Category Archives: Developer

What is DirectX ?

Find easy answers to your computer questions

microsoft directx logoDirectX

Easy Definition: Set of APIs designed for multimedia development

Detailed Definition: Set of APIs designed for software development requiring multimedia and gaming components; DirectX is considered a component of Windows OS

History:

In the eve of the release of Windows 95,  Super geeks Craig Eisler, Alex St. John, and Eric Engstrom were commissioned by Microsoft to build a set of API’s that would give Windows an edge in computer gaming. The result was DirectX.
Developer:  Microsoft Corporation

Where can I Download DirectX?

DirectX is now on its 11th version. The Windows PC can only take the ninth version, DirectX 9.0c.  Download this powerful and free tool, that lets you play games and use programs with all the power of hard core  graphics.

Download DirectX 9.0c Now

PC Games that Support DirectX

Aliens vs. Predator
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

Anno 2070
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

Batman: Arkham City
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

BattleForge
Updated to support DirectX 11

Battlefield 3
Only supports DirectX 10, 10.1 and 11.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

Blacklight: Retribution
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

Civilization V
Supports DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11

Crysis 2
Updated to support DirectX 11

Colin McRae: Dirt 2
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c and DirectX 11.

Dirt 3
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

Dirt: Showdown
Only supports DirectX 10, 10.1 and 11.

Dragon Age II
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode, DirectX 10 mode is accessed only by the renderer

Dungeons and Dragons Online
Game patch “Update 7″ added DirectX 11 support

Eve Online
Updated to support DirectX 11.

F1 2010
Updated Patch v1.01 to support DirectX 11

F1 2011
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

F.E.A.R. 3
DirectX 11 support( with antialiasing)

Hamilton’s Great Adventure
Only supports DirectX 10 and DirectX 11.

Homefront
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

King Arthur II
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

Lost Planet 2
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

L.A. Noire
DirectX 11 mode added in patch

Max Payne 3
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, DirectX 10.1 and DirectX 11.

Metro 2033
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

Need for Speed: The Run
Supports DirectX 10, 10.1 and 11

Nexuiz
Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

Oil Rush
Supports DirectX 10, DirectX 11

Red Faction: Armageddon
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

Support DirectX 11.

Saints Row: The Third
Supports DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11.

Sniper Elite V2
Only supports DirectX 10 and 11.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Supports DirectX 8, DirectX 9.0c, DirectX 10, DirectX 10.1 and DirectX 11.

Star Trek Online
Updated to support new DirectX API on January 5, 2012, Supports DirectX 9.0c, 10, 10.1, 11 and 11.1.

The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar
Game update” added DirectX 11 support.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Supports DirectX 11

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X 2
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

Total War: Shogun 2
Updated to support DirectX 10, 10.1, 11

Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai
Supports DirectX 10,10.1 and 11.

Wargame: European Escalation
Only Supports DirectX 9.0c mode and DirectX 11 mode.

World of Warcraft

Supports DirectX 11

Where can I find DirectX?

DirectX is prevalent throughout software and browsers. People most commonly associate as the component that they need to install before a program functions. Hard-core gamers know it as “the graphics” elixir. DirectX can be found in these programs and situations.

GAMES-  Any respectable PC game with decent graphics is bound to have DirectX components. You can bet your money on it

PROGRAMS-  Software that heavily relies on hardware-accelerated graphics or HD video or HD animation. A good example is Microsoft Mathematics.

Can I Find DirectX on my PC ?

Yes! You can. Hit the WINDOWS KEY + R on your keyboard. Type “dixdiag” on the box, as shown below Now click OK..image

This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, which will tell you the version of DirectX you are running..

How Does it Work?

DirectX works a functional harmony of various components working together to accomplish media and graphics capability for games and software.

DirectDraw ( draws  2D Graphics )

DirectX Media Objects ( web animation and media streaming and playback)

Direct3D ( draws 3D objects )

DXGI: for identifies adapters and Direct2D for 2D Graphics

DirectWrite ( handles Fonts )

DirectCompute ( handles GPU computing )

DirectInput ( handles keyboards, mice, joysticks, or game controllers.)

DirectSound3D ( handles the playback of 3D sounds.)

DirectSetup: ( installs all the components of DirectX )

Technologies Based on DirectX

Microsoft has based many tools and technologies  on DirectX technology, including the following:

  • XNA Framework: the famous gaming framework was built based on the components of DirectX
  • Windows Display Driver Model, which is exclusive to only Windows 7 and Vista, and powers the Windows Aero, was based on DirectX components

Microsoft Confirms Halo 4 for Holiday 2012

This just in. Microsoft has confirmed Halo 4 for Holiday 2012. The Windows maker revealed that the game is currently being developed in an internal,  in-house development studio, the famous 343 Industries. This marks the first official confirmation of what many people already knew.

A Halo 4 Trailer has already been released. The video sneak-peek features Cortana and Halo hero, Master Chief.

The game will be released this year in time for the Holidays! Mark your calendars, Halo fans! This game will be the biggest Halo epic yet!

Visual Studio 11 Beta to be unveiled on February 29

imageMicrosoft has confirmed the availability of Visual Studio 11 Beta for February 29, 2011. This brand new flavor of Visual Studio will feature a cleaner, chrome-less design that Microsoft claims is best for the developer. VS will also feature Developer Achievements, where developers will be able to earn achievements much like in gaming on the Xbox; Microsoft has also revamped the software performance-wise, killing the chrome off the installation process 

vsinstall          and adding more coding goodness as well as new templates to get devs started off quick. Visual Studio 11 is the tool for Windows 8 Development. If you are developer, you can use the Developer Preview of Visual Studio 11, running on Windows 8.

Image Credit: Microsoft