SAN JOSE, Calif., March 20, 2001 — This week at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2001, Microsoft Corp. will showcase the Microsoft® DirectX® API, its powerful game development application programming interface (API) for the Windows® operating system.
“DirectX gives developers the tools they desire to create photo-realistic graphics, high-performance sound and immersive multiplayer environments for gaming on Windows,”
said Ted Hase, director of Windows third-party gaming at Microsoft.
“With each iteration of DirectX, I am thrilled to see the continued support and developer innovation for Windows as a gaming platform.”
DirectX is the power behind multimedia development on Windows. DirectX includes the following tools:
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Direct3D. The Direct3D® API offers a groundbreaking
“shader-based”
programming model that allows far greater flexibility for programmers and artists to create new effects, especially advanced lighting models. Vertex shaders and pixel shaders improve image realism. -
DirectPlay. The DirectPlay® API was redesigned in DirectX 8.0 for greater performance and scalability for multiplayer networked games on Windows. It offers integrated support for voice communication. Developers are already finding the new version, released in November 2000, to be considerably more robust and efficient.
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DirectInput. DirectInput® device mapping offers developers simplified device support and allows developers to create games for a variety of input devices, including full support for force-feedback technology.
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DirectX Audio. DLS2 audio synthesis support improves instrument realism. DirectX Audio offers support for multiple capture streams and multichannel support, helping developers create high-quality sound performance for Windows-based titles.
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DirectShow. Editing Services APIs provide real-time compositing and editing of audio and video timelines. DirectShow® supports reading and writing Windows Media™
Audio and Windows Media Video.
Microsoft DirectX at the Games Developers Conference 2001
At the Game Developers Conference 2001, being held March 20-24 at the San Jose Convention Center, Microsoft will exhibit the latest product and technology updates for game developers, including DirectX 8.0a in the company’s booth. Microsoft also will present several sessions at the conference and is a Platinum sponsor of the third Annual Independent Games Festival. Interested parties can obtain additional details on Microsoft’s plans for GDC 2001 at http://www.microsoft.com/corpevents/gdc2001/ . Microsoft’s activities at the Game Developers Conference are sponsored in part by NVIDIA Corp.
About Microsoft DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is an advanced suite of multimedia APIs built into Microsoft Windows operating systems. DirectX provides a standard development platform for Windows-based PCs by enabling software developers to access specialized hardware features without having to write hardware-specific code. DirectX was introduced in 1995 and is a recognized standard for multimedia application development on the Windows platform.
The DirectX Software Development Kit (SDK) is available for download from the DirectX Downloads Web page, located at http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software –
any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, DirectX, Windows, Direct3D, DirectPlay, DirectInput, DirectShow and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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