You already need a PC for word processing, email, IM, and Web surfing, right? Upgrading that machine with a decent processor and good video card will cost as much as buying a console.

Which component is more important, the CPU or the video card?

You can’t really say that one is more important than the other because you need quality parts in both areas to get acceptable game performance. Pairing a great CPU with a lousy video card will result in terrible frame rates, as will pairing a lousy CPU with a great video card. Many Web sites, including GameSpot, publish video card and CPU game-performance benchmarks. Use the benchmark results to determine which components help game performance the most.

How do I get DirectX 9 or DirectX 10?

DirectX 9 is built into Windows XP, and DirectX 10 comes with Windows Vista. DirectX 10 is backward compatible with all earlier versions of DirectX. You might need to update your DirectX files from time to time, but downloads are free from Microsoft.com and are often included with new game installations.

Having a Windows OS with the appropriate DirectX level isn’t enough–you will also need a DirectX 9- or DirectX 10-compatible video card. GeForce 6 series, ATI Radeon X1K series, and later cards all support the latest version of DirectX 9 (9.0c). GeForce 8 series, ATI Radeon HD 2000 series, and later cards support DirectX 10.

Will a DirectX 10 video card work in Windows XP? The Negotiator move

Yes, your DirectX 10 card is compatible with all the previous versions of DirectX. Your DirectX 10 card will work in Windows XP with all of your DX9 and older games.

Do I need to upgrade to Windows Vista to play all the latest PC games?

No, not yet. The PC game developers understand that most people are still running Windows XP with DirectX 9 video cards. We’d guess that Windows Vista won’t become a mandatory upgrade for at least two or three more years.

Can I play PC games on a Mac?

PC gaming generally refers to gaming on the Windows platform. Yes, Mac games exist, but there aren’t many of them. The majority of PC games are compatible only with the latest Windows operating systems. The good news is that you can install Windows on newer Intel-powered Macs if

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you have boot camp installed. Keep in mind that your Mac will also need a decent video card (Intel integrated graphics don’t count).

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Are “Games for Windows” games the only ones I can play on my Windows PC?

Games for Windows is a program developed by Microsoft to help make PC gaming easier for consumers. Its goal is to make games more recognizable in retail stores and to ensure that games meet certain standards, such as widescreen resolution and gamepad support. Many popular PC games participate in the Games for Windows program, but there are also many PC games, such as The Orange Box and World of Warcraft, that aren’t part of the program.

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Source [ GameSpot ]

Today’s laptop processors are just as powerful as desktop versions. Some PC enthusiasts have even taken to using mobile CPUs in their desktop systems because they use less power and, in some cases, offer a decent amount of overclocking headroom. Graphics manufacturers Nvidia and ATI have reduced the amount of time it takes to bring new desktop GPU technology to laptops.

It’s common to see entry-level and midrange performance-level GPUs come to laptops only months after debuting on the desktop. However, portables generally have very few high-end GPU options compared to what’s available for the desktops. It’s more difficult to outfit a laptop with a performance GPU because mobile system designs have strict space, power, and thermal budgets that just can’t support a monster GPU.

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The graphics problem illustrates just one of the compromises facing laptop manufacturers, who need to please customers that demand both performance and portability. Powerful CPUs and powerful video cards require tons of power and a lot of cooling. If you want a highly portable, thin, and lightweight laptop, be prepared to give some ground on the CPU and graphics. And if you’re looking for the best performance possible, understand that your only options might be “desktop replacement” laptops that weigh over 13 pounds and give you just over half an hour of battery life.

Once you get your laptop, you’re going need a couple of accessories to make it ready for gaming. The one accessory we absolutely recommend is a USB mouse. You can play games using the touchpad, but it’ll be as much fun as eating soup with a fork. We also recommend looking into a few optional accessories, such as a full-size keyboard and a headset, to add a little comfort to the laptop-gaming experience. Peripheral manufacturers also make laptop stands that can hold the system up to keep the screen at eye level. You can consider hooking the system up to a larger widescreen LCD monitor when you’re gaming at home, but note that midrange video cards might have difficulty driving an external monitor at high resolutions.

