5029

PS4 uses a specialized version of OpenGL. So no Directx, and I’m not sure if Mantle is agnostic or not.

5030

Mantle api at least for now is Windows only. But with SteamOS on the way you can bet any arbitrary amount of money it’ll at least be ported to Linux.

5031

As I understand it, the Xbox and Xbox 360 don’t really use DX12 for graphics; they don’t need a high-level API. It’s always been close to the metal.

Meanwhile, I was just at the Microsoft Store in Seattle’s U-Village. They’re offering $100 toward an Xbox One if you trade in your PS3, and the Titanfall bundle is $449. Gotta admit, I’m probably going to bite on that deal. A Titanfall bundle for $350? Yes, please.

5032

No, this isn’t right. The PS4 uses its own low-level set of APIs called GNM.

5033

Though GNMX is technically a brand new rendering engine, I was under the impression that it’s core was originally based off OpenGL.

5034

No. It has no relation to OpenGL. GNM is completely proprietary to Sony’s console.

5035

Interesting. So with Mantle, DX12, and GNM/GNMX - is OpenGL’s only life-line Linux? And if Mantle will support Linux - where does that leave OpenGL?

5036

OpenGL is on Windows, too, although DirectX has been more popular for years. And a lot of phones also have a version.

5037

Yeah, OpenGL still has great relevance on mobile platforms because it’s what you have on both iOS and Android. That’s technically the largest and fastest growing market so the Khronos group isn’t going anywhere.

5038

Got a Titanfall bundle for just a little under $400 after tax. Woooo. Let’s do this.

5039

The problem being there that Microsoft don’t seem to be wanting DX12 on Windows 7. Which leads to a situation where, like DX10, most companies build their engines for the previous DX version because they can’t afford to lose a large amount of market share.

It held things up by literally years in terms of using new DirectX 10+ features. Even now, in the Steam hardware survey (which I remind you is strongly gamer-biased), 25% of systems don’t support DX9/10. (XP is down to ~6% of Windows (which is 95% of surveyed systems), for reference, so it’s not just that!)

5040

So I’m shopping Amazon for games and I noticed I can get used for a lot less than new. What are the downsides of used games this generation? Same as before? Premium content that you have to buy if you get the game second-handed?

5041

Some games require online activation. If it’s already linked to another account, i don’t think you can activate it.

5042

Not true.

5043

I bought the $80 Microsoft stereo headset for the Xbox One. The sound quality is surprisingly great for wireless headphones. What is a bit bizarre, though, it that when you talk into the mic, it doesn’t feed your voice back through the phones. Because the phones do a good job of blocking out noise, I can barely hear myself talk. I end up talking too softly, and the people I’m playing with have to tell me to speak up.

5044

You’re staying if a game requires UPlay or Origin, you can just add that key to another key and go at? What keeps anyone from just adding that activation to as many accounts as they want?

5045

Haven’t see any Xbox One games with keys like that. Likely because every game (except Skylanders) is available as a digital download, so no way to do “online pass” type things with those.

Those online pass codes, happily, seem to be a something that didn’t make it to the new generation of consoles.

5046

Then why would you say not true? I understand they are phasing them out, but it’s still out there.

5047

Not on the Xbox One. That’s why.

5048

Oh. I see. Then the used codes they’re complaining about must be promo codes then. They being consumers on e-tailers, like Amazon.