As all of you might know computer games are more or less at the trailing edge of the software world at the moment. In most stores they are surrounded by their console rivals, huddled together out of the way of the more numerous items, and often disregarded. A sad state of affairs, it's true, for there are still many great titles that come out for the PC that can provide just a must adventure and entertainment as the creations of Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo can manage.
Microsfoft has apparently taken note of this apparent shunning of the PC game and has vowed to do something about it. What is that, you ask? Well..it's actually rather simple. Henry Ford didn't make the car; he just made the car more available to everyone. Microsoft is taking a page from his book by setting out to make Windows-based games more uniform in their production and will be provided the same shelf space that console games are allowed. In addition to that there would be new standards that all PC games would be held to such as a more easy set up program, widscreen support, and tools for parents to use to screen all their kids from the stuff they don't want them to see. Ahhh..the feeling of security.
Microsoft has promised that Windows Vista, the new operating system that is being put together even as we speak, will have the purpose of taking at least some of the hassle out of PC gaming. How this will be accomplished Microsoft hasn't admitted to yet, but it's nice to see that Microsoft does plan on following through with the promises it made at E3. For now, though, we'll just have to wait and see how these new changes that Microsoft is promising will effect the world of computer gaming..for better, for worse, or even not at all.
Nick McCavitt at nmccavitt@mygamer.com