The Future of PC Games, According to Microsoft 449
Geaty writes "Gamespot has an article up about Microsoft's big PC plans. Topics covered include why DirectX 9 will be the last DX for a while, the increased game support in Longhorn, and a 'standard' PC controller. Looks to this ignorant reader like Microsoft is trying to tackle the games market (again?), cornering matchmaking and patching. The controller issue seems like an attempt to bring to the PC platform some of the uniformity that consoles have."
Activation Key (Score:4, Funny)
But seriously, why would PC's need a standard gaming controller?? I can't see the keyboard mouse combo going anywhere anytime soon..
Re:Activation Key (Score:4, Informative)
You can also sit further back from the screen, I know you could do this with remote keyboards or mice, or one's with long cables, but for the most part its impracticle.
Re:Activation Key (Score:5, Insightful)
FPS games (which get the majority of my time) almost require a keyboard and mouse to play properly. While games such as Goldeneye may be perfectly playable on a console for most people, purists like myself want to vomit at the lack of control. Likewise, the additional buttons on the keyboard and pointing precision of the mouse make them a much better choice for RPG and RTS games.
On the other hand, sports, fighting, and driving games are better suited to console controllers. This is especially true in that these sort of games are often best experienced with a buddy or two playing next to you. Sharing a keyboard with your opponent is just no fun, as players of earlier PC sports games will be glad to tell you.
A platform with both options is well on its way to the perfect game machine. A PC with a standardized control pad is rather close to an Xbox. Funny, that. Good move on Microsoft's part.
Re:Activation Key (Score:5, Insightful)
That being said, the problem is Microsoft. Directplay stupidly names the axes and assumes how they are meant to be used. Really, the axes should be unlabelled and rebound at the users discretion. The whole glory of PC hardware is that it embraces new standards as it needs. The SpaceOrb would never exist on a console (they tried, it didn't work).
Personally, I don't want PC standardized pads - it would encourage PC game developers to slack-off on configurability of the controls the way they do on consoles (like UT for Dreamcast console has NO standard Turok style setting - its 4 available setups are all unplayable if you want the alt-fire and jump available).
The fact is that PC's dont come with gamepads, and so gamepads will never be standard. That creates the reciprocal relationship that gamepad-oriented games (fighting games, platformers) do not catch on on PC's.
I don't see it as a problem with the gamepads. PC gamepad system is good and the USB+Directplay is an excellent and good enough standard (for MS boxen). The problem is the games. If MS wants to fix the problem, they need to publish some console-style multiplayer PC games. I've got 4 directplay compatible gamepads collecting dust because I've found 4 games that can handle them all, and one of them I made myself.
Re:Activation Key (Score:3, Informative)
You should try xblast, it's actually much more fun in my opinion. It's available here [freshmeat.net] or for other platforms try the left links at the (noisy) homepage [xblast-center.com], or grab the Debian package [debian.org].
Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:5, Insightful)
I can't see the keyboard mouse combo going anywhere anytime soon..
Try playing Street Fighter II with a keyboard and mouse. Watch me whip you with a PS1 controller connected to the PC through an EMS USB2 adapter.
Try connecting more than one keyboard and mouse to one computer. One computer per player is much too expensive.
Re:Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:5, Funny)
That's not fair, even a grade school kid knows a standard keyboard can deal more damage than a standard PS1 controller. Not to mention the extra punching effect dealt by that 101 keys. Oh and that removable, throwable ball in the mouse is also an unfair advantage over your opponent.
Of course, he might stand a chance if he use a non-standard joystick type controller, but only when the stick is being stuck into the right place on your opponent.
Re:Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:5, Funny)
Just think of it as a "special move"
Re:Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:5, Funny)
Yet another reason why I bought a track ball
Re:Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:3, Informative)
Well, if you want to make a fool of yourself, go ahead. I've been MAMEing on a keyboard since the start and continue to give diehard controller gamers a nice man-beating. I've even played them against me on the keyboard and them on the arcade control. See my website Mame Arcade Cabinet. [pointclark.net] When I play SFII, SFA, SFA2,SFA3 on keyboard I can rock anyone.
Re:Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Keyboard and mouse fail it (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't even use my thumbs all that much when playing PC games with a keyboard...
