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Software Gaming in Windows Vista
Brandon Hill (Blog) - October 2, 2006 9:24 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 65 comment(s) - last by SniperWulf.. on Oct 3 at 11:48 AM

"Games for Windows" branding -- Image courtesy Paul Thurrott
Microsoft takes a new approach to PC gaming with Vista

For all the talk about the security features of Windows Vista and the controversy surrounding its inclusion of a number of utilities and file formats that have some up in arms, there's one aspect of Vista that hasn't gotten much attention -- gaming. Microsoft looks to take a new approach to gaming with Windows Vista and is using the operating system as a launch pad for its new "gaming centric" focus.

With Vista, Microsoft is putting a lot of emphasis on DirectX 10 technology which will offload all rendering to the graphics card as well as most computational functions. DirectX 10 will be a Vista-only proposition making Vista the only choice for a number of hot titles launching in the coming months and Crytek proclaims that DirectX 10 is the only way to go to see Crysis in the way it was intended by the developers.

Microsoft is also bridging the gap between the XBOX 360 and PC gaming with the XBOX 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver. The USB peripheral plugs into your PC and allows you to use all of the 360's wireless peripherals including the upcoming Wireless Racing Wheel and Wireless Headset.

Also of note is new branding for games designed for Windows Vista. Microsoft is looking to give PC games more visibility in the retail space by creating "Games for Windows" branding and marketing. Epic’s Mark Rein already expressed his thoughts on the poor showing of current PC games in the retail space back in July. The branding will give game packaging a more uniform appearance akin to what we see with PS2, Gamecube, XBOX and XBOX 360 games. Microsoft also wants to see PC game kiosks of the same breadth and scale that consoles currently have in retail outlets. Paul Thurrott goes into detail on how the new “Games for Windows” branding will be implemented:

In fact, these Games for Windows titles will be packaged just like Xbox 360 games: Instead of a white bar at the top with a green Xbox 360 logo, you'll see a white bar at the top with a blue Windows Vista logo. Bravo. Getting the logo isn't a walk in the park, but the end result is that consumers can expect a much simpler and more console-like experience when installing these titles. While Microsoft has yet to release the full list of requirements, I was told about a few of them this week: The game must support an "Easy Install" option that installs the title on your PC in the fewest possible steps and mouse clicks. It must install an icon and associated information into the Windows Vista Games Explorer. It must be compatible with the Xbox 360 common controller. And it must install and run properly on x64 versions of Windows Vista (though the game itself can be 32-bit).

It seems as though Microsoft is on the right track with specific PC games branding, universal PC support for XBOX 360 controllers and Live Anywhere support that plugs in with XBOX Live allowing users from both services interact with each other. The state of PC gaming appears to be in flux right now, so hopefully this new initiative will restore some order.

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Hmm
By ixelion on 10/2/2006 9:51:24 AM , Rating: 2
This leads me to believe that MS wants vista only games due to technical limitations of XP and not the fact that they simply want to promote Vista at all costs at the XP user's expense. Is this true?




RE: Hmm
By tuteja1986 on 10/2/2006 10:01:33 AM , Rating: 1
Nah , they are trying to make Windows into Platform ... like have unified Game cases , an Official Games for Window Magazine (which will done by people behind CWG magazine) . They will games for windows kiosk which look really cool. Microsoft is just investing cash on PC gaming which they have sort of neglected for a long time. Also they will have Windows live anywhere service which seem to look really cool and has potential to beat X-fire by a lot. Also they will bring in Achievement points for Games for Windows.


RE: Hmm
By kextyn on 10/2/2006 10:08:09 AM , Rating: 2
Don't forget that they're trying to promote Vista as much as possible to get people to switch.


RE: Hmm
By mlittl3 on 10/2/2006 10:14:48 AM , Rating: 1
And for all you people who are about to reply (flame) to this comment, I think the reader's comment meant switch (or upgrade) from Windows XP/2000/98SE to Windows Vista and not a switch from Mac OS X.


RE: Hmm
By kextyn on 10/2/2006 10:18:16 AM , Rating: 1
Sorry, I should have said upgrade rather then switch. I wasn't thinking about Apple at all.