Source [ GameSpot ]

If you’re in the market for a gaming PC, the most important hardware components to consider are the video card, the processor, and the system memory. The video card plays the biggest role in how your games look and how well they run. You’ll also need a decent processor, and be sure to get at least 1GB of system memory, 2GB or more for optimal performance.

Yes, the PC is more expensive than a game console, and configuring a machine requires an alarming amount of homework. At the same time, if you’re going to get a PC for Web browsing, word processing, and basic multimedia functionality, then you might as well get one that can play games, too.

PC Video Cards

Find out what you need to know about video cards before buying a new PC or upgrading an existing system.

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PC Processors

You need a good processor to go alongside that video card. Find out about current processor trends and how they affect game performance.

PC Laptops

You won’t be able to find a laptop that can outperform a fully loaded desktop, but you’ll find plenty that can compete with a midrange system and offer a lot more versatility.

PC FAQ

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PC gaming can be confusing for beginners. Do you need Windows Vista? Can I play games on a Mac? Find out in our FAQ.

Source [ GameSpot ]

Processor manufacturers Intel and AMD have recently switched from producing single-core processors to multicore processors, and we’re still waiting for the software to catch up. The majority of the PC systems out there are still single-core; it’ll take a few years before the majority of the installation base becomes multicore.

Upgrading your CPU will improve game performance as well as overall system performance.

Processors for the most part aren’t the bottleneck in PC game performance. You’ll find that if you already have a processor that offers good performance, upgrading to a CPU with higher clock speeds or additional processing cores won’t improve game performance as much as upgrading your video card.

Cursed video Million Dollar Baby full movie However, that doesn’t mean you can go cheap on the CPU. You still need to have a good processor that’s powerful enough to run the game. Upgrading from an Intel Pentium 4 to an AMD Phenom or an Intel Core 2 processor will certainly increase frame-rate performance. You don’t have to get the top-of-the-line $1,000 CPU if you’re upgrading your processor or configuring a new system. A $200-$300 processor will perform almost as well in gaming applications.

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Game system requirements will specify baseline CPU speeds and model types.

The processor will become more important in the future when game developers start exploiting multicore processors. Those changes will definitely come because all the major gaming platforms have switched to multicore. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles both use multicore processors, and recent product releases from Intel and AMD indicate that PC processors are going to improve through additional cores rather than increasing clock speeds on a single core.

We can’t forget that processors are useful for other applications besides gaming. Faster processors can accelerate computationally intensive tasks such as video encoding, and can improve the overall system feel by speeding up boot times and reducing how long we have to wait for applications to launch. Having multiple cores also increases system resources to improve multitasking performance.

Source [ GameSpot ]

The video card you have in your system will determine what games you can play, how good they’ll look, and how well they’ll run. We won’t call out specific video cards to buy in this section because cards stay relevant only for a year or so before they’re replaced by newer models. Instead, we’ll talk about how the video card can affect the quality of your gameplay experience and give you some tips on understanding game system requirements.

You can expect to upgrade your video card every two or three years to keep up performance levels and to maintain support for all the latest graphics-quality advancements. New games tend to take advantage of the features and extra processing power introduced by the latest video cards. Older cards that aren’t as powerful and have fewer features won’t perform as well or, in the case of extremely old cards, won’t even work with some new games. For example, many of today’s games now require video cards compatible with DirectX 9 or higher.

Choose a powerful video card to get the best graphics experience.

Having a powerful video card lets you increase screen resolution and graphics-quality settings while still maintaining playable frame rates (how quickly the game updates onscreen). Faster frame rates help games run smoothly, without any choppiness. Players often have to compromise on graphics quality with less-powerful video cards. You’ll have to reduce screen resolutions and disable some graphics effects to keep frame rates at an acceptable level on weaker video cards.

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Games offer video card guidelines in their minimum and recommended system specifications. These guidelines can specify video memory sizes, DirectX compatibility levels, and even GPU type. The video card requirements can vary widely from game to game, given that some games can be much more graphically demanding than others.

Always check the system requirements to make sure the game will work with your PC.

In general, you can expect video cards that barely meet the minimum specifications to run games at the lowest graphical settings, whereas cards that meet baseline specifications are good for medium graphics-quality settings. You’ll need a much more powerful card if you’re the type of person that plays on a big widescreen display with the highest graphics settings.

