Re: Will Windows 8 be the death of PC gaming?
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:21 pm
I've got a laptop and a desktop on XP SP3, and a laptop and a desktop on Vista SP2. I think my "gaming" needs will be fulfilled for the forseeable future
Gaming Like It's 1999
https://racketboy.com/forum/
lisalover1 wrote:The way I see it, the main problem Windows 8 presents to gaming comes from the new Windows RT. Windows RT, the ARM processor version of Windows, designed mainly for tablets, is incompatible with all previous Windows software. That means that no PC games will be able to run on this version of Windows. How do you explain to the average consumer that their Windows machine can't run PC games?
fastbilly1 wrote:lisalover1 wrote:The way I see it, the main problem Windows 8 presents to gaming comes from the new Windows RT. Windows RT, the ARM processor version of Windows, designed mainly for tablets, is incompatible with all previous Windows software. That means that no PC games will be able to run on this version of Windows. How do you explain to the average consumer that their Windows machine can't run PC games?
My understanding is that the core is the same, but it is forked off to ARM and x86.
lisalover1 wrote:fastbilly1 wrote:lisalover1 wrote:The way I see it, the main problem Windows 8 presents to gaming comes from the new Windows RT. Windows RT, the ARM processor version of Windows, designed mainly for tablets, is incompatible with all previous Windows software. That means that no PC games will be able to run on this version of Windows. How do you explain to the average consumer that their Windows machine can't run PC games?
My understanding is that the core is the same, but it is forked off to ARM and x86.
But, that change in processor is what really changes compatibility. Just because the core is the same doesn't mean that it will be compatible.
MrPopo wrote:Correct. Software compiled against x86 won't run on ARM. The ARM tablets will only be able to run stuff from the Windows Store. But my understanding is that everything in the Windows Store will be compiled for both x86 and ARM, so you have full compatibility going forward. Combine that with the fact that ARM tablets are touch-centric and most people won't be lamenting that their old keyboard-centric software won't run on the ARM tablets.
MrPopo wrote:Correct. Software compiled against x86 won't run on ARM. The ARM tablets will only be able to run stuff from the Windows Store. But my understanding is that everything in the Windows Store will be compiled for both x86 and ARM, so you have full compatibility going forward. Combine that with the fact that ARM tablets are touch-centric and most people won't be lamenting that their old keyboard-centric software won't run on the ARM tablets.
lisalover1 wrote:MrPopo wrote:Correct. Software compiled against x86 won't run on ARM. The ARM tablets will only be able to run stuff from the Windows Store. But my understanding is that everything in the Windows Store will be compiled for both x86 and ARM, so you have full compatibility going forward. Combine that with the fact that ARM tablets are touch-centric and most people won't be lamenting that their old keyboard-centric software won't run on the ARM tablets.
...Which is exactly why existing distribution platforms are terrified of Windows 8.
gtmtnbiker wrote:Your comment doesn't make sense. Why are existing distribution platforms concerned with Windows 8? You can still run your Steam client on x86 Windows. Nothing changed.
Would it make sense to have a Steam client for RT? Probably not.
The way I see it, Windows RT is a new market that is focused on mobile computing. By having the GUI be identical across Windows 8 architectures (ARM, x86, x64), it makes it easier to develop an application that runs everywhere if you so desire. But not all applications are suitable for both platforms.