bit-gamer.net

Vista-only game doesn't need Vista

Published on 25th June 2007 by Joe Martin

Shadowrun apparently doesn't need Vista or DirectX 10 to run after all...

Computer games can be confusing things sometimes and mis-labelled products certainly don't help. That's especially true when it's Microsoft which is mis-labelling entire product lines in order to entice us all to shell out for Windows Vista. Allegedly.

Apparently, Shadowrun, the 360 and PC title which allows console fanboys to get their arses handed to them by their mouse-wielding cousins, is not as Vista-exclusive as it first seemed.

Originally billed as Vista-only, the famous (or infamous, which is just like famous but slightly cooler) hacker group, Razer1911, has managed to crack the game so that it runs under Windows XP without a qualm.

The crack makers gave the following statement in the help files for the crack, which only requires that a few files in the installation folder be overwritten with hacked versions;

"Tired of waiting for Falling Leaf to produce drivers so that you can play Shadowrun in XP? The wait is over, because Razor1911 already has the remedy! Yes, you read right. This game will also function in Windows XP."

That'll teach pro game developers to work a little faster then, won't it?

The statement refers to Falling Leaf Studios, which was reported to be working on the 'Alky Project' which would allow both Halo 2 Vista and Shadowrun to work on XP, though there isn't any news yet on whether the game can still interface with Xbox Live in its cracked form. We somewhat doubt the chances of that though.

Played Shadowrun? Which is better, 360 or PC? Tried Vista too? Let us know in the forums.

18 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

DougEdey 25th June 2007, 13:25

Not sure how that'll pan out, not sure if XP has the correct networking abilities to run XBL.

PaulM@Scan 25th June 2007, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit Tech S
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/06/25/vista-only_game_doesn_t_need_vista/1

Computer games can be confusing things sometimes and mis-labelled products certainly don't help. That's especially true when it's Microsoft which is mis-labelling entire product lines in order to entice us all to shell out for Windows Vista. Allegedly.

:|

Surely urging people to buy Vista by doing this won't be enough to temp people to buy this? would it not just lower their sales on the game?

Veles 25th June 2007, 14:08

Heard the 360 version is better anyway, to make sure the 360 players don't get owned, they nerfed the PC controls apparently.

p3n 25th June 2007, 14:08

if games cost 30 billgates units of currency and vista 300:

1 million games sold = 30 million , 100k games sold and 100k vista sold = 33 million

and ofcourse once they have vista then can buy countless other 'vista only' titles...

atanum141 25th June 2007, 14:22

They should have developed Xp and Vista versions at the same time.
Idiots.

aggies11 25th June 2007, 15:40

P3n has it right. Shadowrun was chosen to be the martyr, sacrificing higher sales in order to help push Vista. Even if the game sells %10 of what it could have, but those 10% were Vista sales, Microsoft is happy.

The "Vista requirement" for Shadowrun and HaLo2 is artificial, much like copy protection. So those individuals who do, can remove it much like they do with copy protection.

Had the game actually used features of Vista not in XP (eg. DX10) then it would have been another story.

Microsoft added artificial restrictions based on marketing strategy, it's more important to get people using Vista, then it is to sell copies of a single game. And if they could sacrifice one to help the other, they definitely will.

Aggies

Nexxo 25th June 2007, 16:18

Yup --the limitations are imposed by commercial, not technical factors.

I mean, you don't think Polygon Wars actually needs DX10 or Vista, do you?

Hugo.B 25th June 2007, 17:00

And to think games perform better on XP too.
There's a reason why people aren't switching.

H.B.

Tim S 25th June 2007, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by p3n
if games cost 30 billgates units of currency and vista 300:

1 million games sold = 30 million , 100k games sold and 100k vista sold = 33 million

and ofcourse once they have vista then can buy countless other 'vista only' titles...

Yep, you're totally right, it's all in the name of marketing. :)

On a related topic, I think I'm going to make the switch to Vista tonight - I've been itching for a few months but I'm finally getting to the stage where I think drivers are just about usable in the long term.

Mankz 25th June 2007, 17:33

Id never consider it becuase I'd have to do so many damn Driver upgrades ect.

Tim, are you going to go for Ultimate?

Tim S 25th June 2007, 18:33

I'm heading for Home Premium :)

Veles 26th June 2007, 01:15

Thats what I'll be buying at some point too, Ultimate's extras aren't worth the price tag at all IMO.

completemadness 26th June 2007, 02:59

i plan to hold off as long as possible, what benefit does vista bring, higher overheads, dx10, a pointless fancy ui, and UAC

sod that, shove it MS

also i don't see what vista has that XP doesn't to run XBL, except the added overhead and the ability to move more copies of vista if XP doesn't support it

Hell i bet even DX10 doesn't really need vista, its just a good way to move copies of it

GoodBytes 26th June 2007, 03:34

I think Vista Upgrade version is the best...
Just install Vista 2 times, sure its long but it would take just as much time as install XP or 2000. Also you can upgrade from Win2k to Vista. OR Just install Vista activate it, and image/ghost the drive.

I don't think DX10 can be taken out of Vista. I heard that it was linked or something with the core of the OS, to be able to give a nice (apparently) boost in performence.

Also there is no proof that the game is nice or running smoothly or have no issues under XP. Maybe this hacker just looked at the menu an saw it worked.

Havok154 26th June 2007, 05:59

I've had Ultimate on my desk for over 3 months now.(came free with an intel bundle I bought) I'm waiting for the time when I can upgrade and will actually use vista 80% of the time and not vice versa. I'll still be dual booting 32-bit XP but not sure yet whether I'll use 32 or 64-bit vista. All I can tell you is that these crappy games MS is trying to use as a forced upgrade won't make me install it any faster.

DarkLord7854 26th June 2007, 07:06

Hehe, they did the same for Halo2 :)

Only problem is, Multiplayer can't work since it's the WindowsLive thing. Even LAN doesn't work. Oh well. Neither of those games I found to be any good anyways :)

[USRF]Obiwan 26th June 2007, 09:41

I laugh my socks off. Ah good old Razor1911. Its the oldest "movement" in the game underground business. Half of their core members is now in their sixties i guess hahaha

ps. i will only upgrade to a new vidcard and vista when Crysis arives. I hope by then the drivers will be mature also ;)

leexgx 13th September 2007, 05:26

bit of an bump but this game are not DX 10 even (both will work on an Nvidia 6200+ video card)

right from therer forums as well (could be incorrect) http://forums.shadowrun.com/forums/thread/53910.aspx (look for)

Quote:

Q: Is Shadowrun DX9 or DX10?
A: DX9.

is the game DX10 as well or not (just DX9 only)? see around when looking users looking for DX10 cards for it when an ATI X1xxx card (when thay bothed to add SM3 to there cards) or an 6200

thay got to make an New disk that will alow install on XP as fist thing thay say when buying it Vista only it never sell or much (going to buy an £1000 computer so i can run a game)