The sorry state of Windows 7 gaming

[DainBramaged]

Release feels almost funereal due to lack of gaming titles and support (this is obviously the writer's opinion)

Windows 7 is finally upon us, leaping off retail shelves in little blue- and green- and black-lined plastic containers in a matter of hours. With the critical plaudits, expect enthusiastic midnight sales, curious micro-throngs of buyers and swollen message boards deluged by "impressions" confessionals from first-timers who somehow missed the endless betas and previews and release candidates foisted on us like fistfuls of Halloween candy.

(Msnbc.com is a joint venture between Microsoft and NBC Universal.)

No Rolling Stones or Jerry Seinfeld this time, true, but that's all part of Windows 7's unassuming shtick — less whiz, more bang.


But what about gaming?

You've heard how Windows 7 is what Windows Vista should have been — sleeker, nimbler and less in your way. I've been using the public preview of Windows 7 since last spring, and speaking as a guy who's cheated on Vista with an old copy of XP Home, I won't be retreating into the arms of that antediluvian paramour anytime soon.

As for gaming, however, Windows 7's release feels almost funereal. Read the reviews and you'll learn all about the streamlined taskbar, the smarter security system that leaves you alone, the slick new touch-based input features, and the friendlier approach to media-hub device management.

What about gaming? Notwithstanding the handful of enthusiast sites no one in the mainstream follows trotting out reams of technical benchmarks spread across dozens of pages, the critics either aren't talking, or aren't bothering.

Neither, it seems, is Microsoft.

The company launched its Games for Windows certification and branding initiative in late 2006. The push was Microsoft's "contract with gamers," designed to validate PC gaming — with its broader international install base than all of console gaming combined — as the definitive platform for the medium. What it meant then — as now — was that GFW-branded games would "undergo extensive testing" to stamp out bugs, would be compatible with 32- and 64-bit versions of XP and Vista (and now, Windows 7), would support family-friendly parental controls, and finally — the most vague "guarantee" — the games would be "easy to play," meaning they'd show up in Vista and Windows 7's one-stop "Games Explorer." The initiative culminated in just seven games by the end of 2006, though it included majors like "Company of Heroes" and "Microsoft Flight Simulator X." Embryonic, in other words, but promising.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33624209/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/?dst=msnbc

[YOY]

1. Thing is you don't need flipping "Games for Windows" to PC Game.

It just gives you a cutesy rating on your computer and tells you what you need to run a game as far as I can see.

If anyone is worried about the future of PC Gaming they need to go out and buy Dragon Age:Origins. It R0XoRZ!

[MellonCollie]

7. Indeed

Gaming's just fine and dandy on 7.

[sudopod]

26. Windows Live ruined Red Faction: Guerrilla.

MS should stay from "helping" gaming as possible.

[Veruca Salt]

33. That's what I thought

I'm one of those who absolutely adore bashing Windows but will readily admit that it is the system for computer gaming. When my brother had me build his new computer he wanted to know about the different OS's but I told him to stick with XP and then move to 7 when XP is sunset because he is a huge comp gamer.

And no, even with the PS3 you will not get the graphical quality you can get on a computer version of the same game. My bro and I put Fallout 3 side by side to test this.

Also, the things one can do with a mouse verse controller - holy crap. I'm strictly a console gamer myself and watching my brother go from playing on a controller (barley dying) to a mouse (never dying) was an incredible sight to behold.

[Bonobo]

2. Who can blame the game companies? MS doesn't support their own product...

Spend all that money porting a game to Windows 7 and the next thing you know they're talking about dumping it for Windows 8.

[Mosby]

3. who gives a shit?

buy a game console.

[Rick Myers]

4. There is a sign over my work area...

"These are WORKSTATIONS, not Playstations!"

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

6. Because "game consoles" sorely lack certain genres of games

Specifically strategic and simulation type stuff.

[YOY]

12. Those of us who don't pay 50$ for shit we can win in one sitting.

Or need our games simplified so a 10-year-old can school you with enough button mashing.

[blondeatlast]

17. No kidding,. nt

[Craftsman]

5. Linux, the ultimate winblows service pack.

[thunder rising]

8. Agreed ... good enough to make you forget all the M$ problems.

[DainBramaged]

9. Linux, the ultimate patch for mom's basement

Honey, are you alive down there?


Yes mom I'm trying to get this computer to work with The Sims

Well you need to get some sunlight soon before the first snows.......

[eShirl]

10. I haven't noticed any problems

I can run Mahjong, World of Warcraft, Second Life, and Rogue-likes just the same as before.

[FormerDittoHead]

11. If you're into gaming, use Linux or get a Mac!

:sarcasm:

I'm still waiting for Adobe apps to come out for Linux. It's been a LONG wait.

But the damn thing just came out and isn't in SP1 yet. 95% of Win7 users won't have a choice but to get it when they buy a new PC.

As long as it doesn't ask for my confirmation TWICE to simply COPY a file (I disabled that in the nightmare known as Vista, thanks), it's an improvement.

I just wish they'd stop messing, I mean, "improving" the interface and settle on something. The QUERTY keyboard is a mess by DESIGN, but we've managed to learn how to use it. I hate having to 'unlearn' how to do things.

