Vista Casts a Pall on PC Gaming
by Greg H · in General Discussion · 01/09/2007 (1:15 pm) · 5 replies
You guys see this article on gamasutra about their new Game Explorer in Vista and its obstructive warnings and required password/username when installing games? Bad for indies.
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Opinion: 'Vista Casts A Pall On PC Gaming'
We have found many of the security changes planned for Vista alarming and likely to present sweeping challenges for PC gaming, especially for online distributed games. The central change that impacts all downloadable applications in Vista is the introduction of Limited User Accounts. LUA's can already be found in Windows XP, but nobody uses them because of the onerous restrictions they place on usability. In Vista, LUA's are mandatory and inescapable. Although Microsoft made some effort to soften the obstructions LUA's place in the path of installing software in Vista, they still present a tremendous obstacle to downloadable game distribution and game compatibility with Vista in general.
Rest of article here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12314
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I already went to Microsoft to complain.
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Opinion: 'Vista Casts A Pall On PC Gaming'
We have found many of the security changes planned for Vista alarming and likely to present sweeping challenges for PC gaming, especially for online distributed games. The central change that impacts all downloadable applications in Vista is the introduction of Limited User Accounts. LUA's can already be found in Windows XP, but nobody uses them because of the onerous restrictions they place on usability. In Vista, LUA's are mandatory and inescapable. Although Microsoft made some effort to soften the obstructions LUA's place in the path of installing software in Vista, they still present a tremendous obstacle to downloadable game distribution and game compatibility with Vista in general.
Rest of article here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12314
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I already went to Microsoft to complain.
About the author
#2
01/09/2007 (5:55 pm)
Quote:The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.
#3
01/10/2007 (4:45 am)
Quote:
So how does Vista know that the software being installed is a 'Game' and that it needs to register with the Game Explorer?
Quote:Getting Started With The Game Explorer
How To Add Your Game
There are two parts to adding your game to the Game Explorer: Creating data files that Game Explorer will consume, and adding your game to the Game Explorer.
#4
If not, then requiring an ESRB rating for Indie games is an issue, unless that part can be left out of the Game Explorer data files (GDF)
Wondering how to get a gameID too. They say you need one for the GDF but they don't say how to procure one, or register it with Microsoft.
01/10/2007 (5:42 am)
Can people play downloaded games on Vista without adding them to the Game Explorer?If not, then requiring an ESRB rating for Indie games is an issue, unless that part can be left out of the Game Explorer data files (GDF)
Wondering how to get a gameID too. They say you need one for the GDF but they don't say how to procure one, or register it with Microsoft.
#5
Yes, they can.
The article is full of misinformation. As anyone who has ever ran Vista knows, It is of course possible to turn off the warning dialogs if you want (you have to be an administrator to turn them off). The guy tries to make a case that downloadable games will get the shaft, but the reality is that if you have an installer, then it is not an issue - you can easily add your game to the game explorer in the install. (and you SHOULD have an installer - to add it to the menu, and the "add/remove" programs list.) The Game Explorer is an optional tool, you don't need to add your game to it if you don't want to. I have personally played torque games in vista without them being in the Game Explorer. Even without them being installed, just copied.
01/10/2007 (7:35 am)
>>Can people play downloaded games on Vista without adding them to the Game Explorer?Yes, they can.
The article is full of misinformation. As anyone who has ever ran Vista knows, It is of course possible to turn off the warning dialogs if you want (you have to be an administrator to turn them off). The guy tries to make a case that downloadable games will get the shaft, but the reality is that if you have an installer, then it is not an issue - you can easily add your game to the game explorer in the install. (and you SHOULD have an installer - to add it to the menu, and the "add/remove" programs list.) The Game Explorer is an optional tool, you don't need to add your game to it if you don't want to. I have personally played torque games in vista without them being in the Game Explorer. Even without them being installed, just copied.
Torque Owner ChrisG
So how does Vista know that the software being installed is a 'Game' and that it needs to register with the Game Explorer?
Surely if Vista is going to make it hard for gamers people will either resist upgrading or developers will start developing for other platforms such as linux - which is becoming easier to instal and use for the mainstream (plus it's free!)
One reason people stick to windows is because of compatibility, particularly with MS office - but there are increasing more free, non-platform specific options available (eg. Google docs and spreadsheet, Open Office). Also linux can run MS products.
Another point here is that increasingly kids today are computer savvy and are not afraid of non-mircosoft platforms and applications.
Maybe Microsoft are beginning to cut their own throats.
(Note: I'm not advocating Linux over Windows - I use both and prefer Windows on my home computer)