DX10 theoretically workable on XP

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40913

But it's all politics now No way that Microsoft would allow it, there's just no technical reason they can't do it. That being said, I've done the same upgrade as the author of the article, and couldn't be happier

 

Vista is now being called ME II, so Mistake Edition apparently has a sequel LOL

 

That's a little harsh. ME was just Windows98 with a bunch of crap added on to it, crashed a lot, and just caused lots of problems.... wait never mind.

Seriously though, Vista is not just XP with a new interface. They did do some new things. Just not nearly as much as the promised. WinFS comes to mind right away.

 

what is winfs?

 

WinFS was supposed to be the future after NTFS but MS screwed it all up.

 

Yeah it was meant to be a database file system that would allow you to quickly search for anything. Kind of like BeOS did like 10 years ago!!!

There were a long list of ground breaking features that have dropped away over the years of development.

 

A database based filesystem. Really interesting stuff, really, kinda like how they access the start menu in Vista, but they've run into issues implementing it. I gather it's primarily old application compatibility (where is c:\Program Files if you don't have a file structure?) and general "fragility" as well as the requirement to rework a number of things running on top of it. Look at those links I posted to get a decent idea of where the technology is at.

 

tbh I am sure at the back of all of our minds, we knew this. It is a shame and I have a sneaking suspicion GTA IV PC will be "games for Windows"

Signed
Still using XP

 

Probably a lot of the new games in development by studios owned by Microsoft will be developing for DX10 now.

If I were running EA though I would not be moving over yet. I would either develop for DX9 to keep my XP user base, or make sure my games work with both.

 

What's with the general unrest towards "Games for Windows"? That line right there makes it one of the best things to happen to PC gaming in a long time.

And that's not even touching the Easy Install requirements, the requirement to avoid unnecessary reboots, and the mandatory widescreen support.

Short version here, long version here.

EDIT: Disregard, I was wrong, there are a couple of "Games for Windows" that are Vista only. *sigh*

 

Ars Technica: Vista Only Games

I would take Ars Technica over a Microsoft marketing blurb.

Microsoft has made DX10 Vista only when it really did not need to be, and they will push DX10 hard. So I am not sure how they expect DX10 only games to run in XP in the future when DX10 is Vista Only. And as the article says they have already tried to make Halo 2 and Shadowrun Vista only titles.

 

Heh. Also I just checked out the "Short Link" you put up. Read that page then click on the "Many Great Titles" link near the end of the blurb. Right on the front page it says "Halo 2 For Windows Vista" Minimum requirements Windows Vista. Then Click on Shadowrun, Minimum requirement Windows Vista.

Microsoft never ceases to amaze me. On one page they say how games for Windows runs on everything don't worry about it, then on the next page it says requires Windows Vista to run!!.

Sorry, this stuff gets me going on rants sometimes. It makes me mad that I am pretty much locked into Windows right now, for my desktop anyway, and Microsoft just keeps screwing us and there is nothing we can do about it.

 

Hmmm, good points. Oh well, I'll take my Vista machines and go hide in the corner now.


Edit: It was a good theory though, stupid Microsoft ruining a good thing.

 

Hehe, sorry my posts were not directed at you personally. I mean all you did was read what Microsoft clearly stats as a "fact" on their site. That just makes me more mad because they are mis-representing things to people.

Yeah it is a great idea. They need to have a standard of quality for Windows Games, just like Nintendo did back in the day when they killed Atari. But they are breaking their own rules. ;(

 

No offense taken. It's just those two particular games are way, WAY off my radar and I forgot all the controversy about them. So far all the "Games for Windows" titles I have purchased have worked as advertised, I guess I made the assumption that I was being told the truth for once.

You know what they say about making assumptions though...