64-bit DirectX game?

  • Thread starter Man-wai Chang ToDie
  • Start date
A

Andy [YaYa]

Company of Heroes latest patch supports 64-bit.

There are a few more out there if you poke around.

-A.
 
C

Chuck Walbourn [MSFT]

All Games for Windows branded titles will run on 64-bit versions of Windows
(at least Windows Vista x64), but that does not demand they provide a 64-bit
native version of the game.
 
C

Chuck Walbourn [MSFT]

Company of Heroes isn't a 64-bit native game, but it does take advantage of
the "Large Address Aware" feature of 32-bit applications. When run on x64
versions of Windows, this doubles the possible memory addressing from 2 GB
to 4 GB allowing them to provide higher resolution textures and better
anti-aliasing using more than 2 GB of physical memory.

While it is technically possible to use "Large Address Aware" with special
boot options on Windows 32-bit OS, it's not always stable and really only
gives you something between 2 GB and 3 GB of memory adressing while 64-bit
OS can get up to 4 GB for such 32-bit applications without any strange
configuration options.

To sum up: Even 32-bit games can take advantage of 64-bit OSes for more
memory addressing than it could on a 32-bit OS. Expect this to become
popular faster than making two versions of the same game for most titles.
 
P

phypps

Crysis installs both 32bit and 64 bit versions
The documentation says that it can make good use of 64 bit hardware to run
faster and more efficiently.
It is possible that even a 32bit Vista but with 64 bit hardware could have
some improvement.
Checking the Games Explorer link shows that on a full 64 bit Vista system
Crysis does indeed use the 64 bit executable (and DX10)

Phypps
 
M

Man-wai Chang ToDie

To sum up: Even 32-bit games can take advantage of 64-bit OSes for more
memory addressing than it could on a 32-bit OS. Expect this to become
popular faster than making two versions of the same game for most titles.
Click to expand...

Guess there is just not enough 64-bit users to justify a true 64-bit
game now....

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.9
^ ^ 18:11:01 up 3 days 6:24 1 user load average: 0.00 0.00 0.00
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P

phypps

If you're wondering how crysis would run on that spec...
It would be fine at the highest settings (and looking gorgeous)
It uses multicores for some things (especially when a lot is happening at
once, which is exactly when you need it most !)
Even in severe fights with lots of enemies and explosions its very smooth.
I have a slightly higher system - 6700 quad (6600) and GTX (GTS)
but run at 1920 x 1200 (24") at Very High settings with no problem.
That is the 64 bit version on DX10 (not sure how the 32bit version would
cope, have no incentive to check)

Phypps
 
C

Chuck Walbourn [MSFT]

Guess there is just not enough 64-bit users to justify a true 64-bit game
now....
Click to expand...

There are not enough 64-bit users out there to justify making the game ONLY
work on 64-bit native. Given that is not an option, you have three basic
choices:

(1) Make two versions of the game, one 32-bit and one 64-bit native. This is
expensive to develop and test. A few games have done this, including
Hellgate London and Crysis.

(2) Make one version of the game, a 32-bit version, that uses the Large
Address Aware feature to give 64-bit users a bit more content than would fit
on 32-bit. This is much less expensive to develop and test, but still means
only 64-bit users really get the benefits of some of the development cost.
This is what Company of Heroes is doing.

(3) Make one version of the game, a 32-bit version, and make it all fit into
the 2 GB limit of 32-bit OSes that still works for 64-bit users. This is
what most games do, although it's getting harder and harder to really do
this for games attempting to take full advantage of modern systems and video
cards.

Of course, there's also a fourth case of "ignore X64 Windows completely",
which is being done by a few too many publihsers still. The Games for
Windows branding is trying to address this by mandating 64-bit compatibility
at a minimum.
 
A

Andy [YaYa]

Chuck Walbourn said:
All Games for Windows branded titles will run on 64-bit versions of
Windows (at least Windows Vista x64), but that does not demand they
provide a 64-bit native version of the game.
Click to expand...

Actually according to the XNE SDK the game is REQUIRED to be able to run in
Vista x64, but running in Vista x86 (32-bit) is OPTIONAL! How cool is that?!
MS making a push to drive 64-bit in gaming.

Of course I'm positive no gaming group in their right minds would ship a
game as 64-bit only, but it's good to know they could if they wanted too. ;)

-A.
 
