A hodge-podge mix of tacky and ripped off extras it may be, but Windows Vista official release as of yesterday does manage to provide some interesting incentives for PC and Xbox 360 gamers alike.

That is, as long as long as you don't mind selling your soul to Bill Gates.

The most basic of updates involves the debut of Direct X10, which, when you boil down to it, simply means that graphics will look better... on the machine that can handle it.

The more interesting developing is Vista's capacity to connect to Xbox Live. This will allow all the functionality of it's Xbox 360 counterpart, with access to Live Arcade, and more important, cross platform multi-player gaming.

It's assumed that not all games will take advantage of this, but it should go some ways to alleviate those who complain about the lack of players in certain Xbox 360 games. On the hand, it means that many of the most popular games will undoubtedly become more packed than ever. Only time will tell if this is a good thing.

Other gameplay related features include:

- Compatibility with the Xbox 360 controller (any sensible person would notice that this is a con, as there is no reason XP shouldn't be able to do so - Microsoft just doesn't want you to).
- Simple parental control features, similar to that featured on the PSP and PS3).
- A start-menu "game" explorer, which lists your games and saved data separate from other installs application.

Am I the only one completely underwhelmed by all this?

Tags : directx 10 : pc : windows : windows vista : Xbox 360 : xbox live

Comments

By: lockwood

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On: 08:05 Jan 31st, 2007
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Windoze... you dissapoint me. I'll stick with my dual-boot Mac and m pirate copy of WindowsXP fanks. I don't see any great games advertising as Vista exclusive any time soon. Or Xbox360 for that matter. I'll keep saving and looking for a Wii, and play my old but not outdated online games. Make Diablo3 for Vista and I might give two shits. Half-Life series games will stay on XP. Warcraft, Warhammer, Age of Empires, ect. I'm not sold on gimmicky convenience 'tools' that the Mac OSX already offers.

By: Sρεсτяυм

On: 10:32 Jan 31st, 2007
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- Compatibility with the Xbox 360 controller (any sensible person would notice that this is a con, as there is no reason XP shouldn't be able to do so - Microsort just don't want you to).

Since the Xbox360 came out, Microsoft shipped a same-price Xbox360 controller with Windows XP drivers. They have also offered the controller drivers through Windows Update as well.

By: Dragonfly

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On: 10:36 Jan 31st, 2007
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Sρεсτяυм;14536

Since the Xbox360 came out, Microsoft shipped a same-price Xbox360 controller with Windows XP drivers. They have also offered the controller drivers through Windows Update as well.

But is it an actual Xbox 360 controller?

This system allows for a non-installation instant use of the Xbox 360 controller. No drivers or any of that crap. Think of it as an extra for XP that's standard for Vista.

By: Sρεсτяυм

On: 10:38 Jan 31st, 2007
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Words of Ivory;14538

But is it an actual Xbox 360 controller?

This system allows for a non-installation instant use of the Xbox 360 controller. No drivers or any of that crap.

You bet. All that's additional, aside from the driver CD, is an extension for the controller that allows it to plug into a USB port. You can even take the extension off and use it in a normal Xbox360.

By: ApplesauceNinja

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On: 12:38 Jan 31st, 2007
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Wait, Windows has a new OS? Vista? Oh, wait, I saw that in Best Buy the
other day. You must be talking about Windows OS XI. Man, how isn't Steve
Jobs suing the shit out of the big M?

By: Sρεсτяυм

On: 06:57 Jan 31st, 2007
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MacVista Ten. That's what it's about.

Yeah. That's what.

By: Garnet

On: 11:27 Feb 3rd, 2007
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Yuck. You couldn't force me to use Vista.

Gimme my Macintosh OS anyday, so much better. At least people are finally starting to catch on that there are much better alternatives to Windows out there and that they don't have to be brainwashed by Bill Gates.

By: Samuel

On: 03:27 Feb 3rd, 2007
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I looked on the apple site a couple of days ago. Mac OSX > Windows Vista. I'm getting me a Mac mini as soon as I get the money. I don't care if I can't game much on it, I'm a console fanboy. As far as vista goes; If I wanted to play with a 360 controller, I'd buy a fucking 360, and get the same games, with no worries about compatability. I have a Vista leaflet right here, and it advertises 'cutting edge software' the picture next to it: solitare. No jokes. Awsome marketing technique there, Microsoft. Halo 3; cutting edge. Gears of war; cutting edge. You could have even put the new media player, or the internet browser, and I might have been impressed. But no, you put solitare there. If I wanted to play solitare, I'd buy a pack of cards, you retards.

[/rant]

wow, I really went off on one.

By: Mobius Zero

On: 03:46 Feb 3rd, 2007
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*Now, got to get into my really bad surfer accent*

Whoa, like so totally underwhelming, dude, dude, I could likea, likea, get the same look of Vista on the net like so totally cheaper and less crap to stuff on my desk, dumbasses. And soon, like the Apple company, will make a gaming system that will like, totally, own every other system just like it has started to do in multimedia like the I-Pod and, whoa, check it out, the I-Phone. Little do we know that Apple will ownz everyone, dude, the wave of Apple will spread and so let it take you away.

*Normal voice*

I am NEVER EVER DOING THAT AGAIN!
I will stick with my XP and the only part of that was true was the Vista look that I could get off the net, which I have, looks nice but a pain to use.