it to Battle.net / Origin levels of popularity as the bottom line but they blew it with a horrible half-assed attempt thus making it absolutely irrelevant and frowned upon by the PC community.

It's incredible how utterly incompetent and clueless Microsoft is. It's almost comedic.

Also holy shit at these ridiculous prices. Get out of here.

 

[Night.Ninja]

No problems here

I swear some people just want to have problems, makes them look internet cool

 

[KHlover]

Just tried to download the Gears 4 trial. Well, zero problems. Downloading at full speed. Fix your Windows intallations/internet service, people

Fix the behaviour of your goddamn program, if the Windows store out of all big stores on PC is the only one to cause problems to a large amount of users it should be on MS to properly fix it, not on users hotfixing things to get it to run properly. After all MS wants us to spend money on there, not the other way around

 

[tuxfool]

Should be nearly 10x as fast for me. Steam and most other PC stores have no issues saturating my connection.

 

[nkarafo]

Just tried to download the Gears 4 trial. Well, zero problems. Downloading at full speed. Fix your Windows intallations/internet service, people

Right. So we can't use Windows 10 OS for more than a few months before it collapses in itself and needs re-installation in order for things to work or something?

My last Windows XP setup hold itself for 9 years without needing a reinstall. My current Windows 7 setup is holding nicely after 2 years. You shouldn't need to worry about the OS being bad every time something doesn't work. It's not Windows Millennium.

I swear some people just want to have problems, makes them look internet cool

I don't even know how to respond to this.

 

[Randomizer123454444]

No problems here

I swear some people just want to have problems, makes them look internet cool

You know I don't enjoy having to spend 10 minutes looking for solutions and then manually deleting some app cache because it doesn't know how to handle it itself.

Understandable if app is from single person indie dev team. Understanding goes down when it's one of top tech companies in the world and it's a system exclusive content is locked behind.

 

[Windu]

Also holy shit at these ridiculous prices. Get out of here.

yeeeep. this is across both xbox and pc. They have horrible prices, and when they have a sale its usually get 50% off the ultimate Edition of so and so game, which will still be $60 dollars. They are taking the Call Of Duty Price Approach.

 

[gamz]

Works fine for me.

Dunno.

 

[Ruud_Luiten]

Microsoft used to be amazing in software, but their store and windows mobile are the worst ever. Crashes more often than works..

 

[topplehat]

I've had decent luck so far with it, downloading the Gears 4 trial, Recore, and Forza Horizon 3 demo. Uninstalling is easy (just right click -> uninstall). That's really all I need in the store so I don't see it as awful.

 

[hanspampel]

i don't know why i do wrong, but i have no problem with all this shit
you do a fresh clean reinstall of windows 10 if your pc is broken


but i have issues with website crashed using Edge browser
glad i have 2 installed

 

[Shil Pencer]

I never had a problem using it to the point I don't understand how it can be broke for so many. I wish I shared the same kind of Microsoft luck when it came to rrod on 360

 

[OBias]

Just tried to download the Gears 4 trial. Well, zero problems. Downloading at full speed. Fix your Windows intallations/internet service, people

Ah, the good old "works on my machine!" excuse that Windows fanboys used to mock Linux users for.

 

[old manatee]

I learned my lesson with GFWL. It ran like shit, it was super buggy, and then they shut it down and gave everyone who bought games there the finger.

I've bought digital games from a bunch of different services over the years, and Microsoft is the only one to just up and shut the thing down and deny me access to my games. The fact that they waited only a few years and started up another service like nothing happened is still utterly, mind-bogglingly, unfuckingbelievable. I'll try the Windows Store when they give me a free copy of Viva Pinata.




The good news is that I heard that Microsoft is really doubling down on their commitment to PC gaming this year. You guys won't believe what they have in store!

 

[Atolm]

I have everything related to the Win Store & Xbox services disabled on Win10. They're that bad.

 

[TranceKuja]

I only bought Gears of War there once. Didn't have a problem. Downloaded and installed fine.

 

[hardcastlemccormick]

Holy hell, the Gears 4 trail is the whole game at a quality 120ish GB download.

Well...I guess I won’t then.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Ah, the good old "works on my machine!" excuse that Windows fanboys used to mock Linux users for.

99% of Windows/Linux problems are caused by the little piece sitting in front of the PC

 

[Dubz]

The worst digital srtore bar none. Took me forever to get FH3 downloaded. I had to troubleshoot for hours and hours. I don't even really remember what I did....must have blocked out the trauma.

