Borderlands PC multiplayer through Steam question

[Hobie-wan]

So, I was all excited for Borderlands. I noticed Amazon had it for $40 the other day, but then I noticed it said that it said multiplayer was only through Windows Live. I HATE Windows Live. I already went through this fiasco before with Fallout 3. I bought the Steam F3 when it was on sale in July, then found out you could only buy the expansions through WL. I fought with WL for an entire day trying to get it set up and not be a bastard. Never could get it working right and I would to have started a brand new game while logged into Live to even play the expansions as far as I could tell. Plus then there's the crap with points. Points may be fine for adolescents where mommy and daddy pay for their games, but dammit, I'm an adult, let me pay the actual price of the game, not for some bullshit points that are pretty much guaranteed I'll never be able to use exactly without leftovers. </rant>

Actaul question stars here:
So, for anyone playing Borderlands through Steam, does it still force you to use Live to play multiplayer? If so this will be another game I'm going to be skipping.

[Xonticus]

I have a friend who got his at retail, and it makes him go through Gamespy instead of Game for Windows bs. I'd rather do that, but it would be awesome if the steam version went solely through steam.

I am too interested in the answer to this.

[fastbilly1]

I have the retail copy - it uses Gamespy Live. Which is better than Gamespy Arcade, but still has some issues. I do not know what the Steam version uses, but I imagine it interfaces with Gamespy since I did play with a guy using it. Beforewarned though, you gotta forward 6 or 7 ports.

[Hobie-wan]

I have the retail copy - it uses Gamespy Live. Which is better than Gamespy Arcade, but still has some issues. I do not know what the Steam version uses, but I imagine it interfaces with Gamespy since I did play with a guy using it. Beforewarned though, you gotta forward 6 or 7 ports.

I have no problem forwarding ports on my router. I guess I need to investigate Gamespy Live and see if it makes me foam at the Windows Live did. I've always said no when games want to install Gamespy or any other matchmaking crap.

Thanks for that bit of info FB.

Anyone else that can chime in with information, please do.

[fastbilly1]

The guy I asked said the Steam version uses Gamespy as well.

If you do get it, send me a pm. I can help or hinder you through it as seen fit. I have a lvl 44 hunter, lvl 28 solider, lvl 18 tank, and lvl 3 hunter (single player only character). I do want to try the Siren. The game is soso in single player but in coop it is awesome. But those damn bugs get on my nerves. Even with my new fully auto sniper rifle - Yes you read that right. I speced my lvl 44 hunter for pistols, all about fast accurate shots, well that transfers over to my new rifle and well it acts like a heavy rifle, just crits for over 2000 per shot every fourth or fifth shot.