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All the King’s Men release “Since open beta began in December, the population of Taborea has soared and we have worked closely with the community to fine tune the Runes of Magic experience,” said Daniel Ullrich, director of product management at Frogster. “The launch is only the next milestone in delivering the full Runes of Magic experience as we are already planning and creating the next release of new content for the game.”

Runes of Magic started the open beta with a localized English and German version in the middle of December 2008. All interested players can now download the online-role playing game and enter into the fantasy world after creating an account for free on www.runesofmagic.com.

Runes of Magic went into open beta with English and German versions in mid-December 2008. Anyone interested can now download the game and enter the world after creating an account for free at: www.runesofmagic.com.

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About Runes of Magic
Runes of Magic is the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) that is redefining the standard for free-to-play titles. With an exciting and engaging story, more than 1,000 quests at launch and 30 character class combinations, Runes of Magic is the most immersive, content-rich free-to-play MMO game ever created. More than 450,000 people have already signed up and entered the world with hundreds of thousands more expected as word of the game’s features and community spread each day. Already a winner of multiple awards for its content and overall gameplay, Runes of Magic is expected to be a major international hit in 2009 and beyond. For more information, please visit: www.runesofmagic.com

Runes of Magic features

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• Free-to-play: no monthly fees, free download
• Extensive dual class system (six primary and secondary classes)
• Versatile spell- and attack-combinations
• Enthralling background story
• More than 1,000 quests and quest series on launch
• No zone boundaries thanks to seamless architecture
• Dungeons: Instanced and tile based as well as persistent
• Individually developable skills and spells
• Armor sets with special bonuses
• Dynamic item system with hundreds of runes for upgrading
• Optional PvP system with arena battles and guild wars
• Ranking system with player-ranking lists
• Multitude of unique mounts
• Epic crafting system with the chance to improve existing items
• Personalization of player houses through individual furnishing
• Reputation system
• Customizable user interface with the option to use Add-Ons
• Map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily
• In-game auction houses for trading items
• Teleport-Runes for instant travel
• Mouse and keyboard controls for movement
• Regular updates with new content
• Cross-server fights in three-server-battle in development
• Guild houses in special zones in development

About Runewaker Entertainment Ltd.
Runewaker Entertainment was founded in August of 2004, with the headquarters located in Taichung, Taiwan. The founding members are all very experienced in the field and decided to come together to pursue their own dream. Currently Runewaker employs over 40 highly skilled programmers, designers and artists and is constantly expanding. Runewaker specializes in making massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). The company has built their own engine from scratch that rivals some of the best that is available out on the market. Their first product, Radiant Arcana (Runes of Magic), is already completed and currently in Open Beta Phase in China. Runewaker is currently producing more content for Runes of Magic. Webpage: http://www.runewaker.com/

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Frogster America, Inc., was founded in 2008 to bring high-quality online games to the North American market. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Frogster Interactive Pictures AG, a Berlin based listed publisher of online computer games, Frogster America is located in San Francisco, and focused on the operation and marketing of MMO games that appeal to a global audience. With Runes of Magic, its first release coming in Q1 2009, the company is well positioned for success with a rapidly growing community and strong initial title on which to establish its market presence.

Source [GameSpy]

The America’s Army PC game received awards in the following categories:

Largest Virtual Army
In January 2007, America’s Army recruited its 8 millionth registered user; at the same time, the actual U.S. Army comprised just 519,472 Soldiers. This makes the virtual America’s Army 15 times larger than the real thing! Today the game has over 9.7 million registered users.

Most Downloaded War Video Game
According to official estimates, America’s Army, in all its various iterations, has been downloaded 42,611,601 times. It is also the most downloaded game from Fileplanet.com, itself one of the most popular gaming download sites on the internet. The most recent version of the game was downloaded almost 2.4 million times between January and July 2008.

Most Hours Spent Playing a Free Online Shooter
According to the U.S. Army, as of August 2008, gamers have spent 230,918,365 hours playing the PC version of America’s Army. Gamers from over 60 countries have played America’s Army since it was launched in 2002.