 

[Hasney]

No problems here

I swear some people just want to have problems, makes them look internet cool

Oh yeah, I loooooovvveee problems. I love it when a good game like FH3 makes me jump through so many hoops because the shit doesn't work.

Bought FH3, everything was fine.
Patch didn't work, it was downloading over 200GB
Delete game and try to re-install
Wouldn't start with an error code, google it and everyones talking about doing a refresh/repair
Done. No change.
Google some more, oh your Windows image might be corrupt, follow these steps then refresh again
Nope, same shit
Decide FUCK IT and reset
SAME.GODDAMNN.SHIT.
Create new USB media
Format again, this time from the USB
IT DOWNLOADS AGAIN

A random Windows Update 3 months later

No Windows Store games work or download anymore. Not going through that shit again, I'll just play other games.

Long story short:

 

[GLAMr]

No problems here

I swear some people just want to have problems, makes them look internet cool

Plenty of problems here.

I swear some people just don't want to admit to problems, makes them look internet cool.

 

[ProBusinessgamer]

Alot of these comments are exaggerating, and anything that has to do with a computer can be operator error..because the store works fine for me, forza demo downloaded and none of these problems.
Opinion pieces delivered as facts.

 

[Shifty]

My only good experience with it was getting ReCore DE for free, and that was because of MS' incompetence.

Every single other instance has been a shitshow of failed downloads, restarts and giving up out of frustration.

 

[CSJ]

Alot of these comments are exaggerating, and anything that has to do with a computer can be operator error..because the store works fine for me, forza demo downloaded and none of these problems.
Opinion pieces delivered as facts.

I hope this is a troll post?

You've been living in a cave if you honestly think that.
Everything originating from Microsoft ala live/store has been and always will be a pile of shit for the most part. Just because you don't have problems doesn't mean there aren't a large number of people who experience otherwise.

I'll also applaud you for self delusion and lack of critical thinking when it comes to "works fine for me, downloaded 1 thing so it must be exaggerated".

 

[Soar]

Plenty of problems here.

I swear some people just don't want to admit to problems, makes them look internet cool.

They just don't have issues, good for them. However it felt like we're back in the 2000s again with this "mine works so it should work for everybody" mentality.

 

[Horp]

Give Microsoft a break. An application that allows you to buy other applications (or apps) then download them, that is truly ground breaking tech. Microsoft are the first to try this, so it makes sense it takes some (many) years to work well!

 

[MUnited83]

Alot of these comments are exaggerating, and anything that has to do with a computer can be operator error..because the store works fine for me, forza demo downloaded and none of these problems.
Opinion pieces delivered as facts.

Man you fanboys get more ridiculous with each W10 store thread.
The W10 is a broken fucking mess. This is a fact.

 

[Pooya]

The store is made for distributing 500MB apps, not 50GB games. That thing chokes on itself.

It's kinda astonishing that a giant corp like MS still can't figure out the basic downloading part of their store. This is like N th iteration of the store, actually GFWL store back in the day was better with game download, pause/resume and general speed of the process... Windows Store has been around since 2012, how long they need for it to not fail at this very basic level? I wonder who they have working on it, they keep failing again and again. it's not rocket science... literally every other store/app is better like gog galaxy in its first iteration is already better...

 

[nynt9]

There are so many documented cases of the windows store being shit that I'm surprised Microsoft haven't done anything about it. I mean, there improved it, but it's still just as shit, so that's kinda moot. Phil Spencer likes to opine on twitter a lot about things that make them look good, but where are his reassurances when it comes to the store? Why does the store have like one major fix a year or so instead of having constant updates addressing issues? Why doesn't the major fix help any of its significant problems?

Microsoft are known for different divisions in the company being hostile towards each other, is this a case of the OS/mobile/Xbox teams clashing in the worst way possible? How can any random publisher like EA, ubi, blizzard, epic, etc have a store up and running with way less problems yet Microsoft, "we invented directx", "we're committed to PC gaming" Microsoft can't have a competent store front?

It's so baffling. On one hand they want to create a walled garden gaming ecosystem on PC, on the other hand they're so bad at it that it looks like they're intentionally sabotaging themselves. I can't believe this store is their best effort and a legitimate try at being relevant in the PC space.

I've had all kinds of issues with it, like having to download huge games from scratch to update them, purchases not showing, being unable to launch games, and a lot more. How is this situation not solved, it's been several years at this point?!?