Get real

DirectX is the coding that makes it easy for game programmers to code games that run on Windows. It’s been with us since way back when. But the DirectX that ships with Windows Vista is a substantial rework of this technology. And it brings gamers a lot more visual bang for their buck. It’s called DirectX 10. Look at it as a computer upgrade without the need to break out all those little screwdrivers that keep falling on the floor.

The visual beauty rendered on your screen is a function of your computer’s processing power. In the past, it was almost exclusively a function of the age and megabyte capacity of your graphics card (general rule: the older the card, the poorer the performance). DirectX 10 and Windows Vista have changed all that.

With DirectX 10, there is more efficient communication between the graphics card and the central processing unit (CPU). So the CPU can handle more film-like graphics effects without doing more work. This means noticeably better computer performance while you play—as well as larger armies, more realistic reflections on glass and water, and thicker forests.

Note

Although DirectX 10 does increase computer performance, it is not a cure-all for a computer that's grown long in the tooth. There are only certain graphics cards that can run DirectX 10. Make sure that you check before you buy a new card.

Halo 2 was a beautiful game in its time

The previous Halo 2 illustration isn’t bad. In fact, there was a time when Halo 2 visuals were considered bleeding-edge art. But not anymore. Although nice, they lack a certain amount of, well…detail. Consider the next illustration.

Faces are so lifelike, they appear to be human from Crysis

The faces in the previous illustration are from Crysis, a stunningly great first-person shooter in which humans fight to save Earth from an alien invasion in 2019. The skin has a rich texture. You can actually see indentations, pores, moles—all of the imperfections—that make up a human being.

It’s this type of detail in DirectX 10 games that makes you feel immersed in another world when you play. The experience takes us out of our day-to-day trials and tribulations and thrusts us into a world where we don’t worry about the weeds in the front yard, but, rather, if the world will have any front yards left when the aliens are through with us. Great stuff.

Churchyard battle scene from Company of Heroes. Company of Heroes image captured on NVIDIA GPU, provided by THQ Inc.

In addition to the increased detail, DirectX 10 also produces smoother motion in our motion-intensive games. Simply put, DirectX 10 games are not only prettier, but they run at more frames per second (FPS) than their DirectX 9 counterparts. More frames per second make animations smoother, so you can watch the waves roll while you soar over water; or aim your rifle, flamer, pulse laser (or what have you) with more realistic motion when you’re trying to bring down the bad guys.

More realistic reflections on water from Flight Simulator X

Finally, DirectX 10 enables game engines to dynamically change the appearance of a location over time. For example, moss can grow on the wall of a medieval cathedral as the years pass during a role-playing game. In the old days, the cathedral wall would need to be redrawn, but DirectX 10 can simulate the natural growth. There's the mausoleum entrance surrounded by vegetation that grows as time passes. And the graveyard that becomes even more immersive as the grass lengthens and the environment subtly changes. It’s this type of immersion that gamers get with DirectX 10 graphics.

There are plenty of DirectX 10 titles on gaming store shelves already. From the breathtaking heights of Flight Simulator X through the innovative and gorgeous Crysis, there is much to choose from. That’s the good news. The even better news is that the list of DirectX 10 games is getting longer and better.

Folks who like squad-based, realistic military shooters will like Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway. The added graphic panache supplied by DirectX 10 creates an immersive backdrop for the story-driven plot. Far Cry was a huge hit. The DirectX 10 title Far Cry 2 should make an even bigger splash when it debuts in late 2008.

Crysis has been hailed as one of the greatest shooters of all time. Its high-end graphics, genre-bending play, and challenging artificial intelligence have garnered critical acclaim and huge sales. The sequel, Crysis Warhead, is scheduled for release in late 2008. Both of these games are DirectX 10 enabled.

The list goes on and on. There’s Dragon Age (which has been called the spiritual successor of Baldur’s Gate), Alan Wake, and Warhound, a non-linear, first-person shooter. You can see what titles are on their way at the Games for Windows website.

The game names don’t matter, really. What’s important to remember is that the big games of the coming year demand DirectX 10 to power their high-end graphics and action-packed play. It’s truly the wave of the future.

Beach landing scene from Supreme Commander. Supreme Commander image captured on NVIDIA GPU, provided by THQ Inc.

There’s a new wind blowing, or perhaps an old wind carrying a new scent. Whatever it is, computer gaming is back with triple-A titles that feature great game design and groundbreaking graphics. That’s the beauty of DirectX 10. And it’s way better than any spreadsheet.