If you're the sort of person who wants to have all their contacts in one easy-access list, Microsoft have heard your plea.

If you like getting achievements when you play your games, Microsoft have heard you there, too.

If you like not having to select your game servers because matchmaking is built into the games you want to play, guess what? Microsoft to the rescue there, too.

...and if you like doing all of that for free - well, Microsoft are right there, announcing that Games for Windows - LIVE is now completely free.

All subscription fees for the service have been dropped - "No exceptions", they say - promising cross-platform gameplay with Xbox 360 users. The system isn't just for the new wave of Windows games to be released shortly, instead all games that utilise the Games for Windows - LIVE functionality will now be able to play online for free.

The user interface has been labelled "too console-centric", and is now facing a redesign, plus the technical requirements will be lowered, making the system more accessible to developers.

...added to this, later this year will see a new Marketplace for Games for Windows - LIVE, creating a central place that gamers can access new downloadable content for existing games (yes, some of this will be free to download), as well as trailers, demos and the same sort of great stuff we're used to only seeing on the console.

To sum it up:

• Games for Windows – LIVE makes great Windows games even better, now offering completely free online multiplayer including TrueSkill matchmaking
• 1 gamertag, 1 friends list, 1 list of achievements and gamerscore for your Windows-based PC & Xbox 360
• Experience cross-platform gameplay with Universe at War, Lost Planet: Colonies, Shadowrun, and more.
• Games for Windows – LIVE is available in every country and region supported today by Xbox LIVE

Games for Windows - LIVE titles: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, Battlestations: Pacific, Gears of War
Every title branded with the Games for Windows - LIVE logo has been tested to meet standards for safety, consistency, quality and ease of play. They're each tested to support wide-screen monitors, parental controls, 64-bit operating systems and - in certain cases - the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows.

Come join a community of more than 12 million gamers in a constant, feature-rich platform that is LIVE! For more details, check out the very helpful website - www.gamesforwindows.com/live/.