If you have never experienced Xbox Live it really is an amazing piece of technology. I'm not the only one to think so; the gents behind Xfire reputedly built their software solution to provide a Live-esque service for PCs. In fact if you use Xfire than you'll have a basic understanding of what Live is all about, certainly as far as the 'networking with your friends' element goes.

Live Anywhere will go further than Xfire, bringing all the additional functionality Live affords Xbox owners (particularly Xbox 360 owners, the differences in the capabilities between Xbox Live and 360 Live is quite astonishing) to the home PC.

Where I get excited is when it comes to cross platform multiplayer titles. When Live Anywhere is launched if game developers wish to take advantage of the service it will be possible for Xbox 360 gamers to go up against PC gamers in a clash of pad versus mouse.

I don't engage in platform wars, I'm a bit like the games version of Poland. I just want to be a friend to all but the idea of a bit of cross platform competition is exciting if only if it will put to rest the age old argument about which control method is better in first person shooters: keyboard and mouse or gamepad?

The team behind the upcoming Shadowrun game (see my previous blog) are going to be among the first to implement Live Anywhere and have already made bold claims regarding this battle of controls; claiming that the 360 controller has beaten out the mouse and keyboard combination favoured by PC gamers. Personally I call 'bullshit' on that one. I don't think Bill Gross is lying but I figure there has to be something else at fault here causing the supposed 'win'.

How on earth an analogue controller with a set range of motion beat out the much more nimble mouse just makes no sense. Think back to the rocket jumping shenanigans of top Quake II players back in the day. Hell, even I remember playing one match of UT where I was running down a corridor with an enemy behind me. I quickly tapped backwards, jumped, fired a rocket my feet, turned 180 degrees and peppered my enemy with rockets as I sailed over head. You simply can't do quick 180 degree switches like that on a gamepad.

Anyway, til now it has all been speculation. Thanks to Live Anywhere we can put it to the test. As I said, I don't engage in platform wars but when Live Anywhere comes out I'm counting on the PCPP community to set the record straight. When it comes to First Person Shooters there just aint nothing like a PC, let's go blast some console fanboys!