Re:Then buy me a second PC (Score:5, Interesting)
This brings up an excellent point. I would have to say that there is nothing more obnoxious in the console world than split screen gaming. I mean, who the hell wants to play a FPS game when you can see everything your opponents are doing? I have 6 computers in the house, at least 3 of which make decent game machines, and I would never, ever want to play Half-Life in split screen mode on one of them. One of them is just for lending to visitors. A half-way decent game machine is as cheap as $400, and is a normal computer for the rest of the family at other times.
I don't pay much attention to consoles, but it looks like they are just starting to get the multiplayer features that PC's have had since forever. The idea of a 16-player FPS game involving 16 different machines is a novelty in the console arena, yet every day I play games with twice to fifty times that number of people in them.
On a side note, concerning controllers, what a joke. I keep hoping that Microsoft will release a FPS that is multiplayer across platforms so I can beat the pants off of some kid playing with his thumbs. I can pick a flagrunner out of the air with a headshot at 2000m in Tribes/Tribes2, I'd like to see someone do that with a thumbpad.
Anyway, enough ranting, back to the games
Re:Then buy me a second PC (Score:3, Interesting)
No, but Serious Sam [croteam.com] does.
That's really beside the point though. Serious Sam is the exception, not the rule. And I wouldn't really want to play FPS with a joystick instead of a keyboard. If I wanted that, I would go out and get one of the new consoles. I don't see the PC (as we know it, anyway) having a "standard" controller. Microsoft tried that with the Sidewinder, which I re
Re:Activation Key (Score:2)
The one thing I always think of when playing a first persion shooter is how using arrow keys + mouse is so... unnatural I guess is the best word. At least when compared to a nice game controller.
Re:Activation Key (Score:2, Funny)
I just thought on how cool it would be to play quake against you with a ps/2 mouse!
How to use PS1 and N64 controllers with PC (Score:4, Informative)
I just thought on how cool it would be to play quake with the nintendo 64 controller.
Want cool? Buy it now [wishtech.com].
I personally prefer using PS1 controllers with the EMS USB2 adapter [fragism.com].
MOUSE damnit, MOUSE!! (Score:3, Insightful)
When I want to aim, I want accuracy and speed. With a mouse I can just flip it and fire, a joystick of any kind interferes with that.
When I want to move forward I either want to run(fast) or walk(silently). A joystick for movement usually results in me breaking it or hurting my wrist trying to get every last degree of motion.
Gamepads are good for fighting games, they are good for 2d Zelda games, but nothing can take the place of a mouse in first person shooters. That said, a lef
Re:MOUSE damnit, MOUSE!! (Score:5, Informative)
This thing is positively orgasmic. Four toggleable modes for every control. Ten keys. A D-pad. A wheel. Completely configurable. Any set of keys. For example, my D-pad does jump+forward, jump+back, etc etc, one key mode does movement, another mode does orders (while holding down the previous key pressed), yet another mode does taunts, and still another mode does acknowledgements.
Hot damn. I love this thing. A Speedpad positively screams "awesome" when you bring it to a lan party. I nearly pissed myself when I saw it at the Belkin booth at MacWorld New York.
Re:MOUSE damnit, MOUSE!! (Score:3, Insightful)
My Kung Fu is superior (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Activation Key (Score:5, Interesting)
Considering Microsoft's console entry, XBox, the hardware it runs on, and the fact it runs windows... this could be a push to finally turn computers into a total entertainment solution. As it stands now, you can play PC games, watch movies, check email, etc, etc, etc... and it's not that much of a stretch to turn your PC into a console as well, should they standardize controllers. The XBox is already essentially a wintel machine, so coming out with software that added console functionality couldn't be terribly hard.
The video game industry is huge, and I could very easily see Microsoft trying to push windows into the console industry as well. Why would you ever want to buy a console again, if playing the games was as simple as buying a $30 controller and some $30-50 games for a computer you already have?
I already play tons of old emulated games on my PC with a game controller. Personally, I would be quite happy if I could just grab console games and play them without having to drop another $200-300 on console hardware.
Of course, this is all conjecture, so take it cum grano salis.
