S.T.A.L.K.E.R. creator GSC Game World reckons that efforts to introduce DirectX 10 innovations into PC games at this stage in the API's life is essentially a waste of time for developers.
"...minding that DX10 is undoubtedly richer and more flexible compared to DX9, the graphics quality achieved through the time of its existence is so high that the innovations which can be integrated into games within a rather short time would simply be insignificant and not worth the energy, time and money invested", GSC graphics programmer Igor Lobanchikov has told CVG.
He says that additionally the size of the install base is an issue with DirectX 10 adoption by publishers and developers. "Microsoft's decision to release DX10 for Windows Vista only has served to narrow what is already a rather narrow market of potential clients", Lobanchikov added.
We asked him whether he agrees with a belief voiced by Epic's Mark Rein that current console hardware is a limiting factor on the adoption of DirectX 10 by publishers and developers.
"In the context of the current situation," Lobanchikov replied, "I'd not put the question this way. The events around DX10 have developed so that the release of the next-gen consoles can in no way impact its current position."
He went on to describe the transition to DirectX 10 as hard to motivate from the financial or any other point of view, "which ultimately slows its mastering", adding that game development is a slow process and that it takes time to get new techniques worked out and their advantages to become visible.
Right, so that means GSC has binned its plans for a DirectX10 renderer for its new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. game Clear Sky. Right? Well, if you bet money on that, you'd lose.
It's causing us to scratch heads following Lobanchikov's comments, but a DX10 renderer is still in the pipe, although the developer says it's still unclear which features will be introduced "due to experiments going as we speak".
He says that additionally the size of the install base is an issue with DirectX 10 adoption by publishers and developers. "Microsoft's decision to release DX10 for Windows Vista only has served to narrow what is already a rather narrow market of potential clients", Lobanchikov added.
I am still not clear on the whole situation regarding directx 10, he seems to be saying that games that use it only run on windows vista is that true?
He says that additionally the size of the install base is an issue with DirectX 10 adoption by publishers and developers. "Microsoft's decision to release DX10 for Windows Vista only has served to narrow what is already a rather narrow market of potential clients", Lobanchikov added.
I am still not clear on the whole situation regarding directx 10, he seems to be saying that games that use it only run on windows vista is that true?
yes... yes it is!
BUt hackers have found a way to run vista only games on direct x 9!!!
I am still not clear on the whole situation regarding directx 10, he seems to be saying that games that use it only run on windows vista is that true?
Yes. On top of that, at the moment DX9 games also take a big performance hit on DX10 as well. Hopefully, this will be sorted, at some point. Though games like Crysis do support DX9 as well, though it won't look as good as the 10 version.
thats completely unfair, why should I have to pay hundreds of pounds to upgrade to an operating system which isn't any different from the last 2 versions of windows just to play games, and what about all the people who don't use windows but still want to play games I knew microsoft had employed underhanded tactics before but forcing people to use their product if they want to play games thats, thats evil.
thats completely unfair, why should I have to pay hundreds of pounds to upgrade to an operating system which isn't any different from the last 2 versions of windows just to play games, and what about all the people who don't use windows but still want to play games I knew microsoft had employed underhanded tactics before but forcing people to use their product if they want to play games
Thats silly, thats kinda like saying sony are using underhand tactics because PS3 games wont work on a PS2.
android-sheep wrote: thats completely unfair, why should I have to pay hundreds of pounds to upgrade to an operating system which isn't any different from the last 2 versions of windows just to play games, and what about all the people who don't use windows but still want to play games I knew microsoft had employed underhanded tactics before but forcing people to use their product if they want to play games
Thats silly, thats kinda like saying sony are using underhand tactics because PS3 games wont work on a PS2. Shocked
More importantly it's just wrong. DX10 is only on Vista cos it actually accesses hardware in a different way. The way that, oddly, vista does it. Vista isn't exactly the same, It may look it, but behind the similar looking interface is a VERY different back end.
Maybe they could have spent months working out how to get it on to vista without any bugs (because the hack, while awesome, will have bugs in it and a lot of them) but they are perfectly within their right not to. Personally I'm happy they aren't otherwise we'd never get Vista Service Pack 1!
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