Τα σχέδια της Microsoft για Vista + Games

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According to McIlvaine, Microsoft is currently working with all major game retailers to revamp their display and marketing practices for PC games and putting them more on the level of games for a dedicated console gaming platform. This includes things like official Games for Windows branding, well maintained displays, and actual in store Windows game demo kiosks. Gamers will frequently be able to try out a game in a store, then take that same demo home on a DVD.

 

 

McIlvaine went through several examples of Essentials. One is support for Windows Media Center (a default component of Vista) for gamers who use their PCs in the living room. This includes features such as support for a wide array of aspect ratios and resolution and the integration of games with the Media Center browser so they can be launched with a remote control. An Essential for games that have general controller support will be natively supporting the Xbox 360 wired controller; support for other Xbox 360 peripherals should be straightforward as well, as Microsoft is requiring all of its hardware licensees to make their peripherals compatible with both Windows and Xbox 360. Though OpenGL will work in Vista, another Essential is using Direct3D as the default game renderer. Easy installation is another thing Microsoft will be pushing as an Essential, meaning developers should reduce the amount of time users spend between putting a disc in the drive and experiencing gameplay, making it closer to the "it just works" console experience. As much as possible should be done behind the scenes; ie, the entire game doesn't have to be copied to the hard disk before the user starts playing, rather much of it can be streamed in the background during gameplay. There are also a number of technical security and compatibility specs that must be adhered to. Finally, developers should make their games fully compliant with the Windows Vista Game Explorer.

 

 

In the near future, Microsoft will also be putting a heavier emphasis on its Live Anywhere service, which will attempt to bring an Xbox Live-like streamlined online gaming experience to other platforms including Windows. It will include features such as the TruSkill matching system used in Xbox Live, built in voice chat for all compatible titles, an all-inclusive cross-platform Gamertag, support for microtransactions and other paid content, Xbox 360-like Achievements, and so on.

 

Live Anywhere will be receiving a first party "launch" when Vista is released, consisting of the Vista showcase titles Shadowrun and Halo 2. At that point, major features such as account management, matchmaking, a player feedback system, achievements, and the cross-platform identity will be in place. However, Microsoft also plans a second launch around the 2007 holiday season consisting of 8-10 major AAA titles to show off the system. That is the release timeframe developers currently working on Live Anywhere PC titles should be targeting. Other features such as Live Arcade for Windows, the Marketplace, integration with MSN Messenger, and so on, will be more fully implemented at that point.

 

 

http://www.shacknews.com/extras/2006/081406_gamesforwindows_1.x