Its all coming together (Score:5, Interesting)
First the xbox (which i love since i got it modded).
then you have these media center edition PCs. What microsoft is doing its putting all the pieces together of the puzzle to put the computer in the living room. I mean, 1 box for games, dvds, tivo, tv turner. For $500 thats a good deal.
Yeah, people will bash Microsoft for being evil, but every now and again, they have some really good stuff, i just cant get enough of the xbox, and the xbox live ! network is fantastic.
Re:Its all coming together (Score:4, Interesting)
As much as I would like the features as an end-user, imagine a Sony-MS merger and a massive monopoly of everything digital. As customer's we'd be at their liberty to bend us over (or bend our wallets over to be more accurate).
On the other hand, we've seen stories here for the Linux controller bar, and the other 1001 ways to use Linux in your home. So things are converging there too.
What does it all mean? Hopefully more cool toys for us all and (lets pray), a competitive market to buy them in!
One Box To Rule Them All (Score:5, Funny)
Oh wait never mind those damn xbox hackers will put linux on them. So much for that plan.
Re:Its all coming together (Score:5, Insightful)
'Single device for the living room' scenarios just don't fit the way I do things and I suspect I'm not at all alone in this regard.
Not all game designs are lag sensitive (Score:3, Funny)
There really isn't any noticable lag
I understand that online sports games and online bloodsports games are most enjoyable if all players have spent $200,000 to move house into an area where broadband is available, but it may be cheaper to design the game such that it doesn't depend so much on latency. Take chess, or checkers, or tetraminoes, or puyo, or hearts, or strip poker (the webcam doesn't need to update that often), or euchre, or pinochle, or contract bridge, or Boggle, or Scrabble, or...
Re:Not all game designs are lag sensitive (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Some off-topic comments about X-BOX Live (Score:3, Insightful)
It's coo
DirectX 9.0? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:DirectX 9.0? (Score:4, Funny)
More monopolizing (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:More monopolizing (Score:2)
Also, DirectX isn't just for graphics devices, it's for sound devices, input devices, multiplayer gaming, etc.
Re:More monopolizing (Score:3, Informative)
This is just not true. Direct3D is one part of DirectX. DirectX also includes APIs abstracting
As well as tools for converting 3D Studio Max files into .x files which can be imported into a scene directly.
You really can't compare DirectX to OpenGL. SDL might be a better comparison.
System levels hard to establish (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:5, Insightful)
The key is that it provides standards. It makes it easier to specify what is or isn't required for a program to run, and similarly gives software designers a target to shoot for. ("We need this game to run well in a PC3 standard")
Not a bad idea in and of itself, but I don't imagine it going anywhere.
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:5, Interesting)
This rating system, I'm sure, was inspired by the original MPC rating system for "Multimedia PC" based on, among other things, the speed of your CD-ROM drive -- you know, back when 4x was fast. Games that wanted to be frugal and keep some of their runtime data on the CD needed to assure that that data could be accessed in a reasonable period of time, hence the rating system. And, for the most part, it was good.
My concern is that Microsoft tends to change the rules arbitrarily, and there's little hope they'll make the standards and rating system open and easy to understand/change/conform to. But if they were to do it right, it would be good.
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:2)
Seriously, we could have different ranges for a standardized benchmark (I don't want to sound like a pompous ass, but 3DMark is widely used and would be a nice standard to build on/modify/use). If you fit in a certain range (like less than 1500 3DMarks) then that's one class, etc. There are already these kinds of things out there, you just have to categorize them.
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:4, Funny)
Let's say however it doesn't play doom 3. the pc2 spec may, but as there's no control over who does what, some manufacturers will come up with pc1-x. It's a nonstandard 'standard' and plays doom 3, but isn't what pc2 will be. it may even be better than the planned pc2.
Up comes a quick jump to pc3, where pc1-x2 comes out at the same time. Both systems may by then become too bureaucratically tangled in specs, so pc3+x is created by yet another few manufacturers, and is a simplified more useful spec which works better for most people, but not quite as well as pc3 in pure technical abilities
so. what do you buy. pc3+x, pc1-x2 or pc3?
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:3, Funny)
Re:System levels hard to establish (Score:2)
How do they rate a pIII 500 with a ATI 9700-pro vs. a Athalon 2700 with a VoodooII? Depending on what you're using the machine for that PIII 500 might have all the HP you need.
