Basically the main problem from what I have read seems to be that Microsoft is trying to copy Apples incredibly restrictive environment on IOS devices etc,
and to make a few brief quotes from the article:
Then you heard the echoes of other high-profile PC game backers, who vocalized their concerns about Windows 8, such as Blizzard's Rob Pardo and Minecraft creator Marcus "notch" Persson. "Stop trying to ruin the PC as an open platform," Persson told Microsoft, directly.
If you haven't been keeping up, here's the primary concern with Windows 8: This new OS sports a new "Metro" UI, which is now just referred to simply as the "Windows 8 UI." If a game developer -- or any developer -- wants their product to be compatible with all the fancy new UI features that Windows 8 offers, that software must be subject to Microsoft's policies, certified by Microsoft, and sold through the official Windows Store. But that's not a problem, right? Developers will still be able to make and sell games via the older desktop interface -- the open interface -- many have argued.
"To some degree, I think that [argument] is almost immediately obviated by two things," says Muratori. "First, with Windows RT, there's no desktop on Windows RT. On one entire SKU that Microsoft is shipping, that [argument] is not relevant, because RT is not shipping with a desktop. So everything that ships on that platform goes through Microsoft.
These are what we hear are the most common concerns from the game development community:
-That Microsoft won't allow their digital stores onto the new interface, and that they'll have to pay a toll to Microsoft to get on the official store.
- That even if they can get onto the new UI with their app, there are concerns of being marginalized. The PC game installs look orphaned, compared to the Xbox Live-enabled content and games.
- That currently, to anyone’s knowledge, there's no rolling launcher that can take you seamlessly back and forth between the new UI and the old desktop interface. If there isn’t, then it inhibits PC games from being able to seamlessly launch games from the new UI in a couch-TV setting. This locks up that experience for the Xbox content that is featured on the new Windows 8 UI.
- There are still so many unknowns about Windows 8.
You can read the full article at http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/1801 ... e_devs.phpSo we know the reasons why many PC game developers are wary of Windows 8, but if Windows 8 is so bad, what's the ideal -- the ultimate -- PC game OS?
Well, there's the open-source Linux, a platform that Valve's Newell said could be an option for game developers if this whole Windows 8 thing doesn't pan out. Steam now supports Linux, and Newell said games can be key to platform adoption.
Muratori argues that Linux just isn't stable enough, and it would take a concerted effort by big developers to make Linux a truly viable option. Who knows -- maybe Valve would spearhead such an initiative.
Just wondering what everyone's views on it are? Personally if Microsoft continues down this path, Windows will lose it's status as the premier gaming OS,
with gamers wither sticking with older versions of Windows, or slowly migrating over to Linux. If Microsoft refuses to work with developers in such a manor, then I see it as inevitable that developers will look for Greener pastures, and end up migrating to another OS such as Linux.
Oh and I just thought I might add that Windows seems to be moving more and more towards the 'Longhorn' style fears about Vista that I remember Hawk had an article about on here a few years back (not sure if its still around or not).