14 DAY TRIAL // Brad Wardell, the outspoken chief executive officer of developer and publisher Stardock, says that one of the big obstacles in the development of innovative strategy games has been Microsoft’s failure to implement DirectX 10 in the still very popular Windows XP operating system.
In a consumer report seen by Develop, the executive states that, “There have been some great titles released but the innovation in strategy games has been diminishing. This is not the result of a lack of game design or inventive thinking. The problem stems from a catastrophic decision made at Microsoft: not giving DirectX 10 to Windows XP users.”
Wardell also says that Microsoft generally held back PC game development with the existence of Windows based on 32-bit software that was popular even after the hardware evolved beyond that standard.
The developer adds, “Next time you’re playing an RPG in first person with no party you can refer to DirectX 9 and 2GB of memory as a big reason for that.”
32-bit operating systems are now on the decline and the Stardock report suggests that many gamers will be happy to see more video games deliver experiences that use multi core PCs and more memory.
Stardock develops Windows-based software alongside video game series like Elemental and Galactic Civilizations.
The company has focused on the strategy genre and has also published the revolutionary Sins of a Solar Empire from Ironclad Games.
Stardock is also looking to evolve the PC gaming sector and has created the Impulse digital distribution service, which it has afterwards sold to Gamestop.
At the moment, the company is creating the Legendary Heroes expansion for Elemental: Fallen Enchantress, which will expand the game mechanics and will introduce more role-playing elements to the turn-based strategy title.
Launch is expected to take place during the summer of 2013.