It is confirmed Gears uses LiveThis is an Epic game, not a Microsoft game. I would think both the PC (Windows & Linux) and Mac version would NOT use Live. Isn't Live more X-Box Console oriented - it's a tool to find game servers and have in-game chat on the Xbox isn't it. Likely they'll use what they used for UT2004 since Gears of War uses the UT3 engine which is derived from the UT2 engine (what UT2004 uses). UT2004 also has it's own in-system chat feature and server finder (do they use gamespy or their own?).
Remember Unreal Tournament existed BEFORE the Xbox and is more of a computer game than a console game. They'll be using the PC/Mac code for the PC/Mac, the console code is ported from the PC code likely, and the Live stuff added there.
This is an Epic game, not a Microsoft game. I would think both the PC (Windows & Linux) and Mac version would NOT use Live. Isn't Live more X-Box Console oriented - it's a tool to find game servers and have in-game chat on the Xbox isn't it. Likely they'll use what they used for UT2004 since Gears of War uses the UT3 engine which is derived from the UT2 engine (what UT2004 uses). UT2004 also has it's own in-system chat feature and server finder (do they use gamespy or their own?).
Remember Unreal Tournament existed BEFORE the Xbox and is more of a computer game than a console game. They'll be using the PC/Mac code for the PC/Mac, the console code is ported from the PC code likely, and the Live stuff added there.
(unless the PC has a dedicated server option).
I know that the game itself doesn't use it, but I wonder whether they could wrap the Live libraries in Cider if MS won't make Mac versions of them.