Year-like numerals in game titles (Score:4, Insightful)
A P-90 with an 8-bit SoudBlaster-compatible card, 640x480, and hardware accelerated video was rated as MP-1, and a P-150 with 1024x768 was rated MP-2, or some such garbage
But MP3 didn't take off until the v.90 modem became popular.
and then Doom 2 ushered in the 3D craze
Doom 2 as published by Id Software[1] was no more "3D" than Wolfenstein 3D (no floors above floors, and certainly no support for 3D video hardware). The first popular 3D accelerated game for PC was Quake patched with the GLQuake add-on.
[1] That is, excluding far more recent source ports such as Doom Legacy.
Just put the calendar year that the game was produced, in big bold letters, on the top of the box. If you bought your new computer on or later than that year, you can play the game.
Under such a scheme, Maxis would have a problem selling the game whose sequel is SimCity 4 [sc3000.com], wouldn't it? What about Miner 2049er, an early 8-bit game by Big Five Software [bigfivesoftware.com]? What about if Toaplan [toaplan.com] rose from the ashes and brought out a sequel to Zero Wing called Move Zig 2104? Point is, year-like numerals in the titles of games typically signify something in the story line, such as the 2003 football season, the 2101 takeover of all our base, the 802701 revolt of the Precious Moments people against the lemur-like cannibals after a visit from a strange time traveler, etc.
playing directly from cd (Score:4, Interesting)
Jacob
Re:playing directly from cd (Score:2)
Isn't... that... what... console... gaming... systems... do... now...?
Re:playing directly from cd (Score:4, Insightful)
I mean, whats the attraction to being able to run off CD? Hard drive space is pretty cheap these days. I guess maybe there are some people who get intimidated when they try to install software, but if that's the issue it should be fixed by making software installation easier.
Current consoles use both of those methods (Score:2, Informative)
Either your loading the whole game into RAM, *shudder*
That's what PS1 and PS2 games do. They load a basic OS into RAM and then mount the CD drive read-only.
or it will include a program to automatically install when you run the game, and uninstall the program when you finish.
That's pretty much what Xbox games do.
Re:playing directly from cd (Score:3, Insightful)
Yes, because the old Playstation has enough RAM to cache a comp
Oh boy (Score:4, Interesting)
Integrated match making? So, while I'm busy running around in DAOC, blowing shit up in the next Duke Nukem, I can also be matched up... with what? Other games? Dating Services?
Second interesting point is the no-installation-needed... so PC games and XBox games will be seamlessly transferable? Neato!
Matchmaking for non MMOG's (Score:2)
One less thing for a game maker to worry about building, testing, and putting in their game. As for games, think about Sport games, First Person Shooters, and RTS games, where you are looking to find a quick pickup of X player or some server with a good ping time.
To a certain extent, this
Re:Matchmaking for non MMOG's (Score:2)
It could also be a convient way to download games onto peoples PCs.
Re:Oh boy (Score:2)
Why a new 'standard' controller? (Score:5, Insightful)
All computers already have 'standard' controllers: they're called keyboard and mouse. Works like a charm in most game genres I prefer (FPS and RTS).
Sport Titles, Racing titles (Score:2)
Re:Why a new 'standard' controller? (Score:3, Interesting)
DirectInput abstracted the details of the controllers from the developer. All you needed to do was define a set of digital (i.e. button) and analogue (axis) controls, and the uses could configure these to their own preferences. Defining a 'standa
Re:Oh boy, another fighter hater... (Score:2)
Re:Oh boy, another fighter hater... (Score:2)
Fine, if you like fighters, then buy one of the several hundred gamepads available for the PC. If you like driving games, get a wheel and pedals setup. Flight Sims? There are some fantastically complex flight-yoke setups out there. That's the great thing about the PC. It can do damn near anything that someone wants to make it do. You don't have to beg anyone for permission or licensing or anything. I bet Microsoft HATES that :)
Gaming is the next frontier (Score:5, Insightful)
Games on the hand are much more intensive and often hook into unique operating system facilities that provide an incentive to upgrade. Case in point I just bought my son a new jet sim game this week end and it would not run wn Win2000 but would on XP. It was dog slow and often froze on my ancient 450 K5 and 900 Mhz Duron. And had be tbinking of buying a new machine while I sat waiting to reboot the system every 30 minutes.
