MICROSOFT RELEASE
steve...@support.com
Microsoft Gets Serious About Fun in Windows "Chicago"; Announces New
Software, Support for Developers of Games for Windows
Redmond, Wash., April 26, 1994--Microsoft Corporation
announced its intention to make the Microsoft Windows operating system a
great environment for computer games. At the Computer Game Developers
Conference in Santa Clara this weekend, Microsoft announced it will
deliver a new software library and other tools to make it easier for
developers to create 32-bit games with fast graphics for existing and
future versions of Windows. A developer's handbook entitled "Writing
HOT Games for Microsoft Windows," the WinG software library, and
information about a CompuServe forum for developers were described
at the conference.
"Microsoft is committed to delivering top-notch multimedia
functionality in Windows," said Brad Chase, general manager of the
personal operating systems division at Microsoft, "and games are one of
the largest, most important categories of multimedia applications.
Because of the installed base of more than 40 million Windows-based
machines, the forthcoming 32-bit capabilities of Microsoft Windows
`Chicago,' and the games tools we announced this weekend, we believe the
Windows family of operating systems offers great opportunities for
games developers to grow their businesses."
The most welcome news Microsoft delivered to games developers is about
the tools for better graphics support for existing Windows systems.
Fast graphics are critical to dexterity-based computer games, and the
WinG library makes graphics speed and responsiveness dramatically better
than was previously possible with Windows and comparable to the MS-DOS
operating system. To demonstrate WinG's graphics performance, Microsoft
and Id Software, maker of the popular MS-DOS-based game Doom, showed a
prototype Windows-based version of Doom at the conference.
According to Jay Wilbur, business manager of Id Software, the process
of moving to Windows was easy. "John Carmack, the chief architect of
Doom, and others ported the core Doom game to Windows in about two days,
and boy, did it look good!" Wilbur said. "We plan to have a full
version for Windows ready for Christmas."
"The Windows-based PC is destined to become the primary information
and entertainment device in the home," said Ron Whittier, senior vice
president at Intel Corporation. "The WinG library will help make
Windows the premier platform for games."
New Capabilities for Games Coming in Windows "Chicago"
In addition to improved graphics speed, Windows offers compelling
advantagesto game developers today, such as device independence and
extended memorymanagement services. Microsoft Windows "Chicago," the
next major release of Microsoft Windows, will offer game developers even
more capabilities because of its 32-bit architecture.
According to Microsoft's Chase, the new WinG lets developers get
started today
on great, fast games for Windows "Chicago," while also taking advantage
of the
installed base of Windows and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 this year. He
added
that Microsoft expects some developers to be interested in going
directly to
Windows "Chicago" because it will enable them to create entirely new
types of
games. "For example, the extra performance of the 32-bit architecture
of Windows
`Chicago,' as well as multithreading, networking and built-in support
for
high-performance digital video, could add up to some dazzling
multiplayer
games," said Chase.
"WinG performance, plus new features in Windows `Chicago,' make
Windows a
great computer-game environment," said David Stafford, president of
Cinematronics.
Developer Support Scheduled in May
Microsoft plans to deliver three tools to get developers started
creating
games for Windows:
A CompuServe forum for game developers to exchange ideas and ask
questions.
Copies of the "Writing HOT Games for Microsoft Windows" handbook,
described
below, can be downloaded from the forum today. To access the forum, type
GO
WINMM.
The WinG library, which provides a portion of the fast graphics
support of
Windows "Chicago" under Windows 3.1. Game developers who use these
libraries
and the Win32 API set will be able to create fast 32-bit, 256- color
games that
are compatible with both current and future releases of Windows. A
beta release
of the library is scheduled to be available on CompuServe by the end of
May.
"Writing HOT Games for Microsoft Windows," a handbook that includes
technical
information and advice for game developers.
"WinG and the forum are just the first step," said Chase. "We are
looking
forward to a continuous dialogue with game developers that will help us
make
Windows the platform developers want for great computer games."
More information about Microsoft's game efforts can be obtained by
logging onto the CompuServe forum or sending e-mail to
mmd...@microsoft.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software
for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and
services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission
of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of
the full power of personal computing every day.
Notes to Editors:
Microsoft, MS-DOS and Win32 are registered trademarks and Windows is a
trademark of Microsoft Corporation. CompuServe is a registered
trademark of CompuServe, Inc.
Tom Glaess
>
>Microsoft Gets Serious About Fun in Windows "Chicago"; Announces New
>Software, Support for Developers of Games for Windows
>
> Redmond, Wash., April 26, 1994--Microsoft Corporation
>announced its intention to make the Microsoft Windows operating system a
>great environment for computer games. At the Computer Game Developers
>
My question for Microsoft is, what kind of machine (processor and graphics)
is needed for REAL games in Windows? Games like X-wing and Ultima Underworld
run fine on my 386, but there would be now way they'd work in Windows! Even
if Chicago lives up to all its hype, there is now way it will replace the
performance of DOS on low end machines.
Tell you what Micro$oft, you buy me a Pentium, and I'll buy your new operating
system and do everything I can do with DOS on it.
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Tom Glaess ______________|_( )_|______________
gla...@fsl.noaa.gov o +|+ [ ( o ) ] +|+ o
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