Microsoft axes games for PC but will you miss the point(s)?

Have you heard?

Say bye-bye to PC games on Xbox.com. Microsoft is killing it off as of August 22nd and you have until then to redeem your Microsoft points which are going the way of the paddle controller.  Microsoft's in-game currency, Microsoft Points, is being retired in what's been described as a revamp of  the Xbox Platform. 

PC games purchased through Xbox.com will still function but it appears DLC and updates will fall to individual publishers.  Oh yeah, and you'll have to download your games to the Games for Windows Live client.

Yes  PC gamers, Microsoft has essentially given you the finger.  You're going to be forced to play your PC games via one of the most hated game portals in the industry.  Remember what fun it was the first time you played Dirt 2?  Oh the joy of corrupted game saves and denial of access because a server outage kept you from logging  in.

At least your unused Microsoft points will be worth something.  How much that is, however, is yet to be determined. 

Oh yeah, except if you don't happen to have an Xbox 360 in which case you're encouraged to "contact support" The link takes you to a nondescript form not unlike those "Send an error report to Microsoft" dialog boxes that show up when Windows crashes.

This all comes after former Steam boss and Director of Business Development,Jason Holtman, joined Microsoft this week...

Hopefully he has more in mind than the buggy and annoying Games for Windows platform. 

So there's the meat, now comes the potatoes...

Look at this...

"Yes, I have joined Microsoft where I will be focusing on making Windows a great platform for gaming and interactive entertainment...I think there is a lot of opportunity for Microsoft to deliver the games and entertainment customers want and to work with developers to make that happen, so I'm excited to be here."

Ok, I have a question not covered in Microsoft's FAQ ....

How do you make Windows "A great platform for gaming" when you've pulled the rug out on PC gamers?

The only thing Microsoft has ever done for PC gaming is Direct X.  The rest is just a bunch of DRM.  It's not that anyone had any great love for the PC gaming experience of Xbox.com but this announcement leaves PC gamers twisting in the wind.

The announcement doesn't even give a hint as to what Microsoft's future holds for PC gamers wanting to continue in their ecosystem.  It seems the only answer,  at least for now, is that you're out of luck if an Xbox isn't in your future. 

They've essentially left PC gamers trapped within a broken platform to continue to suffer it's atrocities without any recourse.  They don't even get to participate in the" revamped" rewards program!

Then Microsoft hires a former Valve exec who somehow managed to get booted from one of the most successful PC game portals in the marketplace.  By the way, he was the "Director of business Development."

Oh, that's right, he's a "marketing" guy which means a lot of happy talk with no substance, just like this week's announcement. 

It seems most of the announcements from Microsoft these days revolve around epic reversals triggered by a clueless  misreading of their markets.  I don't expect this latest transgression against their  customers to be any different.  In fact I'd wager that's going to be one of Holtman's first projects.

Maybe Microsoft is due for a round of layoffs...in its marketing department.