Windows Vista Tips and Tricks 11

Game Explorer in Windows Vista:

Gaming has taken a big leap with Windows Vista and Directx10. Now even the in house games of windows comes with 3D support, not the least Games on Vista have their on explorer now.Yes you heard it right!!. Games when installed on windows either leave a shortcut on desktop or a link on program menu but now whenever you can just find them real quick with Game Explorer which is right off the start menu.

Games have been give a better preferences in Vista. The Game explorer can manage all the games. And not only this it can tell you more.

Features of Windows Vista Game Explorer:-

1. Start Menu in Windows Vista, provides a central launching pad for all games.
2. Icons for each game provide easy access to the games.
3. Display detailed information about the game, such as the game publisher and developer
4. When you last played; which version of the game you own
5. Box cover art and the release date, genre, and rating for each game.
6. Right-click on a game’s icon for easy access to a menu of play tasks (which can be customized by the game developer for each game) and any online options, such as linking to the game’s website.
7. You also have support section there, which can tell you what kind of configuration is required and get help, support, and important publisher updates; or easily add or remove games. 

Issues and Problems with Game Explorer in Windows Vista:

* Vista doesn’t always automatically put installed games into the “Games” section of the OS. For instance, War Front, Titan Quest, and Half-Life 2; all relatively popular games - do NOT get put into that section.
* Some titles install to “games’ by default, while others simply create a new directory under the developer and /or manufacturer folders. I’ve noticed that if you change the default directory to “games’ then at least the launch icon appears in the games section of Vista, but it still doesn’t provide detailed information on all titles
* When you drag the icon into that section Vista doesn’t create a consistent icon as it would Company of Heroes, Never Winter Nights 2, or even older games like X3 and Guild Wars.

Possible Solution for Game Explorer:

* The games explorer do a Google image search for the game title, and allow the user to pick what image they want. 9 of 10 times a Google image search will throw the box art up on screen. Then, after the user is satisfied with their selection Vista saves the image to the HDD in a specified default folder for game, movie, and CD art.
* Allow the user to go in a modify the image if they wanted to because the OS would have to reference the image in a database to pull it up every time the icon was displayed.

Note: For more Windows Vista Tips, Tricks & Tweaks.