Windows Vista
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A look at Windows Vista's casual games [update 1]
GameSpot recently ran a feature showing off the new casual games that will be coming with Windows Vista. The graphical update are, naturally, noticeable and appreciated. Now we can get fired from work for playing Solitaire ... in style! None of the titles were too surprising, as we had seen most of them at E3, but here is what GameSpot highlights: Solitaire FreeCell (now with an undo option!) Spider Solitaire Hearts Minesweeper Purble Place (new title) Premium titles (not available in Home Basic version of Windows Vista): Mahjong Titans Chess Titans InkBall (only in Vista versions that have tablet support) Why the Titans titles are exclusive to non-Home Basic consumers is a bit perplexing -- no one is going to buy a more deluxe version because, on top of whatever else makes it better, it has Chess and Mahjong (yay!). Also conspicuously absent from the list are favorites such as Reversi, Spades, and Space Cadet Pinball. We will let you know the fate of these titles as soon as we find out.[update 1: glaring typo -- better "late" than never]
Final Fantasy XI sequel revealed
According to Japan's Nikkei Net (via IGN), Square Enix is working on a sequel to Final Fantasy XI. The upcoming MMORPG is being developed for PC (Vista), PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Prior to this revelation, Square Enix had hinted at a new MMO project, previewing a trailer featuring a 'next-gen' MMORPG engine. However, at this time, it's unclear if the FFXI sequel is indeed the game that will utilize this engine.[Thanks, Master X]
Microsoft to team with Samsung on 22-inch LCD for Vista?
We were just getting used to that whole wave of 21-inch LCDs, when it looks like 22-inchers are going to be the hip new thing in the coming months. A new report is out claiming that Microsoft is working with Samsung to produce a special 22-inch widescreen LCD to work with Windows Vista and be branded with the Microsoft logo. Sounds like they're trying to promote widescreen monitor usage with their new OS, and we're guessing Microsoft wouldn't mind making a few bucks while they're at it. The word from Chi Mei Optoelectronics makes us think that Microsoft and Samsung aren't the only ones to get the 22-inch bug. Dell has reportedly just made a large order for 22-inch widescreen panels from CMO, and LG.Philips and AU are jumping on board as well. There's no telling how heavily Microsoft is going to be recommending 22-inch displays to the users of Aero, but it doesn't look like anybody wants to be left out.[Thanks, Mr. Kaiser and Will P.]Read - Microsoft and Samsung team for 22-inch LCDRead - Dell orders from CMO
Microsoft talks DirectX 10, Vista and fancy graphics
In a lengthy interview with ExtremeTech, David Blythe and Chris Donahue of Microsoft divulge some of the intricacies inherent in the tenth iteration of DirectX, the API powering much of Vista's gaming OS aspirations. Interestingly, there are several features being implemented that aren't even present in next-gen consoles yet, though the interviewees are quick to point out that, aside from the PC version of Halo 2, there will be very few games in the next few years that specifically require DirectX 10 to run.If talk of unified shaders and procedural rendering gets your heart racing (those vertex buffers are hawt), you'll find the interview pleasing in a multitude of ways. Even if you don't particularly care for the technical jargon, you may still find some merit in pulling back the curtain and seeing just how much thought and effort go into creating the tools necessary for a game developer to realize a specific vision. Of course, that often leads us to wonder which aspect of game design holds the greater influence -- do technical features come about because of the needs of the graphic designer, or does the artist gain new ideas as technology improves?[Via ars technica]
Vista very OS X like
Our good friends at Lifehacker installed the latest beta of Windows Vista and experienced deja vu. Where had they seen these UI elements before? A focus on search? Gadgets?Oh, right, OS X. Check out the full post for a side by side look at some OS X like features of Vista.Personally, I hope that Microsoft comes up with some really sweet new features in Vista to give Apple a run for their money (competition is good for the consumer).
