Games for Windows
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Games for Windows is a gaming platform and marketing campaign by Microsoft that dates back at least to 2005, and was revised in 2006. Games for the platform must meet certification standards similar to those of modern popular video game consoles. The campaign aims to make video gaming on Windows operating systems as easy and accessible as on popular video game consoles.
The campaign has been promoted through convention kiosks and through other forums as early as 2005.[1]
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[edit] Website
The Games for Windows website shows information about and links to Microsoft products, as well as links to specific video games, computer hardware, gaming tips, new game releases, bestsellers, and general gaming information about Windows games and related software.
The website has a "Windows Game Advisor" which has some more links to specific games, as well as more game rankings and a registration section which appears that allows visitors to find games that suit their tastes.
[edit] Game packaging
Games released on the Games for Windows platform are released in standard Games for Windows packaging. Packaging features include a prominent "Games for Windows" logo stripe across the upper front of the keep case.
In a December 2006 update on the progress of the marketing campaign, Microsoft stated to IGN that "the Games for Windows brand will sit on a stripe across all of the PC game boxes that are partners with this effort." Microsoft stated they had increased their sales of Games for Windows brand games in stores that had been giving the games greater focus, and said they planned on increased marketing efforts of the brand.[2]
[edit] Platform standards
Games which wish to be included in the Games for Windows platform must meet certain requirements regulated by Microsoft. These include,[3] but are not limited to:
- An "Easy Install" option that installs the title on your PC in the fewest possible steps and mouse clicks
- Compatibility with the Windows Vista Games Explorer (see below)
- Installs and runs properly on x64 versions of Windows Vista and is compatible with 64-bit processors (though the game itself can be 32-bit)
- Supports normal and widescreen resolutions, such as 4:3 aspect ratio (800 x 600, 1024 x 768), 16:9 aspect ratio (1280 x 720), and 16:10 aspect ratio (1152 x 720, 1280 x 800)
- Launching from Media Center (Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate have Media Center)
While not a required feature at this time, some Games For Windows certified games are playable during the game's installation, making PC games more convenient and more similar to console games, in that players aren't required to wait until the game's installation is complete before they can play the game. This feature is known as Tray and Play but is only available in Halo 2 as of now.
[edit] Online play
Starting with Halo 2 on May 31, 2007, some Games for Windows titles will have access to Microsoft's Live network for online play and other features, including voice chat, messaging and friends lists, accessed from an in-game menu called the "Guide". Users can log in with their Xbox Live Gamertags to gain achievements and play games and chat across platforms (not every game supports cross-platform play.) Some features, including cross-platform multiplayer and multiplayer achievements, require a subscription to Live Gold.
[edit] Windows Vista Games Explorer
Included with all versions of Windows Vista, this special folder showcases the various games installed on one's computer. When a compatible game is installed, the system adds the game's shortcut to the Games Explorer and also downloads the game's boxart and content rating information (e.g. ESRB, PEGI, CERO, etc.) for that game through either developers' own game definition files or from information provided by All Media Guide.[4] Compatibility generally depends on the age or popularity of the games with newer games having better compatibility. For example, StarCraft is fully compatible despite being nearly a decade older than Windows Vista. If a game is incompatible with the Games Explorer, the user can manually add a game by dragging a game's shortcut to the Games Explorer (though there is a very small chance that boxart and rating information will be missing). Games Explorer is fully compatible with Vista's parental controls. Parents can restrict how long a child can play and what kind of games he/she may play (based on ratings and/or specific titles).
[edit] Magazine
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine was the title of a computer gaming magazine from Ziff Davis Media and the Microsoft Corporation. The publication date of its first issue was November 2006.[5] According to Ziff Davis, the magazine is to be a "rebirth" of the Computer Gaming World magazine. As of the April/May 2008 issue, the magazine is no longer offered in print and the editorial staff will be integrated with 1UP.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Games for Windows website
- NVIDIA's Official Games for Windows website
- Vista Game Explorer Editor
- List of Exclusive Games for Windows
- Windows Game Advisor
- Games for Windows Technical Requirements
- Games for Windows Test Requirements
- Gears of War for Windows Announcement
[edit] References
- ^ PRESS RELEASE: Rail Simulator attends Leipzig Games Convention
- ^ December 7, 2006 IGN.com conversation with Microsoft
- ^ "Games for Windows Vista" at Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
- ^ "Legacy Game Support" at Microsoft Developer Network
- ^ Ziff Davis Media's Official "Games for Windows" Press Release
- ^ The Video Game Librarian: Games For Windows Magazine Goes Online-Only
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