Re:Gaming is the next frontier (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Gaming is the next frontier (Score:2)
Re:Gaming is the next frontier (Score:2, Interesting)
I think the same can really be said for gaming as well. At one point in the late 90s I was getting a new computer every 1 1/2 years because my old PC just couldn't keep up. In 1999, though, I bought a 500 MH
Re:Gaming is the next frontier (Score:2)
Re:Gaming is the next frontier (Score:3, Interesting)
The problem with this theory is that PC games seriously undercut XBox profits. After all, if you buy an XBox game Microsoft automatically gets a percentage. If you buy the same game for the PC then Microsoft gets nothing. Make no mistake, when Microsoft came out with the XBox their goal was the complete and utter distruction of PC gaming. The fact that they are now changing their tune indicates a sea change an One Microsoft Way.
The reason that Microsoft is changing their mind is two fold. First of al
MS doesn't want DX on the PC to outshine the Xbox (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:MS doesn't want DX on the PC to outshine the Xb (Score:5, Interesting)
Good work! (Score:3, Interesting)
It's also looking into making it possible to run Windows games directly from the CD without installation.
Microsoft is working on a standard PC controller
Microsoft is really heading the right way - gaming. The idea of boot-n-play and standard controller really makes standard PC an excellent game console, and that's the way we long to see. They should really put more focus on what they are really good and and not waste time on fighting with other platforms with things they aren't good at.
I can foresee the future propaganda of Microsoft Windows - 'Ultimate Gaming Platform for PC and your great office assistant'.
System Requirements? (Score:3, Interesting)
It simplifies things down to a small number of levels (or to a level of complexity that's stupid, like having to remember that you have a level 3.25 B R23 computer). What happens if you have a processer intensive game that requires little hardware video and sound acceleration? How does that compare to a game that has a great deal of hardware acceleration and requires very little processor power. At least the current system is able to specifically list individual requirements. If, however, you plan to rank individual requirements on a scale of some sort, how does that simplify anything at all?
Re:System Requirements? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:System Requirements? (Score:2, Interesting)
Then you just download an app (or heck, since this is MS, its part of the OS), and every time you click on About Computer or whatever (or even as some sort of icon embedded in a task bar, start menu, whatever) you get a "You have a 'Turnip' class PC!"
OK, maybe not the Turnip part, but you get the picture. If they choose their iconography or scheme well, then its something that can be printed on the back of a box. Perhaps colors in a r
Re:System Requirements? (Score:2)
Uniformity (Score:5, Interesting)
assuming the above occurs, one must also realize that consoles are killing themselves in some aspects. one of the best aspects of early consoles such as the atari 2600 and nintendo was the ease of use - simply pop in a cart and play, no hardware, software, or OS issues. now take a look at the X-Box and PS2 (gamecube doesn't fit the paradigm but also is not as popular and arguably targeted at a much younger audience over all): they have hard-drives, increasingly complex RISC OSs, and are constructed at least partially of modified PC parts. with new features promised such as patches available over the internet and hardware expansions the consoles are turning themselves into nothing more than mini-PCs, and personally I'd rather spend a few hundred more dollars and buy myself a decent desktop PC.
hmmmm (Score:2)
Combat Flight Sim 3 or IL2. Thats not a tough choice.
Age of Empires or Europa Universalis 2 (for realism) or any command and conquer game (for the same gameplay) That also is not a tough choice
how about Trainz vs Microsoft Train Simulator. Once again, the non-ms product has it.
Okay, the microsoft 4x4 monster truck game (cant rememvber the title exacly) against 4x4 EVO. I would rather have the non-microsoft SUV.
The close combat series wa
Daisy chaining controllers (Score:2, Insightful)
"Microsoft is working on a standard PC controller" (Score:3, Interesting)
Where it hurts most (Score:2, Funny)
The basic premise is not all that bad (Score:5, Insightful)
The only drawback I can find is that it's a "super console plus!" situation. I'm a gamer, and I'm fine with that.
