Games for Windows® take advantage of the powerful technology inside the Windows XP operating system to provide an innovative and exciting video-game-playing experience.
Overview
The Microsoft® Games for Windows initiative takes a multipronged approach to address the needs of the Windows gaming community by providing gamers, developers, publishers and industry partners with access to top technology, innovative tools and exciting games for the Windows platform.
Games for Windows products and technologies, such as the Windows Game Advisor 3.0, the Xbox 360™ Controller for Windows and the DirectX® set of APIs, enable gamers to take advantage of the powerful, compatible and customizable Windows platform.
From the casual gamer to the hard-core gamer, the Windows platform provides the high levels of performance and stability required to let them focus on enjoying their games, rather than on configuring their machines.
Windows Game Advisor
The Windows Game Advisor helps gamers find the best games to play based on their system’s technical specifications. Game Advisor tests whether a system is compatible with a specific game and provides recommendations to get the system game-ready if it is underpowered.
Additional Game Advisor capabilities include these:- Find a Windows-based game for anyone. Gamers can search by genres, age ranges, Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) ratings and more than 360 titles from game publishers.
- Understand the age ratings. The Windows Game Advisor provides gamers with a Web link to information about the ESRB’s software rating descriptions as well as a list of the content descriptors.
- Try it before you buy it. Gamers can view screenshots and footage, play demos and free trials, and even locate games for purchase online. Picking from the great library of top game titles for Windows is now easier than ever.
- Take control. Gamers can create an account and save their information under that account. They can review and rate their favorite games and find out what other gamers think.
Xbox 360 Controller for Windows
The Xbox 360 Controller for Windows is Microsoft Corp.’s first cross-platform game controller. It can easily be plugged into both Windows XP-based personal computers and the Xbox 360 console, giving users a consistent game-controlling experience across both of Microsoft’s gaming systems.
The Xbox 360 Controller for Windows delivers precision, comfort and control through an enhanced ergonomic design, force feedback vibration support, a nine-foot breakaway controller cable that plugs into a standard USB port, and a familiar button layout across both platforms.
DirectX
DirectX enables gaming at its best. Windows XP includes DirectX technologies that leverage a gamer’s hardware to bring astonishing game environments to life. DirectX is a group of Windows technologies that help make a personal computer an ideal platform for running and displaying applications rich in multimedia elements such as video, 3-D animation and interactive audio. It delivers the following:
- Graphic support. The Direct3D® application program interface (API) enhances graphical performance with new vertex and pixel shaders. High-Level Shader Language allows developers to create technologically advanced game content, from lifelike animation to dramatic programmed effects. The DirectShow® API supports advanced video playback for games that include full-motion video.
- Peripheral support. The DirectInput® and XInput APIs enable more accurate response from game controllers, from traditional joysticks to the latest digital USB controllers, including the new Xbox 360 Controller for Windows.
- Audio support. The XACT API is an audio design tool that allows application designers and audio content designers to easily bring vibrant sounds to games.
Windows XP: a Reliable Platform for Gaming
Game software can require a lot from system resources and push PCs to the limit. Windows XP easily allows gamers to play the latest game titles and hook up the latest devices — from 3-D graphics cards to displays and peripherals — to a dependable system. Windows XP is the reliable platform that helps keep any PC — even custom-configured gaming machines — running at peak performance through features including the following:
- Fast system boot. After gamers have launched a game a few times, Windows XP will arrange the required files on their hard drive to enable the game to load even more quickly.
- Easy networking, fast performance. Windows XP helps gamers quickly connect to other gamers everywhere — on the Internet or in another room.
- Easy driver installation. Windows XP makes the installation of new devices and drivers a breeze thanks to Windows Hardware Quality Lab certification and the System Restore feature.
- Easy gaming peripheral attachment. When gamers attach a steering wheel, gamepad or joystick controller, Windows XP will recognize Designed for Windows-certified peripherals and install the appropriate driver.
More information about Games for Windows can be found online at
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/games.
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Microsoft, Windows, Xbox 360, DirectX, Direct3D, DirectShow and DirectInput are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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