Windows Vista Update

Vista Gaming

by BenShami
(Minnesota)

Vista has issues with several games, but, to be fair, I should tell you what "Vista" my gaming issues stem from. My Machine is a home build; Core 2 Duo at 2.4 ghz, motherboard is a Intel D965 lt, I'm running 4 gig of 533mhz ddr2 dual channel on a 1066mhz fsb, video card is a xfx 7900 gs overclocked to 525mhz, monitor is a samsung 22" widescreen A panel, my operating system is Vista x64 Home Premium. Whenever I get a new operationg system I generally build a new machine. The new operating system will normally take new technology into consideration so I study and probe the windows information online, then I shop for the new product offering that best suites my needs and pocketbook.


Dark Star One will not play on my system, windows says it has an unsigned driver.

X3 Reunion will not play on my system, it may be an unsigned driver related issue.

Imperium Galactica 2 does not play on my system but I think that may be a video card issue, the setup calls for a very odd resolution.

On a much happier note Dosbox .72, a free dos emulator, and a front end loader called Dosshell from loonies software, also free for download run beautifully.

Why does this make me so pleased you ask, I love old dos games... they didnt have the graphics but the game consepts are as fresh as the day they were published, and with a dos emulator and frontloader most of the games play right off the hard drive. How many of these dos games will play on windows vista x64 with an emulator?.. not sure... I have 16 mounted and playable. I can play every Wing Commander game ever made.... do I like windows Vista as an operating system? It's a really good operating system for new hardware, would I put Vista x32 on my old single core P4 with hyperthreading? No.. that machine was built with xp in mind and will run the few games that Vista won't handle. What about online gaming? I currently have 3 online games running on windows Vista x64; World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, and Ulitma Online.

as a side note.. Vista x64 has a special place for most games in a separate file that also gives you game information and a readily identifiable game cover Icon.

With every new Operating system there is this learning curve...takes a few weeks to get the hang of it.. that's what you are hearing most times about Vista in the reviews...that and it has this annoying habit of asking you redundant questions. I was particularly annoyed when setting up Dosbox. There is a config file published under the dosbox Icon in the program files. Windows doesnt want me changing the program files unless I enter as the administrator. In xp I would just open the file, change the dos gaming spec to fit what ever game I wanted to run, and save the file over the top of the previous file. In Vista I have to right click the Icon and enter as the administrator in order to do the same thing... adding several steps of mondain work to the task. I put a disk in the disk drive and instead of getting and instant disk menu I get a dialog box that asks me if I want to allow the software I just put in my machine to run...under my breath, as I'm clicking the allow dialog box, I whisper "no... please don't run this, I just wanted to see this stupid dialog box just one more time... sorry to have bothered you.... NOT!!"

So there you have it... annoying?... Yes!!

Functional, goodlooking, powerful operating system that handles new technologies well?... Yes!!

will you loose a few games?... its possible...

then again you might find a few new ones...

goodluck, BenShami