C

Chuck Walbourn [MSFT]

Actually according to the XNE SDK the game is REQUIRED to be able to run
in Vista x64, but running in Vista x86 (32-bit) is OPTIONAL! How cool is
that?! MS making a push to drive 64-bit in gaming.
Click to expand...

What is the "XNE SDK"?
 
A

Andy [YaYa]

I don't know, I speak outta my ass all the time.

Usurped by the [MSFT] tag, again.
/sigh

not having a good day.

It's not the XNE SDK, it's the Games for Windows Standards, I read them a
while back when I was at EA, just forgot the name of them. No need to bash
me for saying something nice and missing one minor point CHUCK.

-A.
 
C

Chuck Walbourn [MSFT]

Sorry if you felt I was bashing you. That was not my intent. I just wanted
to make sure we were talking about the same thing :>

Yes, the Games for Windows Technical Requirements in the DirectX SDK were
written to mandate X64 compatibility, but doesn't actually mandate 32-bit
support. The practical reality is that everyone will support 32-bit to get
the broadest coverage in the near term. We encourage 64-bit native versions
of games through the Games for Windows showcases, and most will choose to do
32-bit only exes (that MUST be compatible with X64 versions of Windows) or
possibly both 32-bit and 64-bit native versions.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb173456.aspx
 
A

Andy [YaYa]

Chuck Walbourn said:
Sorry if you felt I was bashing you. That was not my intent. I just wanted
to make sure we were talking about the same thing :>

Yes, the Games for Windows Technical Requirements in the DirectX SDK were
written to mandate X64 compatibility, but doesn't actually mandate 32-bit
support. The practical reality is that everyone will support 32-bit to get
the broadest coverage in the near term. We encourage 64-bit native
versions of games through the Games for Windows showcases, and most will
choose to do 32-bit only exes (that MUST be compatible with X64 versions
of Windows) or possibly both 32-bit and 64-bit native versions.

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb173456.aspx
Click to expand...

I think that's what I said...

/shrug
 
M

Man-wai Chang ToDie

jimmy said:
Gaming in Windows 64-bit is totally worthless. Just take a look here:
http://www.p4th3t1c.co.uk/2007-12-13/crysis-benchmark-dx10-vista-x64
Click to expand...

I think he/she was running a 32-bit Crysis on 64-bit Vi$ta, not 64-bit
Crysis on 64-bit Vi$ta.

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.11
^ ^ 12:44:01 up 23:58 2 users load average: 4.76 4.36 3.96
? ? (CSSA):
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M

Man-wai Chang ToDie

Really? I've been running Vista x64 for close on a year now, and the
few games I play work better than ever. Some of them are pretty old too:
- Diablo II Lord of Destruction
- Empire Earth
- The Sims 2
- Call of Duty 2
- Tomb Raider Legend
- Tomb Raider Anniversary
- Crysis
Click to expand...

Here are my games that works under 64-bit Vi$ta:

Colin Mcrae Rally 2.0
Colin Mcrae Dirt
Starcraft
Half Life 2 and Counter-strike: Source
Unreal Tournament 1
America's Army 2.8.2
Flight Simulator: Acceleration
Battlefield 2 Deluxe
Command & Conquer: The First Decade
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
World In Conflict


--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 7.04) Linux 2.6.23.12
^ ^ 18:04:01 up 2:47 2 users load average: 0.01 0.24 0.28
? ? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_pubsvc/page_socsecu/sub_addressesa/
 
V

Vinson-Daly

Chuck -

You sound like someone in the know about games. Ok, so Ubisoft Brother in
Arms would not even load on Vista 32 or 64 but since SP1 RC came out it gets
further before loosing itself at the very end but the install says it
finished successfully. When I reboot it halts with sfsync (Starforce
Protection?) failed on boot and states that only digitally signed drivers are
allowed upon which I'm forced to use the install CD and perform a repair. I
find this all interesting since Ubisoft Ghost Recon seems to work fine. When
XP was announced it was said to be specifically designed for games by
allowing for compatibility mode, but even though Vista offers compatabulty
mode I don't see it providing a solution either. Any thoughts? Thanks for
listening.
 
D

Dustin Harper

There are quite a few. Far Cry even has a 64 bit version available and
it's a few years old. Crysis, Half Life, Hell Gate London...
 

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