Earliest Military Website to Support a Video Game
The website americasarmy.com is the first military website to support a video game series. America’s Army is also the first multiplatform game to receive a government-licensed trademark.

Largest Travelling Game Simulator
The Virtual Army Experience (VAE) is a highly modified version of America’s Army that includes six life-size Humvees surrounded by multiple flat screens, with room for up to 50 participants. Mounted in the vehicles are modified light-gun weapons. The teams inside each vehicle, which shakes in reaction to nearby explosions, are tasked to drive supplies to a beleaguered group of aid workers in dangerous territory. The VAE takes up 1,811 m2 (19,500 square feet).

The U.S Army recently announced the upcoming America’s Army 3 game where every detail counts. America’s Army 3 is the only free action game that delivers an authentic and entertaining Army experience by reflecting the training, technology, actions and career advancement of a Soldier within a unique exciting game experience. AA3, which will be rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), will be released in 2009. As with previous versions of America’s Army, AA3 will be frequently updated to include new features and missions and to highlight new technologies being incorporated in today’s Army. Using the state-of-the-art Unreal Engine 3, America’s Army game developers brought the most popular trademark gameplay features from the previous versions to an all new level in AA3. Highlights include authentic weapons and technologies, realistic training and exciting gameplay missions. AA3 provides players new insights into the Army and Soldiering while making the game easier to play, easier to install and easier to download.

The first edition of Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition was published in February 2008, and received critical accolade from gaming industry reviewers. PC World said: “if you truly want to prove your mettle in the gaming arena… your name in the Guinness World Records Gamer’s edition is the only way to go about it,” while critics from Popular Science praised: “If you care about gaming, something here is going to fascinate you.” The latest book is currently available everywhere books are sold.

About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada’s largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.

About America’s Army
The Army creates and distributes America’s Army so that young Americans can virtually explore Soldiering in the U.S. Army like Soldiers experience it – as individuals and as members of teams. Through the Game’s virtual experiences, America’s Army players can explore the Army from basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and medic training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas to operations in defense of freedom. Along the way, they can join elite Army units and experience the strength of Army teamwork, values and technology within an engaging environment. The game has become an online phenomenon, consistently ranking among the most popular PC action games played online. The games are rated T for Teen and can be downloaded free from various partners listed on the www.americasarmy.com site. They are also distributed at local Army Recruiting stations, ROTC Detachments and Army events.

In the America’s Army game, players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and grow in experience as they navigate challenges in team-based, multiplayer, force-on-force operations. In the game, as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires teamwork and adherence to the Army’s core values. Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage and makes them integral to success in America’s Army.

The Army launched America’s Army in July of 2002, and has released major updates to the game every few months. These releases feature new technologies, missions, Army units and occupations. In keeping with the dynamic nature of Soldiering, the America’s Army game will continue to expand and will allow players to explore the Army of today, tomorrow and the future. An entirely new version of the game, America’s Army 3, will be released in 2009.

Source [GameSpy]

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“This is a critical milestone for our team and an opportunity to showcase updated content and features,” said Colin Dwan, project manager for Fallen Earth. “We are excited to see how players progress through all three sectors without any interference, and anxious to see where we can improve the overall experience.”

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The Fallen Earth team has been working very hard to improve and polish all aspects of the game. Recent updates include the creation of a comprehensive user tutorial and continued enhancements to balance the in-game crafting system. With the move to closed beta, players will have the opportunity to piece together aspects of the storyline, play freely through all three sectors, and gain a better understanding of how the game will look and feel at launch. Closed beta testing also allows the development team to better observe overall game play, perform system stress tests, and ultimately perfect the Fallen Earth game experience.

Set in the Grand Canyon in 2156 after a lethal disease destroyed most of mankind, the game features a classless advancement system, six factions and a unique crafting feature in which players can make 95 percent of game items. With 70 towns, real-time settings and interesting character modifications, all taking place within a post-Apocalyptic plot, Fallen Earth provides the ultimate player experience.

Fallen Earth will be released in Q2 2009. An exact launch date is forthcoming.

