Turns out the client isn't available yet, and Thursday's announcement really is just that: An announcement. But not even quite that, either, because half of what it covers is retread. That half involves the interface, which it was retooling -- wisely -- with PC gamers in mind. Instead of an ugly, slightly blurry rectangle cribbed from the Xbox 360's "guide" overlay, GFW Live now descends from the top of the screen and looks like a naturally occurring extension of the Vista GUI, not a shotgun marriage between a TV and a PC. It's purportedly "optimized for use with a keyboard and mouse, and built from the ground up with PC gamers in mind."

The other news, slightly more provocative, is that Microsoft plans to offer downloadable content as part of a "Live Marketplace" component in early December. In the press release, they describe that content as "game trailers, demos and add-on game content such as extended chapters and new characters." Bethesda's already on board to offer unspecified extras for Fallout 3. No mention of full games, or competition with , , , etc.

So from confusing, to coherent, and -- stick with me -- about to get confusing again.

, GFW Live's general manager Chris Early responded to a question about the company's thoughts on using the client to distribute full PC titles. Chris responded "Clearly it's on our road map," which Shacknews read as headline-grabbing confirmation.

Except that's actually not Microsoft's first public confirmation of its DLC "road map." Microsoft Senior Global Director of Games For Windows Kevin Ungangst when I asked him more pointedly: "Do you plan to offer full downloadable games for sale as an alternative to retail?"