[DainBramaged]

13. I have THREE systems sitting here (KVR switch) on my desk

ONE Windows XP Pro for business, One XP Pro ATI 4770 + Phenom II Quad core rocket ship for games, ONE is Vista Basic with hot rod hardware waiting for Windows 7 and with the ATI 5770, Intel i7 DX11 ready......... this month

[YOY]

14. WASD 4 Life!

Love the console clown upstream. I like my game with a lot of buttons, a lot of details, and lots of replayability.

That's why I PC game.

Consoles are great but when you want to write a document or a spreadsheet after you are done I'll keep my multifunctional tool.

[FormerDittoHead]

15. I think you missed my point.

As a confession, I DO have my Xbox 360 on my KVM with my 5 PCs.

But my point above was that Windows IS the premiere non-console gaming platform. The OP is complaining, I say, "What's BETTER?"

I'm a Mechwarrior, myself, so I'm right there with you with muti-key gaming. I only wish they'd make games for the Xbox which supported keyboards - they could do it too - it's got USB...

[YOY]

16. Didn't miss your point. I am just being a fan boy.

MW5 is coming. Looks pretty fly.

Total War is my bag of chips. One simply cannot play it easily on a platform. I suppose you could try it with Wii type controls for selection...but the Wii doesn't have the firepower. The company tried a platform version...failed horribly. RTS and Platforms are just not happening.

[L0oniX]

18. Fuck MicroShaft ...get a PS3 if you want to game.

[Romulox]

19. Bioware's new game Dragon Age is a absolutely stunning.

No "Games for Windows" certification, but who cares? (It does show up in the Vista games explorer...)

[YOY]

21. So awesome....so fricking awesome...

Somewhere Minsc is smiling at his spiritual successor...although I don't think he's in game...and I cannot see doing this on the PS3 or XBox although I know it's available.

[Romulox]

23. You talking about "mouse"?

No spoilers from me. Sounds like you may be doing the mage's storyline, though! :hi:

[YOY]

24. No. I mean Minsc from Baldur's gate. DA is supposed to be BG's spiritual successor.

It certainly has somewhat of the feel.

I am doing the Human Noble (Warrior) path.

[Romulox]

25. I got the Minsc reference...I thought you were talking about an DA character

that kinda made me think of Minsc/Boo. The particular character is found in the mage storyline.

At any rate: You point, I punch!

[YOY]

28. He kicks butts LIBERALLY!

n/t

[Romulox]

34. DA is a LOT harder than BG. I LOVE it. nt

[YOY]

39. I found that you can "Pull" like you could in a MMORPG

You just have to change the camera angle and target a distant enemy. Much further than you could in BG.

The pew pew pew can wear them down to the point where they are almost nothing. It seems you can do this one-at-a-time for those nasty mobs.

[Romulox]

40. My dude's an elfen mage who specialized in crowd control.

My party likes to get into the middle of it--I usually micro manage the mage, who lays down stuns, aoe debuffs, and aoe damage. What's awesome is that this game supports multiple playing styles like that. I can't wait to make a dual wielding warrior.

Ok...I'm starting to embarrass myself.

/geek

[Mudoria]

20. Not having a problem with gaming in Win 7...

[EOTE]

22. Windows 7 is the best computer gaming platform there is.

Almost all games run better on 7 than on Vista and most games run even better than on XP (even comparing DX10 versions to DX9). There may not be many DX11 titles out right now, but that doesn't mean a damn thing. DX11 is brand new and the first DX11 cards came out a few weeks ago. Once people start adopting DX11 cards at a decent pace, we're going to see a lot more DX11 titles. And the new hardware tessellation features, we're going to see some really cool stuff from it. Rather odd that an article this silly would come from MSNBC.

[Cleita]

27. Get a Mac.

I'm so done with MS, they could give me their products for free and I wouldn't take them. Not only that, Mac has fabulous support with real people you can contact at any time if you don't want to talk on the phone to some one in Asia.

[Mudoria]

29. I wouldn't have a Mac if I found one laying on the front porch..

[Cleita]

30. To each his own. I've had mine for two years now and it's a gem. n/t

[retread]

35. If you do, can I have it? n/t

[YOY]

31. Um this one is about Gaming. You can't really get new releases on Macs easily.

Heck, you can't get old releases easily on a Mac.

Sure they rock in many other ways but Mac gaming is well-dead.

[Cleita]

32. Well, all the gaming I do are Sims and my mac is perfect for them. n/t

[YOY]

36. The PC (for all it's faults) rocks in gaming in a few areas.

Real Time Strategy
Turn Based Gaming (Strategy)

Platforms cannot do that and Macs (despite having the number crunching ability) don't have a large enough following to keep the releases happening simultanously.

This one only comes in PC flavor and is my personal favorite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire:_Total_War

The Sims and several other casual gaming have recently come about in a brilliant (and I do not mean that at all sarcastically) move to market to an untapped niche: women. They put that one on as many platforms as possible to get to the maximum number of potential customers.

[Cleita]

38. I do have Windows XP on my Mac for a few things that I can't get Mac

software for. It's partitioned and I don't know how it would work for gaming though, but I can switch from one to the other. Funny I don't have to have any security software for the Safari portion of my Mac, but I do for the Windows.

[KillCapitalism]

37. Most of my games run fine on 7.

My newer games are running just fine, BUT my original Call of Duty and Call of Duty United Offensive DO NOT run on Windows 7 at all. They install, but when I try to run them I get a Visual C++ runtime error message. I tried running them in XP SP2 emulation mode, but that didn't work. If anyone knows how I could get these games up and running, that would be awesome!