I've often speculated that a distribution of Linux should be made that is specifically geared toward gaming. Coordinate hardware support with the major vendors so their product works with ease, and build the OS specifically to deliver fast processing for gaming. Anything that has nothing to do with playing games is cut out of it.
Keep it free. Let game distributors bundle it with the games they sell. If the OS was good enough to deliver DoomIII on the day of retail, and you were able to tie down some major title support, it could work. Suddenly every gamer out there is running a Linux distribution to play their games. Suddenly every major developer is developing games just for Linux. Why? Because the OS functions well as a gaming OS (by design), and because it's free so everyone can have it.
In effect, you create a Linux standard for gaming, that can run top quality games, and is free.
Many of us have Windows because the best games work on it. Games are designed to work on Windows because most of us have Windows. Circular, but true.
If Doom III, GTA IV, and EverQuest 2 all came out for Mac and Mac alone, I'd be typing this on a blue keyboard right now. If they all came from Linux, I'd be typing this in a Mozilla window.
Mind you, I'd try this myself, but I can't code myself out of a 486 and have to feed my kids so I can't go urchin and skip on the rest of my life.
Game API's: not just for breakfast anymore (Score:2)
How come none of this stuff made it over to .NET? (OK there is the image class LockBits() method, but things get ugly with unsafe code
Best Idea no one has ever done yet (Score:2)
No extras, No office, no MSpaint, no purpose other than to devote every available resource to gaming. It would be a gimme. Anyone who spends 100+ on a video card would drop 50 on this OS if it will run the games noticeably better.
I only wish I had the coding skills to pr
Re:The basic premise is not all that bad (Score:5, Funny)
# Real games don't need no steenking hw
# abstraction, scheduler or VM - Write to
# hardware directly, foo!
.orig=$ffffa0a4 # Main h/w boot pointer
jbsr.l GameStart;
hacf;
Two thoughts (Score:3, Interesting)
The plan is to set up a numerical system that categorizes and groups system levels, and when this goes into effect in 2005 or so, a level-1 system might represent the current or year-old value-priced PC configurations, while level 2 and level 3 group systems that define the mainstream and high-end performance of the time.
This strikes me as bad solution to an already sticky problem. Whats to stop a studio from saying a game that runs at 10fps on a system considered a "1" from slapping a "1" rating on it in order to maximize their possible audience? Its all about sales, right? In addition, I wonder if in 2005 the hardware change-rate will be any different, limitations of silicon or no.
Somewhat more straightforward features include adding sophisticated matchmaking into Microsoft Messenger . .
Great, I've got a computer with a standard Microsoft controller, great graphics, that plays my DVDs, music, etc, and has matchmaking for me at no extra cost outside of bandwidth. Tell me again why I'd want an X-box?
Sure, there are other reasons for owning one, but it does seem that Microsoft, in working to console-ize the PC, might be somewhat shooting themselves in the foot. . . ? I'm sure they've thought of/discussed this, but it still strikes me as counter productive when they remain dedicated to the console industry.
Re:Two thoughts (Score:2)
This strikes me as bad solution to an already sticky problem. Whats to stop a studio from saying a game that runs at 10fps on a system considered a "1" from slapping a "1" rating on it in order to maximize their possible audience? Its all about sales, right? In addition, I wonder if in 2005 the hardware change-rate will be any different, limitations of silicon or no.
Well, they could set it up in a fashion similar to how they handle console games and require a certification for each game that holds the r
A few interesting things here. (Score:5, Interesting)
(1) Standalone CDs - With what I've read on Longhorn, this shouldn't be an issue - since the traditional file system will be replaced by a registry type database. However, for massively multimedia intensive games, there will be a physical need for installation - unless they mean DVD instead of CD.
(2) Standardization of a PC controller - this could be fun, because if they actually standardize, it would mean that people could build their own controllers... *if* they make it an Open Standard. History says no.
(3) With DirectX 9 stalled and 64 bit processors due out shortly, I wonder if the hooks for utilizing the 64 bit instruction set for the new Intel are already there - or if Microsoft is handing AMD a nice swing at a juicy ball.
