enelson125
Limp Gawd
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2004
- Messages
- 485
I'm not sure if this is the best place for this rant, but since it is about my frustrations with Windows and being a gamer this seemed a good place.
Basically it just pisses me off that in order to be a gamer you are pigeon-holed into using Windows. And don't give me any crap about using Cedega or Wine, because in truth to play the latest games you must be using Windows.
In the beginning I really liked Windows. Our first computer was a Micron PC with a Pentium running Windows 3.11. Then I moved onto an HP Pavilion with Windows 98. That was a big jump. Then I moved to Windows 2000, another huge jump and I loved it. Then Windows XP, it seemed nice at first and did for a while, but now in it's current state it is a big bloated patched to hell mess.
I was excited about Vista when I had first heard about it (back when it was still known as Longhorn). But now Microsoft has really lowered my expectations but cutting many key features and having delay after delay. By the looks of it we are all going to be disappointed, and the biggest feature of all is going to be the Aero Interface? Lame. Okay so they'll have some security updates and a really annoying security pop-up to go along with it.
Now here's the kicker, DirectX 10. Given I do think it does sound promising, enabling better graphics and other gaming goodies. But the fact that I am going to have to use an OS that I do not like really pisses me off. So far I've only seen one DX10 game that warrants interest, and that is Crysis. I can't believe the best thing that Microsoft can offer up itself is Halo 2. I'm not the biggest fan of the series, but the first one did have a fairly interesting story. I have played the second on the XBOX and I can't say I like it at all. The story is garbage and the best excuse for it being better is that you can dual-wield weapons and it has slightly better textures. Come on Microsoft you can do better than this port of a mediocre, extremely overhyped 2-year old game. Or maybe I have too much faith in Microsoft. I would not count Flight Simulator X as a true game, it is like its name says a simulation. It is not fun for me after five minutes.
Lately I have started using Linux and I have really been enjoying it. It may be a bit rough around the edges, but it is charming in the fact that it can do almost everything a Windows machine can, just for free. Well, except for gaming. Gaming is limited mainly to few simple games and the sparse retail titles that include linux binaries (read: Unreal Tournament, Quake 4, Doom 3). Wine and Cedega are also options, although it's really hit or miss with these programs.
As much as I like Linux I will definitely admit it has lots of room for improvement in gaming. DirectX, as many good games as it is a part of, serves as a method for Microsoft to keep gamers from switching to other operating systems (maybe unintentionally). So basically I'm saying Linux needs to pick up its gaming front and find a way to attract gamers. I don't think that there's any way that Microsoft will ever open-source DirectX so we may just be stuck.
As far as Apple goes I think the first step for them would be to allow OSX to run on any x86 hardware. But I know that selling their hardware is a big part of their business and this may not be a viable option, but I'm sure it would attract a number of users to consider switching (myself included). Outside of that Apple also needs to get more games, perhaps even exclusive ones released for OSX. At least they have lots of games being ported over these days, but usually these games are ported over a lot later than when the games are originally released for Windows.
So there's my rant. Basically I'm sick of Windows and I would like to consider the possibility of switching over to Linux or OSX, but I am stuck with Windows because of DirectX and the lack of gaming support from Linux and Apple. To be totally honest I would be completely happy if Vista ended up being a very good product, but it looks like this will not be the case.
Basically it just pisses me off that in order to be a gamer you are pigeon-holed into using Windows. And don't give me any crap about using Cedega or Wine, because in truth to play the latest games you must be using Windows.
In the beginning I really liked Windows. Our first computer was a Micron PC with a Pentium running Windows 3.11. Then I moved onto an HP Pavilion with Windows 98. That was a big jump. Then I moved to Windows 2000, another huge jump and I loved it. Then Windows XP, it seemed nice at first and did for a while, but now in it's current state it is a big bloated patched to hell mess.
I was excited about Vista when I had first heard about it (back when it was still known as Longhorn). But now Microsoft has really lowered my expectations but cutting many key features and having delay after delay. By the looks of it we are all going to be disappointed, and the biggest feature of all is going to be the Aero Interface? Lame. Okay so they'll have some security updates and a really annoying security pop-up to go along with it.
Now here's the kicker, DirectX 10. Given I do think it does sound promising, enabling better graphics and other gaming goodies. But the fact that I am going to have to use an OS that I do not like really pisses me off. So far I've only seen one DX10 game that warrants interest, and that is Crysis. I can't believe the best thing that Microsoft can offer up itself is Halo 2. I'm not the biggest fan of the series, but the first one did have a fairly interesting story. I have played the second on the XBOX and I can't say I like it at all. The story is garbage and the best excuse for it being better is that you can dual-wield weapons and it has slightly better textures. Come on Microsoft you can do better than this port of a mediocre, extremely overhyped 2-year old game. Or maybe I have too much faith in Microsoft. I would not count Flight Simulator X as a true game, it is like its name says a simulation. It is not fun for me after five minutes.
Lately I have started using Linux and I have really been enjoying it. It may be a bit rough around the edges, but it is charming in the fact that it can do almost everything a Windows machine can, just for free. Well, except for gaming. Gaming is limited mainly to few simple games and the sparse retail titles that include linux binaries (read: Unreal Tournament, Quake 4, Doom 3). Wine and Cedega are also options, although it's really hit or miss with these programs.
As much as I like Linux I will definitely admit it has lots of room for improvement in gaming. DirectX, as many good games as it is a part of, serves as a method for Microsoft to keep gamers from switching to other operating systems (maybe unintentionally). So basically I'm saying Linux needs to pick up its gaming front and find a way to attract gamers. I don't think that there's any way that Microsoft will ever open-source DirectX so we may just be stuck.
As far as Apple goes I think the first step for them would be to allow OSX to run on any x86 hardware. But I know that selling their hardware is a big part of their business and this may not be a viable option, but I'm sure it would attract a number of users to consider switching (myself included). Outside of that Apple also needs to get more games, perhaps even exclusive ones released for OSX. At least they have lots of games being ported over these days, but usually these games are ported over a lot later than when the games are originally released for Windows.
So there's my rant. Basically I'm sick of Windows and I would like to consider the possibility of switching over to Linux or OSX, but I am stuck with Windows because of DirectX and the lack of gaming support from Linux and Apple. To be totally honest I would be completely happy if Vista ended up being a very good product, but it looks like this will not be the case.