DirectX 10 for Windows XP: the (im) possibilities

DirectX 10 has been working exclusively on Windows Vista. Since the launch of the first beta version Many believe that Microsoft wanted to force switch to Vista gamers that way and that was for Beyond3D reason for a thing to be reviewed.

DirectX 10 logoOne of the main "evidence" for the theory that Microsoft Direct3D 10 - the graphical portion of DirectX 10 - a push would give the sales of Vista has a historical background. Microsoft has in the past regularly released products which the company said they would not work on a particular version of Windows. Several hackers have later to pick up these claims. Slicing know So with DirectX: when version 5 of this API was released Windows NT 4.0 was not supported according to Microsoft. Several people, however, have claimed that they have been working still on NT4. DirectX 5 Although parts of the Direct3D software library got to talking, it never succeeded in full hardware acceleration with Direct3D on NT4 get. Someone talking The reason is simple: the driver model NT4 has no support for 3D technology.

Beyond3D logoMicrosoft wanted in the kernel of Windows 2000 full support for 3D integration, but most game fans used a few years ago, Windows 95 or 98. DirectX 5 was therefore focus on these versions of Windows. Not having to reinvent the wheel completely re Microsoft has large parts of the Windows 9x-3d-driver architecture reused for Windows 2000. This decision was supported by manufacturers of graphics cards, because they are so completely did not rewrite. Their drivers However, the decision also had a major drawback: the driver model of Windows 9x was designed for an operating system that allows direct access to hardware components. The NT line did not allow. Direct access to the hardware for safety There had to be created an additional layer between the hardware and control the 3D drivers, which obviously creates more overhead. In XP, this layer still present, and that provides game developers sleepless nights. This layered driver model, the increase in raw GPU power nowadays no longer keep up, and Microsoft in the development of Vista was thus forced to take. Throughout driver model on the shovel

Overlord: cruel never felt so good

In the picturesque Delft is a game developer with great potential. Triumph Studios is housed in a former hospital building in this game Overlord was born. Tweakers.net was present for a playable demo of the action-RPG here and a tour of the studio. Triumph Studios was already verantwoordeliijk for turn-based strategy game "Age of Wonders". This game got good reviews but was not a commercial success. The Dutch studio should not be underestimated, prove the first images of Overlord we get to see. Both the cutscenes and the ingame footage of the game impress.

Overlord preview: cutscene with the Overlord
The story of Overlord begins where other end. Seven heroes return after their victory over the dark ruler 'Overlord' home. Sorry, no happy ending for these heroes, because each of them is plagued by one of the seven deadly sins. Thus, the halfling, a sort of common version of a hobbit with ingrown toenails, plagued by gluttony. However, the player does not crawl - as expected - in the skin of these heroes, but should get started as the dark ruler who defeated backward in what was once an impressive tower. If Overlord is intended to stave off hunger. Revenge on the seven heroes Help in the quest comes from the Minions, a kind of gremlin-like creatures, who are hyperactive and laughing at the player jump around and dance. The minions are the best compared to a fake version of the Pikmins from the Gamecube game Pikmin and have to work for all kinds of jobs.

Overlord preview: bombing
When the game starts, there are only three of these Minions. In a field where some sheep grazing, a path that is blocked by a fallen pillar runs. The Minions get the pillar only too happy way, but this will be getting two congeners. Reinforcement By killing sheep that more energy is released Minions can be called. As many as fifty of these creatures follow the Overlord, they can be used to kill, pillage and intimidate. Also, they can reach places where the Overlord himself can not reach. As Pikmins funny minions come in different colors. Brown Minions are warriors, they take everything at your fingertips to use as a weapon: rolling pins and pitchforks are great and a pumpkin can be used as an excellent helmet. Green Minions with their long claws ideal assassin employable and able to surprise the enemy from the bushes. The red variant can be used to blast off. Fireball as This can not only cause damage to enemies, but also can convert all grass plains ablaze. Finally there are the Blue Minions. They can swim and cases species back to life.