(4) Centralization of game patch updates is interesting in that it means that game manufacturers may become inspired to put out shoddy first releases so that people need to go through the Update server to get the fixes that make things work... and if they didn't buy the title... Well, think about it.
(5) "adding sophisticated matchmaking into Microsoft Messenger and parental controls over which users can play certain games" adds to point 4, but also demonstrates that they are also doing something naughty that the DoJ had something to say about.
In all... Just more Microsoft. No really *good* news.
Perhaps they plan to tie the PC into the next XBOX (Score:4, Interesting)
Standard Controller, possibility of running games from CD, centralized game management. Since the Xbox is basically a PC, and the games are basically Windows games using DirectX, this isn't a stretch of the imagination.
Buy one game, and run it on your Xbox2 or your PC. Play online with people running Xbox2's and you can use your PC, or vice versa. With a standard PC "gamepad" it would be the same type of controls.
I don't think this would be a terrible idea, but it sure would push game developers more to a "windows only" choice of platforms, which isn't really great. I'm still hoping for more games on Linux.
Windows XB; NVIDIA monopoly? (Score:2, Interesting)
compatibility between Loghorn and Xbox2.
Does that mean Microsoft is going to call Longhorn "Windows XB"?
Since the Xbox is basically a PC, and the games are basically Windows games using DirectX, this isn't a stretch of the imagination.
The Xbox 1 has NVIDIA graphics. Requiring an Xbox 2 compatible video card for whatever version of DirectX comes with Longhorn would pretty much hand the video card market to NVIDIA. Watch the next administration (that is, without AG A$$croft) breakup such a monopolis
Systems Engineering (Score:3, Interesting)
The plan is to set up a numerical system that categorizes and groups system levels, and when this goes into effect in 2005 or so, a level-1 system might represent the current or year-old value-priced PC configurations, while level 2 and level 3 group systems that define the mainstream and high-end performance of the time.
This numerical system could also be described as a "commodification system", a "social-engineering system", or a "market manipulation system". Be wary of this numerical system. This plan is begging to commodify PCs into more "bundled" and "console" like systems. Which, of course, is contrary to the concept of a generalized computing device, which many people believe a PC should be. My suggestion would be to clamor and veto this plan, if possible... It seems to have bad karma written all over it...
Lester revealed that DirectX 9 packs enough features to be future-proof and is a temporary stopping place for DX development.
A rather bold statement, all things considered. Does it support autostereoscopic monitors? How about lectiliniar monitors [stereographics.com]? What about multi-layer LCD or wave-monitors?
And what multi-head display configurations? Will it support a 9 screen configuration, in case I decide to build a dedicated MechWarrior station? (Anybody remember LucasArt's "X-Wing"? Heh... I always wanted to build a multi-head game pod for that game...)
Also, what about DICOM datasets and other volumetric biomedical datasets? Them algorithm based games are nice and all, but what about future games which may want to encorporate medical-grade bioinformatics? "Future-proof" is an awefully strong statement, it seems to me...
Anyhow... I don't know where I was going with this post. Just a couple of cents to add to the discussion...
It's all about choice, baby. (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't want to be forced to use a single console for a game, on a standarised system, playing games that can't be modded (Palladium), written using proprietary medium formats (DVD+/-), and using a single, specific OS. The computer is the Nascar of electronic gaming; in my opinion, consoles are just "street legals."
If there's one thing certain... (Score:2, Troll)
Perhaps they'll still be around for the next 5 years or so, while the last few people still gulp down their proprietary wares.
Honestly, there's no longer any reason to take these jokers seriously.
um, it seems to me that uniformity needs to be (Score:3, Insightful)
How many different console systems can you name that have the same controller?
I thought so - now think of how easy you have changed your binds on another person's pc when you are about to start gibbing.
thought so.
Depends on your definition of uniformity (Score:3, Insightful)
Take a PlayStation 2 game. It'll run on any other PS2 (in that region, anyway) because they all have the same hardware config. The game will run on later revisions of the PS2 (the PSone was revised several times, you can tell from the version numbers and designs). A PC game can not possibly have been tested on every hardware config out there, so it's almost inevitable that bugs/glitches/weirdness will arise on someone's system.
As for controllers, PSone and PS2 c
What PC levels really mean... (Score:2, Insightful)
Ask 3DO how well it works out to sell consoles for around $700.