Microsoft releases Windows Vista Beta 2 to public
If you've been wondering what all the fuss was about ever since Microsoft announced a successor to Windows XP back in July of 2001, and weren't up all night downloading beta operating systems like we always seem to be, you might have missed the fact that Microsoft has released the Windows Vista Beta 2 to the public as a free download yesterday. Developers have already been spending some quality time with the build, and it looks like things are finally coming together for Microsoft -- but there are still plenty of compatibility woes, interface oddities, and just plain sluggishness in the OS. Some of the "change for change's sake" has a few reviewers riled up, and Vista is really not recommended for consistent exposure right now. But hey, it's free. There are a limited number of Beta slots, and once they're gone they're gone, so we recommend moseying on over before you miss out on the real deal and have to hit your local torrent tracker. You'll need a DVD burner to create an install disc of Beta 2 and the Release Candidate 1 when it comes out -- signing up for the beta gets you both -- or you can give Microsoft $10 for shipping and production costs and they'll send you the goods in 2 to 4 weeks (by which time they'll surely be readying the release of the next Vista beta build).[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Stringer: The Xbox 360 is an "obsession"
Well, you know what they say about what to do when you have nothing nice to say ... erm, say that the competing gaming platform (in this case, the 360) is an "obsession"?That's exactly what Sony CEO Howard Stringer had to offer in an interview with Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal recently. While sharing how The Da Vinci Code from Sony beat up on "X-Men 3" (aka The Last Stand) over in Europe, he seemed to mistakenly throw in "Xbox 3" in the stead of Fox's great summer blockbuster hope. Following Mossberg's correction, Stringer is reported to have retorted, laughing, "There's an obsession!"We don't know if he's referring to the media's obsession with the corporate gaming rivalry, his own obsession with the console that would dethrone the PlayStation, or some combination of the two (irony really doesn't help here), but he does seem to at least outwardly admire Bill Gates' salesmanship (as well as his hypocrisy in delaying Windows Vista while lambasting the PS3 delay). Of course, a lot of supposed compliments could go both ways, so we've provided a few handy links below to check out what other "nice" things hardware execs have had to say about their competitors lately. We're sure it's all in good fun.[Thanks, JC & SickNic; also via GameDaily BIZ]See also: Nice words -- "Thanks," "flattered," and "flattering." Not-so-nice words -- "Plagiarism," "no need for PC," "not mainstream for most games," and "same old experiences with new graphics."
PC Halo 2 update
GamePro has some new details on the PC release of Halo 2. Two Microsoft directors in the Games for Windows division confirmed that Bungie's popular shooter will arrive "just after" the launch of Windows Vista in Q1. They also suggested that the PC version will not be cross-platform compatible with the original Halo 2 until they find somebody to "re-code the Xbox version" so it can interface with the Xbox 360. I hear there are a lot of programmers up in Redmond, so hopefully this will be resolved.
Xbox 360 impressions: Shadowrun
Shadowrun is Microsoft's launch pad for Live Anywhere, the game that the company hopes will unite (in comradery and competition) Xbox 360 and PC gamers. It's an online-based game similar to Counter-Strike, only with magic and tech enhancements (e.g. the ability to glide).Since Shadowrun can't be released until Vista is deployed, developer FASA has clearly had -- and will have -- a lot of time to fine tune this title. The weapons, magic, and tech abilities are well balanced, and players will have to pick and choose wisely.Mechanics aside, the demo map we previewed was extremely bland. It did however, highlight some of the unique tactics that must be employed to win, including teleporting through walls and floors, planting health replenishing trees, and using extra-sensory vision. It was a lot to handle in a 10-minute session, which is a sign that Shadowrun has the depth to support Microsoft's vision.
