• pc games

    DirectX 11 Won't Repeat The Windows-Exclusive Sins Of It's Father

    When Windows Vista shipped, it shipped alongside DirectX 10. DirectX 10 would only run with Vista. It wouldn't run with the faster, more stable, more popular Windows XP. This made those running games on XP unhappy. Well, fast forward a few years, and the next release of a Windows OS - Windows 7 - won't be repeating the same mistake. Microsoft's Product Marketing Manager Windows, Ben Basaric, has gone on record saying that while Windows 7 will be shipping with DX11 support (which will add features like allowing a graphics processor to process more than just graphics), it will also run on Windows Vista. So no need to go upgrading. Well...unless you're one of millions still using XP...

    DirectX 11 confirmed for Windows 7 - Microsoft revised statement [PCGH, via Voodoo Extreme]

    11:00 PM on Fri Nov 21 2008
    By Luke Plunkett
    8,256 views, 155 comments

    Most discussed OmegaVader: I hate vista. Sure it's pretty, but waht a massive resource hog, and bugs galore. They really can't top XP more »

  • trailer

    Alan Wake Returns In Brand New Cinematic Trailer


    Remedy Entertainment's "psychological action thriller" Alan Wake may continue to be a no-show at massive gaming events like E3 and Tokyo Game Show, but the new cinematic trailer released today proves that the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista (grrr...) only title is still in the works. Sure, the knees may be sharp, the valleys may be uncanny and the development may be worrisomely bumpy at times, but we're still excited to see Mr. Wake suffer. Logo's snazzy too!

    1:00 PM on Tue Oct 21 2008
    By Adam Barenblat
    7,808 views, 156 comments

    Most discussed mariospants: Pre-rendered video... not a good sign. more »

  • what

    Someone's Running Windows Vista On A PS3

    In another case of "Because it's there", some brave/misguided soul has gone to great lengths to get Windows Vista running on a PlayStation 3. How? Emulated via Linux, of course. That translates to blazing speeds, making the Microsoft OS boot in a mere 25 minutes. Notepad opens in just 12!! If you're interested in the techniques required to get Vista on your PS3, PS3HaX has a handy tutorial. Just think — you could be playing Minesweeper in just a few days, at single digit speed percentages! Impress your friends!

    Vista running on PS3 & more BD-J homebrew [ via Gizmodo]

    5:40 PM on Tue Aug 5 2008
    By Michael McWhertor
    5,389 views, 112 comments

    Latest by treggs: forget using windows on the ps3 anyway it will be shit the ps3 doesn't have enough ram to run 2 more »

  • pc gaming

    Vista Game Speeds *Finally* Catch Up To XP

    I got Vista a few weeks back, and have found it nothing short of delightful. No compatibility issues, no performance downgrades, none of the complaints I've heard PC gamers cussing over for the past year or so. Then again...I've been playing Oblivion and the Battlestar Galactica mod for Homeworld 2, so I haven't exactly been pushing the OS to its limits. If you're playing things a little more current, and are finding things on Vista a little slower than they should be, chin up: some benchmarks run by ExtremeTech have compared Vista's SP1 to XP's new SP3, and found that over three games tested (World in Conflict, Supreme Commander and Crysis), Vista was just as fast as XP on two, and marginally faster on Crysis. More »

    1:30 AM on Wed May 14 2008
    By Luke Plunkett
    10,190 views, 93 comments

    Latest by Jagzi11a: The Issues i have had with Vista are the lack of Middi audio compatibility and a bunch of "tools" that more »

  • pc gaming

    How's Vista SP1 Working Out For You?

    Hey, PC gamers, how's Vista's first service pack treating you? Some people are saying all kinds of nasty things about it, but then nasty people on the internet are so much louder than nice people on the internet, so they might just be full of shit. Especially when you consider that many tech sites are now reporting the service pack brings big performance gains, with ExtremeTech giving the example of framerate increases of up to 20 frames-per-second in World in Conflict and up to 46 frames-per-second in Crysis. Those yet to make the jump shouldn't leave XP behind just yet, however: most benchmarking results are showing that these improvements only serve to bring Vista...almost level with XP on performance. Good news for Vista gamers, then, but for XP users, carry on, it's business as usual.
    New Vista Service Pack Boosts Gaming Performance [Shacknews] [Pic]

    9:20 PM on Tue Mar 25 2008
    By Luke Plunkett
    5,337 views, 123 comments

    Latest by bobtheduck: "Vista: Slower now so you'll buy better hardware to match speeds with XP" more »

  • microsoft

    Is Windows Vista SP1 Good For Gaming?

