News

Windows Vista at CES this week

9 January 2007, 8:45 am

Kicking off this week's 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft has unveiled games, technologies and partner support for Windows Vista.

CES attendees will get hands-on with 15 Games for Windows titles, including some of the first games to deliver graphics and gameplay through DirectX 10: Crysis (Crytek) and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Eidos Interactive). Gamers will also experience Shadowrun from Microsoft Game Studios, the first of many titles that will bring the Live gaming and entertainment network on Windows Vista for true cross-platform gameplay with Xbox 360.

In addition, during the CES keynote address, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Entertainment and Devices Division President Robbie Bach demonstrated how people who play games on a Windows Vista PC connect to friends who play on Xbox 360 for a cross-platform game challenge with Uno (Mattel) — one of the many new upcoming casual games optimised for Windows Vista.

Connecting Windows Vista and Xbox 360

Delivering on a vision that Microsoft presented at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2006, Shadowrun and Uno are part of the first wave of Live titles that bring the benefits of Xbox Live to gamers on Windows Vista, including an active community of nearly five million gamers, a single identity for each gamer across Windows and Xbox 360, as well as Microsoft Achievements.

The Live gaming and entertainment network will enable gamers to play and communicate online across both of Microsoft’s gaming platforms. In addition, Halo 2 for Windows Vista will also support Live, enabling Windows gamers to communicate with Xbox Live gamers and earn Achievements in the Halo 2 campaign — a first for any Halo title on any platform.

Optimised Casual Games for Windows Vista

Puzzle-playing, fun-loving casual game players also will benefit from Windows Vista-optimised gameplay, with new titles available on MSN Games. Bringing detailed graphics and enriched gameplay features to casual players, the downloadable Windows Vista-based titles will launch in conjunction with the new operating system in late January.

The games include updated versions of the popular puzzlers 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and Luxor 2; the all-new action and adventure game Bliss Island (Codemasters); the crystal-collecting, quick-shooting Crystal Quest (Codemasters); Spinword Slam Games, a brainteaser combining word puzzles and arcade action; the gem-filled matching puzzle Jewel Quest 2 (iWin); and the updated and graphically enhanced action adventure Darwinia (Introversion).

In addition, the ever popular Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (Bizarre Creations) will be making its debut on the PC. The PC version of this retro-inspired title will, along with most Windows Vista-optimised titles, support gameplay with both the keyboard and the Xbox 360 wireless controller.

Windows Vista itself caters to the casual game player with updated versions of Windows-based classics such as Minesweeper, FreeCell and Solitaire, as well as all-new titles such as Chess Titans, Mahjong Titans and Purble Place, which will be included with Windows Vista and will be easy to find by way of the new Windows Vista Games Explorer.

Games for Windows Portfolio

Taking advantage of the new operating system’s technology and more user-friendly gaming features, the Games for Windows portfolio of titles includes something for everyone, from the most hard-core enthusiast to casual players. Games such as Crysis and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures exploit the DirectX 10 technology in Windows Vista with vivid new levels of graphical detail and depth, while Shadowrun and Halo 2 will be the first to utilise Live services to connect the gaming experience between Windows Vista-based PCs and the five million strong Xbox 360 Live community.

The Games for Windows portfolio includes the following titles:

DirectX 10

Consumers can see the DirectX 10 application programming interface in action in the Games for Windows booth at CES with the Nvdia GeForce 8800, the first DirectX 10-enabled discrete video card to hit the market, powering demos of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures and Crysis. DirectX 10 utilises the new Windows Vista Display Driver Model and Shader Model 4.0, giving developers the tools to maximise the power of the latest video card technology.

Games for Windows Brand Momentum Continues

Games for Windows has allied with new publishers that are committed to making it easier, safer and more fun to game on Windows. NCSoft, Midway, Turbine Inc., Eidos, 2K Games, Atari and LucasArts join THQ, Vivendi Universal and other publishers are releasing new Windows-based titles that feature the Games for Windows branding bar.

Newly announced branded Games for Windows titles include Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (Midway/Turbine Inc.), World in Conflict (Sierra Entertainment/Massive Entertainment), Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals (Microsoft Game Studios/Blue Fang Games), Frontlines: Fuels of War (THQ/Kaos Studios), Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (Activision/Splash Damage) and Tabula Rasa (NCSoft Corp./ Destination Games). Those games, alongside previously announced branded titles, have met a set of technical guidelines including easier installation, increased reliability and support for key Windows Vista features such as the Games Explorer and Parental Controls. In addition, NCSoft’s Auto Assault, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Guild Wars and Lineage II have been updated to meet Games for Windows’ technical requirements and will reship with the new packaging.