They can have my wheel and pedal set. . . (Score:5, Insightful)
Same goes for my flight stick.
The PC is *not* a console. That's kinda the point. It's a *general purpose* machine which one can adapt as one likes. Hell, they've even had to supply wheel and pedal sets for consoles now. Using anything else for seriously playing driving sims doesn't even make sense.
I like adaptation, of the machine to me. Not the other way around, and I've never seen no "game pad" in a Fokker DR1.
KFG
A few points (Score:5, Insightful)
B) Microsoft wants to certify certain hardware for Windows, and now Microsoft wants to create PCs built to a certain specification... does this strangely sound like Microsoft telling a lot of hardware vendors that they will either have to make clones of other pieces of hardware (and face the patent and copyright police) or to stop producing for the PC?
C) Microsoft, with its' Microsoft Messenger Matchmaker, is going to severly harm or kill match making software such as GameSpy. All your patches will come through something very similar to Windows Update and most everything will be in a Microsoft sounding "My Games" area. This company wasn't split because the US Govt. thought that they were not a monopoly?
D) One controller, for all games... doesn't this sound like Microsoft needing to give permission to people like Logitech if they want to invent something new (like, force feedback back before it was invented)?
One last thing, with you needing to go through all of these Microsoft services, running all of this Microsoft signed equiptment, and alike... I fear that privacy will be hard to enforce, at best...
Also, try to tell all the Overclockers and other insane computer people buying the latest hardware to speed up their machine that it won't be possible to do that anymore, instead they will need to go for a package deal and run at Microsoft specs... will this elite group of hardcore shoppers (willing to spend tons of money) stick around for these new terms? Somehow, I don't think so.
Restrict Markets Again (Score:5, Insightful)
Computer Systems Standard Names Stuff (Score:5, Funny)
UT/Q3-class computer.
where as MrChris (a friend of mine, with more monney than sense) has a "Doom III"-class computer, the bastard, and my brother (with my hand-me-down) has a Halflife-class computer, and my firewall is a Doom-class computer.
.NET and matchmaking (Score:5, Funny)
The delay of DX10... (Score:3, Interesting)
This gives hardware guys time to just pump out faster models, and take their time creating some big changes in new designs.
-Sir
Go ahead, pull the other leg. (Score:5, Interesting)
Considering how well my Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro works in Win2k (hint: can't use the hat switch and fire at the same time in MS OS's > 2k}.
I knew I should have stuck with the Logitec Wingman, but the hat switch on that thing kept getting broken {and Descent 2 multiplayer wasn't helping either}.
Oh, and you know why the 3D pro doesn't work properly in 2k...Microsoft won't update the drivers. {I've heard the win98 software will make it work, but no scripted events. Have not tried it, yet}.
IMO, before Microsoft attempts to make universal games and controllers, they should try to make their own hardware work with their software.
{grrr}
Re:New games (Score:4, Informative)
Roberts did the Wing Commanders and was briefly at Digital Anvil (for Starlancer), before leaving to make the execrable Wing Commander [imdb.com] movie.
Taylor did Total Annihilation and Dungeon Siege.
Re:Freelancer (Score:4, Informative)
But more importantly, Digital Anvil was founded by Chris (and Erin) Roberts, who made the Wing Commander and Privateer games at Origin. So Microsoft didn't steal the idea for Freelancer; Chris Roberts took it with him from Privateer. Unless you were referring to Elite, in which case Roberts stole that idea for Privateer.
Re:Future-proof? (Score:4, Interesting)
In areas like Direct3D, the DirectX API is driven by the capability of the hardware, not the requirements of the software. If nVidia and ATi can project what features they are going to implement in the next 2 years, then MS can write stub code so games can use these features when they are availible. Of course if someone releases a sub $200 card that can do real-time raytracing next year, then MS will have to scrabble to catch up...
Actually, one thing that is more likely is to have AI co-processors for gaming. A chip designed to run LISP or PROLOG code which could be used to offload complex AI routines from the CPU, as has already been done with sound and graphics and which will soon be done with cryptography. This kind of hardware would require software APIs, and I doubt that MS would like people to be using something that wasn't DirectX for games.