About Fallen Earth, LLC
Based in Cary, NC, Fallen Earth, LLCis the creator of the self-titled game Fallen Earth. Fallen Earth is a massively multiplayer online game mixing first-person shooter style action with traditional role-playing game design. Set near the Grand Canyon in 2156 after a deadly plague wiped out most of humanity, the game features six factions, a classless advancement system and a unique crafting feature in which players can make 95 percent of game items. With approximately 70 towns, real-time settings and interesting character modifications—woven together in a post-Apocalyptic plot—Fallen Earth provides the ultimate player versus player and player versus environment experiences.

Source [GameSpy]

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Wind Slayer offers a rich role-playing experience in which players create and customize a character, conquer hundreds of quests and engage in frenetic Player vs. Player (PvP) battles with up to 20 players at a time. Set on the beautiful continent of Beuritania, Wind Slayer challenges players to defeat monsters and bosses as they gain skills, explore the game’s beautiful and mysterious locales and follow the path of one of six diverse and powerful classes.

- February 4-10 “Second Chance Event”: Play and reach Level 10 by February 10th and receive a rare Ancient Necklace.

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With the addition of Wind Slayer, Outspark now offers its online community the opportunity to engage in five immersive multiplayer games including the hit titles Fiesta and Secret of the Solstice. The Outspark virtual playground also features a social networking portal where community members can create free profiles, chat with their friends, create and share content and even give one another in-game items. Since Outspark’s launch in late 2007, the community has grown to more than 3.7 million users.

Source [GameSpy]

The addition of these two leading organizations significantly broadens participation in the PCGA by the publisher and educational stakeholder communities and will provide the PCGA with much greater insight into their PC gaming issues and requirements.

“Capcom believes strongly in the value and strength of the PC gaming market as a global platform for our entertainment brands,” said Christian Svensson, vice president, business development and strategic planning. “Our participation in the PCGA’s activities over the past year has greatly improved our understanding of the market, provided us great business opportunities and allowed us to participate in improving the field of PC gaming. We’re pleased to have a representative on the board in order to directly help shape the future of the PC gaming environment.”

“In order to fulfill our mission of providing the future professionals and leaders of the video game industry, we need to be engaged in all aspects of the value chain,” said Dr. Peter Raad, PCGA board member and executive director of The Guildhall at SMU. “We believe the work of the PCGA is vitally needed to ensure that the PC remains a viable platform of choice for gamers worldwide.”

Just last month, the PCGA unveiled a new membership structure fine-tuned to encourage broad industry participation. Member companies now enjoy access to a wealth of insight into PC Gaming, including the annual Horizons report, an in-depth financial analysis of the PC gaming industry worldwide. Promoter members can track progress and influence the work of the PCGA to develop a set of minimum hardware and software guidelines to improve consumer experiences, combat piracy, publish primary research, and advance the PC gaming ecosystem as a whole. While Contributor members collectively act as an advisory council to the alliance leadership.

“Since the PCGA was formed, the organization and its member companies have spread the word that PC gaming is a thriving $54 billion a year industry,” said PCGA president Randy Stude. “With the recent addition of Sony DADC and Howie’s Game Shack to our membership roll, we are already seeing proof that our new structure will provide the right mix of benefits for a greater number of industry players, while also better serving our current members and the overall PC gaming community.”

To find more information on joining the PCGA and its role as the voice of the PC gaming industry, visit www.pcgamingalliance.org.

About the PCGA
The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to drive worldwide growth of PC gaming. The PCGA provides an open forum where companies can cooperate to develop and promote solutions that drive the PC gaming industry forward. The PCGA encourages the exchange of information and views to promote PC gaming, and shares promotional activity designed to grow the PC gaming industry.

About Capcom
Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Devil May Cry. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Korea, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com.

About The Guildhall at SMU
The Guildhall at Southern Methodist University is the premier graduate video game education program in the US. Many of the school’s founders are industry icons, and classes are taught by industry veterans. In five years, the program has graduated over 250 students and alums have worked at more than 80 video game studios around the world, with several graduates now serving in leadership positions. SMU offers both a Master’s degree and a graduate Professional Certificate of Interactive Technology in Digital Game Development, with specializations in art creation, level design, and software development.

Source [GameSpy]