    Microsoft's latest version of its Windows operating system hasn't exactly been hailed as a boon to gamers, with early wonky driver support, a hit or miss Games Explorer and a handful of Vista-only releases that made little sense. But now that the OS has had time to mature, getting a few hotfixes under its belt, its more than serviceable. With Service Pack 1 coming this month, you may wonder if the big download and two hour install is worth sprinting to, rather than ambling toward.

    ExtremeTech took a long, hard look at the improvements, not just on the file and operations side, but those that appeal to PC gamers. In addition to the requisite 3DMark and PCMark benchmarks, performance reviews against Company of Heroes, Supreme Command and Crysis provide insight. The good news? It's faster, with the exception of Crysis, which suffers under certain circumstances.

    Bar chart heaven awaits upgraders at ExtremeTech.

    Vista Shootout: Hotfixes Vs. SP1 [ExtremeTech]

    6:40 PM on Wed Mar 5 2008
    By Michael McWhertor
    7,195 views, 58 comments

    Latest by psycoking: @Milihpen: Its true that Vista runs differently on one machine than on another. That is true of all software, but more »

  • vista view

    Shadowrun "Cracked" For Windows XP

    Fortunately for Mitch Gitelman and FASA Studios, recently released pride and joy Shadowrun looks like it's now unofficially available for play not just on the Xbox 360 and Windows Vista, but Windows XP as well. Circumventing the other franchise killing executive decision—to limit the game's Windows audience to Vista only—warez group Razor 1911 has released a crack for Shadowrun that makes it playable on Windows XP and without DirectX 10 support. More »

    8:40 PM on Mon Jun 25 2007
    By Michael McWhertor
    11,280 views, 41 comments

    Latest by mcderek3000: I wouldn't call this piracy if you buy the game and then hack it to run on Windows XP. If more »

  • seven worthy

    Shadowrun Producer Says Shadowrun Reviews Suck Ass

    Mitch Gitelman, FASA Studio Manager, sat in on the Official Xbox Magazine's most recent podcast to talk about Shadowrun and how "the reviews on [Shadowrun] suck my ass." He warned that Shadowrun's average-range review scores—collectively hovering in the 70% range—are not only unfair, but also overshadow the game's innovation. More »

    2:40 PM on Mon Jun 25 2007
    By Michael McWhertor
    10,870 views, 159 comments

    Latest by HT Tenrai: Woo hoo! Nothing like posting over a year after it's relevant! I just got done playing it with my friends, more »

  • i cast tree of life

    Shadowrun Goes Gold, Green

    FASA Studios' first-person shooter stab at the Shadowrun franchise has finally gone gold (for the PC) and "green" (for the Xbox 360). The game is due to ship May 29th to North American gamers, with Europe getting it just a few days later on June 1st. More »

    3:40 PM on Wed May 9 2007
    By Michael McWhertor
    1,485 views, 30 comments

    Latest by CrimsonAngel: @FranUnFine: Not only that there where already things in place to do a lot of the things they wanted with more »

  • vista

    Vista Problems for Casual Developers

    GameDaily has posted an excellent feature highlighting the concerns of casual devs in regards to Windows Vista game programming issues. In the light of the upcoming January 31st release of the new operating system, small developers are worried about the cost of making Games for Windows. One of the main concerns seems to be obtaining ESRB ratings, which are now required due to the parental control functions built-in to the OS, as reflected in this forum post on the Casual Game Developers SIG forums:
    "I've read all the posts here and am wondering how is it that Microsoft is proposing to maintain the current grade push for independent content when the base costs for ESRB ratings are $2,000-3,000. That's like the complete art budget for a lot of startup developers."

    Other concerns include support costs rising as users switch to Vista and discover problems with software, the problems inherit with developing for a platform that their target audience may or not embrace in large numbers right away, and a general feeling that MS just isn't focused on helping them with their problems. More »

    2:40 PM on Fri Jan 12 2007
    By Mike Fahey
    1,197 views, 26 comments

    Latest by kheldorin: The keyword here is casual. There aren't any casual developers for Xbox360 as compared to the PC. These guys want more »