"Vista-Only" games cracked to run under XP

[Roph]

http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6146&Itemid=2

Hacking group warez has released a patch allowing gamers to run Halo 2 and Shadowrun, both released by Microsoft as Windows Vista-only titles, on the firm's older Windows XP operating system.

It had been claimed that neither title would be able to run successfully using the older DirectX 9 graphics engine, with Microsoft urging gamers to take the plunge and switch to the Vista.

The news is sure to irk Microsoft who may now face an increased delay in some consumers adopting Vista at this early stage. However, it shouldn't come as a surprise. Earlier this month Falling Leaf Systems said in a press release that it believed Microsoft was deceiving consumers by stating that the titles would only work on Vista, and announced its intentions to release compatability software to disprove the claim.

"Microsoft has, in typical Microsoft fashion, decided to launch their forced migration onslaught in full force with the release of two games that will only run on Windows Vista," said Falling Leaf Systems CEO Brian Thomason in the press release.

"First they claim that it was impossible to implement DirectX 10 compatibility atop Windows XP, and now they also want us to believe that they couldn't successfully launch two DirectX 9 based titles on XP either. We plan to expose both theories as patently false."

It appears Warez has beaten Falling Leaf to its goal, although Windows Live and in-game achievements are features still only availalbe to Vista gamers.

When you have to download a pirated version just to use the software you've legitimately paid for because of artificial limitations like this, it doesn't exactly install a lot of goodwill in the customer.

If enough of us refuse to buy software, music, or movies from companies that deliberately frustrate their paying customers, then they will either change their strategy or they will deservedly go out of business.

[SirJackRex]

Awesome!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! REP +
CAN YOU RAISE IT TO REP YOU UP LIKE A THOUSAND TIMES??

[biohazard]

Now I just need to find a halo2 download.  I never got have to play online yet...

[firerain]

Haha, Microsoft got owned. Stupid fuckers...

[Lord Dante]

honestly though, it isnt like either game is worth upgrading for....




(or buying)

[biohazard]

I'd buy halo 2 for PC, I'm sure it would have a huge community and lots of mods and I would love to play it online.

[Lord Dante]

perhaps.

but it's generally been accepted as not that great. maybe in a few months though, who knows.

[biohazard]

It had the largest online community for an online game for a really long time, didn't it?  I'm sure it would pick up a lot more computer gamers if it went to PC.

[Venom]

Haha, Microsoft got owned. Stupid fuckers...

aw men brother Microsoft deserves to have every pirated game of theres downloaded
i hate microsoft with a passion ..... i still can't believe they put a virus in xp when they first released it

[SirJackRex]

It had the largest online community for an online game for a really long time, didn't it?  I'm sure it would pick up a lot more computer gamers if it went to PC.

Ummm...WoW is the largest online community. (I think)

[Lord Dante]

not anymore. I killed them all.

I dont think Microsoft is that bad, they certainly arent great though.

[Zeriab]

Halo 2 had the largest online XBox community.
I am not sure it was larger than the counter-strike community.

In some countries you are legally allowed and entitled to circumvent or break copy-right protections or similar limitations of a software product should they alone prevent the use of the product.

I just laugh as the given situation. I just love the topics Silver brings up <3

[:)]

Awesome!
I wanted to get vista because for halo 2 it said you can build maps only with vista :3

[Lord Dante]

vista is shiney.

i guess linux has alot of stuff developed for it that can mimic the look though...

[tSwitch]

so how is the Shadowrun MMO?