Windows Vista is bad news for bad boys
During a quick tour of the Windows Vista game features, our guide briefly demonstrated a feature of Windows Vista that's bad news for bad little boys. Parents will be able to block access to the computer during certain hours of the day on certain days of the week, as shown in the screenshot above (note: this is not a final version of the interface). As advocates of responsible parenting, we like to see software that gives parents tools that help them feel that gaming is something controllable, not a threat to proper upbringing. With Vista, parents will have more control over their kids' computer use, but there are a few holes in the system's design: Kids often learn more about computer management than parents. They'll probably be the "administrators" of the computer, in most households. Too few parents realize that technical savvy is a prerequisite of good parenting in this internet age. The controls lack per-application granularity. As shown in this interface, blocking the computer for an hour blocks use of the entire computer. All a cunning child needs to do is claim that he's going to work on a book report to gain access to the computer, then swap over to a recreational activity once mom and dad stop watching. This control should be specified per application that is installed. The controls lack seasonality. Parents might want to specify different lock-out hours during the summer months (when they feel kids should be outside, perhaps), and they might want to specify, say, full access every other Friday. There's no easy solution. Adding such granularity would increase the complexity of the system, and that complexity would turn some users away.
E3: No PS3 price, no Rev date or price, says CNN
CNN recently opined on Sony and Nintendo's strategies for E3. According to the prediction, Sony won't be revealing the launch price for the PlayStation 3. Instead, that announcement will be saved for a future date PR opportunity. And while Nintendo will come clean with the official name of the Revolution, don't expect the company to be talking price tags either, or for that matter, a launch date.With little chance of one-upping the competition, Microsoft will use the event to hype Windows Vista gaming. As for the Xbox 360, well, CNN declares we'll "see the first footage from the next installment of Halo..."
Square Enix snubs Xbox 360, targets PS3 & Vista for new MMORPG
Speaking with Impress Watch, Final Fantasy XI producer Hiromichi Tanaka revealed that Square Enix is working on a new MMORPG for the PS3 and Windows Vista. Tanaka made no mention of an Xbox 360 version, but did confirm the developers' hopes for a worldwide release.Last year, Square Enix showed off a MMORPG trailer at Microsoft's pre-E3 press conference. It was assumed at the time that the Xbox 360 would be home to Square Enix's next MMO project — not just a FFXI makeover. Tanaka's recent comments suggest otherwise.[Thanks, Fan]
Vista on a MacBook Pro
Marc Orchant got the Vista install disk working with a MacBook Pro and Boot Camp. What was his secret? Well, he just inserted a Vista disk instead of a Windows XP disk. There are also reports that Boot Camp supports various distros of Linux.Update: Well, it looks like the Vista install process works, but Vista itself? Not so much. So, you can install Vista on an Intel Mac but you just can't run it.. much like a PC. I kid, I kid.
DIY Vista HTPC with CableCARD might be possible yet
There were several groans when we heard the CableCARD 2.0 certification fees for Windows Vista; that cert effectively put a nail into the DIY crowd's coffin. Perhaps a conceptually simple but slick workaround could do the trick, thanks to eHomeUpgrade. The thought here is, why not get a barebones or base certified system with the minimum specs, then hack it pieces and add the high-powered horsepower and hardware on your own. It's a small consolation at best, but it might get folks to have that terabyte of storage, triple-tuners, a QuadHD GPU or whatever else you can dream of. The one issue that jumps to mind is how Vista will handle hardware additions. Last year, we mentioned that Vista itself could limit or restrict hardware changes.
CableCARD or Credit Card for Vista?
Forget CableCARD, OEM's will need a Platinum Corporate Card to afford the CableLabs certification fees for CableCARD 2.0 computers. Microsoft MVP Chris Lanier compiled a list of the fees involved and once you look at the list, you begin to see why not all of the 130 WMCE original equipment manufacturers will bring you a Vista-licious HD computer later this year. Remember, these are the costs that an OEM will pay: Verification: $30,000 Practice Run: $20,000 Development Lab Use: $12,000/week or $2,500/day. Additional $1,500 per day for extended hrs (5-10 pm). Digital Output and Recording Technology Review: $35,000 Device Certificates for Host: $20,000 annually; plus $0.07 per certificate DFAST Patent/Secrets (DFAST): $5,000 We ran through the numbers and come up with a good hundred-grand for starters. Sure, that's a drop in the bucket for Dell, Sony, HP and the like, but what about the smaller OEM's? Perhaps the expected sales don't justify the cost and that's a real shame as this potentially shuts some good PC manufacturers right out of the market.Read (via eHomeUpgrade)