Preview Overlord: Minions
Not only are there similarities with Pikmin, we also had to regularly think of Fable. The fairytale towns breathe the same atmosphere, though there is some Dutch architecture in hiding. The choice between good and evil is somewhat similar, though it is in the Overlord longer a choice between bad and uber-bad. As the character is worse, it will also be seen in his appearance. In the home, the tower resemblance to the Tower of Sauron from Lord of the Rings, the player can customize the look of his character itself and even the tower is to tweak at will. Because the dark lord has his hands full with inventing harassment against the seven heroes, but the tower is not always clean with. There is also thought by the creators of the game and nothing to prevent the Overlord to regularly drag to turn. Her to work with a woman by the hair First, the player will have to settle for a simple peasant woman, could be prettier lassies dragged to the castle tower. Later pleasure In the tower are Minions to melt great weapons. The more Minions, the better the weapon. The quality of the weapon is also affected by the type of minions being processed. On the player the choice between a large army of followers or powerful weapons.

Shadowrun: a new dimension to first person shooters

From now on the worlds of PC and Xbox 360 gamers come together. In the world of Shadowrun mouse and keyboard taking against the controller. PC gamers will actually win the console players, as is frequently called? It must be fantasy shooter remembered as the first true cross-platform game or the game offers even more like to be memorable Tweakers.net played the Xbox 360 version.

Shadowrun was originally a role such as Dungeons & Dragons and played the set in a cyberpunk-fantasy world that was inspired by the books of William Gibson. In 1993 on the Super Nintendo action-RPG "Shadowrun", which was based on this universe. Later versions appeared for the Mega Drive and Mega CD. Now comes Fasa Studio with a shooter that is according to the fans, but loosely based on the world of Shadowrun. However, the game contains elements that we know from RPGs, such as the choice of four different races and upgrade the character.

Shadowrun
* Magic and Technology

In the year 2031 there is a fierce battle raging between the industry giant RNA Corporation and Lineage, an ancient secret society. Both are out on an artifact that contains magical powers. The player must choose sides in the conflict, after which he can make a choice of four races: human, elf, troll or dwarf. Each race has its pros and cons. As a troll can through his thick skin easily catch a hail of bullets, but he is the slowest of the four. The eleven other hand, is fast but may have little. The dwarf can sip magical powers of enemies and his surroundings, and the man takes advantage of being allowed to purchase weapons or additional technology where other players are still saving immediately. Shadowrun is trying to distinguish itself from other shooters through the use of magic and technology. All races have Essence, a kind of mana . This Essence is required for the use of magic. However, the player buys more technological gadgets, they will reduce the amount of Essence. The player will have to choose.

The battle at the gamers market: Guerrillas tactics revealed

Guerrilla Games is originally an Amsterdam-based company that has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment. The company was founded in 2000 as part of the Dutch multimedia company Lost Boys. Under the banner of Lost Boy Games worked Arjan Brussee and Arnout van der Kamp, in 2003, the game development department was acquired by Media Republic. Respectively from Orange Games and Digital Infinity, jointly, but With this acquisition relaunch as 'Guerrilla Games' was accompanied. A year later, the company announced an agreement reached with Sony for its exclusive shooter Killzone on PlayStation 2 will launch. In December 2005 Sony found that the game developer had better take over completely and so it happened.

 got the chance to fire a salvo ask the developers and the management of Guerrilla and got the answers back some time ago. As expected, there are no great revelations, but is awarded us a glimpse behind the scenes of a game developer.

* Hermen Hulst

Hermen HulstOne of the people who will answer the questions, Managing Director Hermen Hulst. He began his career as a marketing assistant at Ubi Soft, but is now almost six years in the service of Guerilla Games. He is as concerned with the financial side, marketing and outline the strategy. Hermen has mainly taken the questions regarding strategies and visions for his account, and should ensure that no information leaves the Guerilla offices that may be. Still not brought out

* Arjan Brussee

Arjan BrusseeArjan Brussee was with his company Orange Games one of the founders of the former Lost Boys. He developed along with Jazz Jackrabbit games and was appointed in 2000 as Technical Director of the development studio. Three years later he received the title of Development Director pasted and in this position he is responsible for leading projects in the right direction. Arjan is therefore the ideal candidate if you have questions about developing for the PlayStation 3 or about how a game is created, and there is to read about. More in this feature

* Michiel van der Leeuw

Michiel van der Leeuw is one of the developers at Guerilla Games and knows better than anyone how to program a console game works. He has hands-on experience with PlayStation 3 devkits and works in the team is currently hard at the code for Killzone 3 is knocking.

Eventlog: Sony Spac3, quick test with the PlayStation 3

Following the press a small group of tweakers on March 10, 2007 was given the chance to for the European release on March 23, Sony's PlayStation 3 to feel the tooth. This event log with some pictures an impression of Spac3, as this day was baptized. Of course there are pictures of some games, and the findings of a number of tweakers taken during this event.
 The event was held in a secret location, which was only made to the tweakers who had received an invitation. Known The location was - as far as we can reveal - an old factory where until last year ships were built. Crumbling stairs and dark empty spaces. The entrance does not suspect that at least on the top floor console yet to be released in Europe on our guard.


Upstairs is a shower room converted into reception and test room. Five large plasma screens, a projector and a 71 "LCD screen shine here. Strikingly, only two plasma screens and projector are turned on.

Cause: The power supply is a little less recent engineering feat. Technicians rush to the factory and within no time all the plasma screens in operation. For security, the 71 "screen remains because of the energy consumption.

The power that it left off know
To our surprise, there is already a Dutch Cow Power to be invaded to install. Clients on Playstations Unfortunately, he has had to pay for it with his life and his skin is shown as a warning to others.

Asus Transformer Book: The long-awaited tablet Zenbook

Introduction

Asus has in recent years made ​​a name with its Transformer series of Android tablets with keyboard on one side and its Zenbook-ultrabooks on the other side. This company seems to have made ​​a successful transition from its Eee PC netbooks for affordable tablets while the ever so popular high-end segment is operated with expensive ultrabooks by manufacturers. The name Asus has built provides direct opportunities to come. Crossovers with all We saw earlier in the Transformer all-in-one and now the Transformer Book.

The Transformer Book has a for technology products, long history. The launch took no less than a year ago  place , then we saw him in September at the IFA in Berlin and then one more time  at CES in Las Vegas. Now the laptop-cum-tablet finally available. We looked at whether the result outweighs the long wait.

Acer Aspire V3-772G-747a321.26TBDWakk

I have a history with this type of laptop. Already? Yeah, my first three copies were purchased at Cool Blue (good store, very good service, friendly, cooperative store staff), but they proved afterwards specimens from a bad batch they had all three problems of unexpected stroommonderbrekingen (for the whole story: AcerPower Issuel ). Bought my fourth copy at Informatique (also fine shop) and this one is not happy the problem. A comprehensive review of this laptop can be found at http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-V3-772G- 747A321-Notebook.93916.0.html I only had three criteria for my new laptop: - Full HD minimal, because I want to see a lot of information on the screen at once - at least 16GB of RAM for running multiple VMs - much disk space as you read: speed is less important to me, but it's good to know that this thing is really fast My experiences are definitely positive, except with the mousepad. Even in the most insensitive mode is that thing not to use. I ended up tapping off and now it works fine. I use always the mouse-buttons for tapping, but if you're so used to doing this with the path you have a challenge. , the casing / housing of the laptop is not the best you can get. Does so from the beginning careful with open / close and transport. I always transport that thing in my overstuffed backpack and did so to be sure a Hama protective cloth (Hama 39887) purchased to protect against breakage by keyboard. Screen I play no games, but turn there are several VMs simultaneously and therefore the laptop zeeeer quiet and not hot and the battery keeps much longer than necessary enough for my daily train trips. , the price is quite reasonable to mention in my opinion. considering the features