14 DAY TRIAL // As you undoubtedly know by now, Windows Vista brought to the table DirectX 10. Microsoft failed to make DirectX 10 available for Windows XP, arguing that it would have to introduce extensive changes to the core of the operating system, in order to accommodate the new graphics technology. In this context, Vista became the vessel for DirectX 10, because despite various promises from third-parties to artificially backport DirectX 10 for Windows XP, the latest Windows client remains the sole way to access the superset of DirectX 9.x.
Microsoft touted a healthy increase in gaming and multimedia quality with DirectX 10 as an integer part of Vista's architecture, but with the vast majority of users still running Windows XP, digital content is largely focused on Vista's predecessor. The Redmond company was in fact criticized by both content producers and end users for its decision to make DirectX 10 Vista exclusive, but the barrage of fire failed to deter Microsoft from its tracks. Moreover, in the first quarter of this year, Windows Vista SP1 will deliver DirectX 10.1.
And Microsoft is nothing short of being ready. At 2008 International CES, the company announced new additions to its Games for the Windows portfolio. Among the titles that will be released under the Games for Windows umbrella, in 2008, Microsoft enumerated: "Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures" (Funcom, Eidos Interactive), "Conflict: Denied Ops" (Eidos Interactive), "Frontlines: Fuel of War" (THQ), "Space Siege" (SEGA), and "Turning Point: Fall of Liberty" (Codemasters). These games are in fact being showcased at CES 2008.
"Games for Windows truly thrived in 2007. We went from two titles in 2006 to a continually growing portfolio of over 60 titles here at CES 2008. We delivered on our promise one year ago to reinvigorate the PC gaming space and bring the best portfolio of games to Windows. And this is just the beginning. With our partners, we will continue to drive the resurgence of Windows-based gaming", promised Kevin Unangst, senior global director of Games for Windows, in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.
The titles enumerated above are not the sole ones to take advantage of the advances synonymous with Vista SP1 and DirectX 10.1. Windows users will also be able to get their game on with "Alone in the Dark" (Atari); "Bionic Commando" (Capcom); "Conflict: Denied Ops" (Eidos Interactive); "Empire: Total War" (SEGA); "LEGO Indiana Jones" (LucasArts); "Microsoft Train Simulator 2" (Microsoft Game Studios); "Sins of a Solar Empire" (Stardock); "Space Siege" (SEGA) and "Tomb Raider: Underworld" (Eidos Interactive).
In the documentation accompanying Windows Vista SP1 to the market, Microsoft detailed the modifications that would come concomitantly with the first service pack for the operating system. The company revealed that Vista SP1: "adds support for Direct3D 10.1, an update to Direct3D 10 that extends the API to support new hardware features, enabling 3D application and game developers to make more complete and efficient use of the upcoming generations of graphics hardware." But, if you want to understand the future of DirectX, you can access a resource put together by Chas. Boyd, Software Architect Windows Graphics.