Windows gaming hardware ?

[congo]

Could someone please tell me what Windows gaming hardware is please?

It seems Microsoft, in their exuhuberant press release about the upcoming FSX simulator, are taking credit for hardware developement.

From the press release:

" We take full advantage of Windows Vista and the latest Windows gaming hardware to create a beautifully rich and immersive 3D world for aviation fans, young and old, to explore and experience."

and this.....

"While Flight Simulator X will not require Windows Vista, it will be optimized for the latest in Windows gaming hardware and fans will get the best experience by running on Windows Vista."

Are we going to see Microsoft video cards now are we? I think the reference to "Windows gaming hardware" is a bit tacky myself, but no big deal, I just hope the new sim is shaping up well. Go MS FS team!

[Weather_Man]

I think that's just referring to any game periphial that works with Windows, which is all of them.

[Gary R.]

It could also be refering to the more recent GPU's as well.  Face it, if you have a 7800 PCI-E you will dominate just about any game or sim.  Even the 6800 PCI-E is up to most demanding apps.  And also, realize what they might be getting at here.  They say while Vista won't be required FSX will be optimized to take advantage of the latest gaming hardware. What that could mean is this.  Optimized for Vista means if you are running Vista you also have a 64 bit processor.  64 bit processors inherintly run faster than 32 bit processors because they handle data a lot more efficiently.  Even fs9 could take advantage of that.  There are guys with 64 bit machines and late model PCI-E nvidias and ATI's pulling 50 plus FPS with settings high or maxed at the busiest airport areas and flying complex add-on aircraft.   That's why this summer I plan on stepping up to 64 bit.  It will do my fs9 good and FSX should I choose to buy it and I'll be ready for Vista after all the initial problems are worked out.  I waited on XP.  Service Pack 2 was already out by the time I upgraded to XP.

[GunnerMan]

Yeah I don't know what they are talking about on that. If thwey are going to start making gpus then cool, more competition lower prices. on the otherhand if they start making windows hardware could end up being like Mac. Stuck with crap.

64 bit only works with 64 bit applications. If its not coded for 64bit it wont do  a lick.

[richardd43]

MS has their own brand of joysticks. They are probably talking about the updated drivers for same.

[4_Series_Scania]

MS has their own brand of joysticks. They are probably talking about the updated drivers for same.

Iirc, Microsoft no longer manufacturer their own FS gaming hardware (damn shame!) so I doubt its that.

Its probably M$ speak for Graphics cards, sound cards & the like.

[congo]

I took it as a subtle claim that MS are responsible for current gaming hardware. The most dubious claim they could associate "Windows gaming hardware" with would be it's current ownership of DirectX, on which much gaming hardware relies.

What shocked me is that this MS marketing hype, through it's reference to Windows, is guardedly inferring that Microsoft is responsible for gaming hardware and associated technologies, which of course is not the case.

If I were a hardware developer, I would see this as MS taking credit for my work, though the wording is ambiguous enough to avoid any successful legal action in my opinion. Like I said above, a bit tacky on behalf of Microsoft or just a bad decision on the wording of the press release.

A truer statement might read like "Through our liason with hardware developers, FSX is best run on Windows......", ect.

[Woodlouse2002]

I think it's mearly M$ banter for "computer".

[ctjoyce]

Unless their talking about their joysticks. Which would be odd to brag about makeing special features for MS sticks in an MS game