gamesforwindows
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Wireless 360 receiver for your PC
IGN got their hands on the upcoming Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver that allows one to use all their 360 wireless peripherals on their PC. When hooked to a PC via USB, this little dongle will allow up to four 360 controllers and four headsets to connect to a PC and will natively support all other wireless devices including the new Wireless Racing Wheel. The good news is that IGN actually enjoys the device and gives it praise for being so simple and just working. I'm more of a fan of the price ... $19.99 for wireless connectivity to a PC, not to shabby indeed.
Gaming-ready PCs could hit 90 million in 2007
Forget the other guys, gaming PCs could be sitting pretty at around 90 million units by the end of 2007. According to IDC, an analyst group, Windows Vista is expected to obtain this mad install-base; the bulk of the installations are expected to be in home computers. IDC expects out of those 90 million units that 67% will be Vista Basic and 30% will be Vista Premium (both private consumer versions). Vista requires the PC to have a semi-competent graphics processor, able to push DX9, just to function properly. This could mean the PC gaming market will enjoy more potential customers, especially among more graphically intense programs. Since each Vista PC will have a DX9 capable card sitting in it, we can now understand the logic behind Microsoft's Games for Windows push. This could easily cut into the console market; people buy PCs for functions that consoles cannot perform (word processing, etc). If the PC can play games right out of the box, why buy the console -- where games now cost upwards of $20 more on average -- when the PC they buy at Best Buy does the job? [Via FiringSquad]
Games for Windows Magazine hits newsstands
The first-ever issue of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (formerly Computer Gaming World) hit newsstands Friday. Weighing in at 134 pages, the magazine's new focus on games for Windows allows the editorial staff to focus on the PC as a platform to rival consoles "minus the annoying Linux and Mac noise" according to the magazine's editor. A few highlights from issue 01:
