Fantastic article on DirectX 10 and Windows Vista gaming

Moat_Man · Post by **Moat_Man** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:15 pm

Found this article on Extreme Tech about Microsoft Meltdown, a conference where Microsoft discusses what its doing to support game developers on Windows. There is lots of good info on what Windows Vista will hold for PC gamers.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 ... X1K0000532

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:24 pm

DirectX 10 started by fixing what was broken in the previous APIs, like some stability problems and small batch performance, and then removing old unnecessary parts of the API (like the fixed function transform and lighting calls).

This sounds a little scary when it comes to backwards compatability.

baron calamity · Post by **baron calamity** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 5:48 pm

Blackhawk, That is going to be a major issue. Microsoft has told game developers to think of Vista as a new platform. There will be a number of backwards compatability issues.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:57 pm

Blackhawk wrote:This sounds a little scary when it comes to backwards compatability.

Why? DirectX is COM based. The existing APIs aren't going to stop working, nor will the existing APIs be altered in any way. DirectX 8 completely changed the graphics API (getting rid of DirectDraw entirely). But all the COM objects for DirectX 7 are still there for me to use, should I want them.

I've even done DirectX 5 programming on DX9 without any problems.

In short - don't worry about it. There are lots of other compatibility issues that will arise long before DirectX gets involved.

Speaking of Vista, I have the beta running but can't seem to get Indigo and Avalon installed. Anyone else tried it?

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:16 pm

RM9 - weren't there compatibility problems with the DX 5 games that some needed some serious patching to work when DX 7 came out. I'm recalling something about Nocturne in this way, though that could also be related to the rise and fall of Voodoo and Glide.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:24 pm

Blackhawk wrote:
DirectX 10 started by fixing what was broken in the previous APIs, like some stability problems and small batch performance, and then removing old unnecessary parts of the API (like the fixed function transform and lighting calls).
This sounds a little scary when it comes to backwards compatability.

That's probably why they are also going to release DX 9.0L for backwards compatibility in the new driver model... just a hunch though.

Peacedog · Post by **Peacedog** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:11 pm

Speaking of Vista, I have the beta running but can't seem to get Indigo and Avalon installed. Anyone else tried it?

My ex-boss has spoken highly of Avalon.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:23 pm

Pyperkub wrote:That's probably why they are also going to release DX 9.0L for backwards compatibility in the new driver model... just a hunch though.

I suppose there could have been some driver issues along the way. But one of the fundamental concepts with COM is that one you release an interface, you aren't allowed to change it. Ever.

Want to add new features? Fine, but you have to do it with a new interface. Although I admit it was probably a bit naive of me to say that there would be NO problems.

After playing with Vista for a bit, even though it's only a Beta, I'm pretty sure that I will be buying it when it ships. It looks pretty swank, and this isn't even the final GUI.

Now...must get Avalon installed...

Peacedog · Post by **Peacedog** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 10:10 am

What do you think about the WinFS hubub? I'm kind of surprised to hear it, truth be told, as I thought WinFS was supposed to be the bee's knees. That said, I don't really see anything wrong with NTFS.

What do you like about it in general?

My current machine will be 4 this spring, and it's going very strong righht now, which is just as well since I probably can't get anything new for awhile. Part of me doesn't want to have to get a new machine just after Longhorn, err Vista, is released, because I'd prefer it to be about a year later so I can safely get Vista.