RE: Hmm
By encryptkeeper on 10/2/2006 10:41:16 AM , Rating: 3
Look at all of the projects Microsoft has gotten into in the last 5 years. The Xbox, Zune, they're making their own version of MySpace, plus lots of other stuff. If anyone out there thinks Bill Gates doesn't want to rule the friggin' world, they need a SERIOUS dose of reality.


RE: Hmm
By peldor on 10/2/2006 11:03:11 AM , Rating: 5
If 80's music taught us anything it's that Everbody Wants to Rule the World.


RE: Hmm
By Tsuwamono on 10/2/06, Rating: -1
RE: Hmm
By GhandiInstinct on 10/2/2006 11:26:30 AM , Rating: 2
"This just in, Microsoft says XBOX games can now run on Vista, rendering 360 useless for now...more to come."


RE: Hmm
By creathir on 10/2/2006 12:23:10 PM , Rating: 3
Google is just as bad...
They come out with every product under the sun and people worship them... Microsoft continues the same approach, and they are reprimanded for it...

Double standard if ya ask me...

- Creathir


RE: Hmm
By mindless1 on 10/3/2006 3:37:39 AM , Rating: 2
Hardly just as bad, most of us are using their core product without having to pay a cent, we CHOOSE to do so in a competitive market.


RE: Hmm
By OddTSi on 10/2/2006 4:07:25 PM , Rating: 2
MSN Spaces (now renamed Live Spaces or something like that) was around WELL before MySpace and in fact has more users/members than MySpace, hell it's the biggest such site around. So I don't see how Microsoft is making their own version of MySpace.


RE: Hmm
By therealnickdanger on 10/3/2006 9:11:30 AM , Rating: 2
Isn't that funny how that works? LOL People give Microsoft far too little credit.


RE: Hmm
By KCjoker on 10/2/2006 5:05:25 PM , Rating: 3
You mean a company wants to grow? Wow what a shocker that is. It's sort of like how Coca Cola company started making Dr Pepper, Sprite, etc...just as Chevy started GMC, Saturn, etc...get over your stupid MS hating.


RE: Hmm
By GoodRevrnd on 10/2/2006 9:04:33 PM , Rating: 2
Dr Pepper is still its own company/brand. Coca Cola just has a distribution contract.


RE: Hmm
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 10/2/2006 10:03:51 AM , Rating: 5
It's a double edged sword... On one hand, DX10 only functions with the new driver model and kernel changes that are in Vista. On the other hand Microsoft wants Vista to become a more unified platform, much the way consoles are. They want the "one stop shop" feel, where you can pop a game in and press one or two buttons and play. While it is possible to make the necessary changes to XP, for Microsoft it wouldn't be worth it. XP has been out over 5 years, going on 6 by the time we see Vista on shelves, so this is a good move by them. The conspiracy wacko's will tell you Vista sucks and Microsoft is just pushing everyone on it, but the reality is that XP is an aging system and certain changes require a new OS to implement. Seriously can you imagine them trying to push out a SP3 to users to update the driver model and kernel in XP? Then listen to everyone cry how they thought they could use this new game but didn't realize they needed to have certain updates......... Yea F*** that, a new OS, starts everything from the ground up. Just slap on a VISTA sticker on the top and make it REQUIRED, then suddenly, now Microsoft can guarantee any game with the Vista sticker will work on a Vista system. Sounds like a winning strategy.


RE: Hmm
By kextyn on 10/2/2006 10:10:57 AM , Rating: 1
I don't think it will be possible for them to guarantee every game with a Vista sticker will work on a Vista system. It would be more like saying the game will work on certain levels of Vista. And will the requirements for these different levels of Vista change over the years as the technology gets better or will even the value systems 3 years from now qualify for the highest level of Vista which then nullifies the whole system and you're back to checking system requirements.


RE: Hmm
By NullSubroutine on 10/2/2006 6:52:08 PM , Rating: 1
Actually if you think about it, with the 3d requirements to run Vista (on new computers) its quite possible that any game branded "Vista Ready" would be able to run on it. True it wouldnt be 20902x34124 resolution or anything, but its still would be possible.


RE: Hmm
By EclipsedAurora on 10/2/2006 10:46:37 AM , Rating: 2
Instead, I think it's a way that for M$ to earn $. In long term, u must upgrade your OS in order to play games in PC.