Take Windows Vista Gaming to the Next Level

One of the aspects in Windows Vista that will deliver a palpable evolution over Windows XP is the gaming experience. And with the PC being a ubiquitous gaming platform (I would love to see Apple deliver a counter-argument for this) Windows Vista is an essential accessory to next-generation games.

At the basis of this is the new graphical architecture that the operating system brings to the table. Windows Vista is in fact synonymous with the future of gaming on personal computers as it introduces DirectX 10, a technology unavailable for older editions of the Windows operating system.

And as Microsoft has focused extensively on UX with Vista, user interaction was not overlooked. In this context, the Redmond Company has come to bridge the gap between controlling the Xbox console and the PC. Not happy with the keyboard and mouse? "The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver for Windows lets you take your quality, wireless gaming experiences that you enjoy on your console and experience them on your Windows gaming platform," revealed Microsoft.

As you can see from the video fragment embedded at the bottom, courtesy of Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc, Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver plus the console's controller delivering a killer experience in Windows Vista.

Sure enough, playing Minesweeper, Chess Titans, and Solitaire with an Xbox 360 wireless controller might seem like wasted time, and for good reasons. It actually is. No one in their right mind - although the video contradicts me - will play Chess Titans with an Xbox 360 wireless controller. But you have to think of it as a simple demonstration, and look beyond the standard games that ship with the operating system.

The technology will enable Vista users to play a variety of games using the controller instead of their keyboard and mouse. The Xbox 360 Wireless Gaming Receiver is just $19.99. Users can buy both the receiver and the controller together for $50.00.


Video: Using the Xbox 360 Controller in Windows Vista