- #XBOX 360 WIRELESS RECEIVER FOR WINDOWS VISTA INSTALL#
- #XBOX 360 WIRELESS RECEIVER FOR WINDOWS VISTA PC#
As a result, we were rather impressed by the Tray and Play functionality.
![xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows vista xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows vista](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/311oHMRO+UL.jpg)
Playing through the chapter a second time with the game fully installed produced an average of 33 fps, hardly a noticeable difference. We averaged 28 fps over the course of the Tray and Play install.
#XBOX 360 WIRELESS RECEIVER FOR WINDOWS VISTA INSTALL#
By the time we had completed the first chapter the install was complete. By the time actual combat was required, the game was running fluidly and it was easy to forget the install was still progressing in the background.
![xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows vista xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows vista](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UL0AAOSwutRgRucT/s-l400.jpg)
Upon finally getting control over Master Chief we were able to detect a bit of lagging on the controls and our ability to look around, but this seemed to go away rather quickly. Rather surprisingly, we noticed only a few moments of chopping as the sequences played out. Halo 2 opens with a number of cinematic cut scenes rendered in real time. By the time we were ready to begin a new campaign the install progress showed 30% completion. Before launching the game we adjusted the resolution up to 1680 x 1050 and kept graphical detail on low (2). The only reminder that we were no more than 3-4 minutes removed from first inserting the game was the install progress indicator on the lower right corner. They don't last long however, and in a short while we were greeted by the familiar Halo 2 stat screen, which ran smoothly. Playback of these videos was extremely choppy with long pauses in video and occasionally the loss of sound. Much like the original Halo 2 for Xbox, the game begins with the Bungie and Microsoft video logos. After activating the game we returned to the progress bar, which cycled for roughly another minute before the game launched. From here we got a progress bar that cycled for around a minute or so before prompting for the Product Key. We obviously went for the play now option. From this screen we were able to select to jump right in with Tray and Play or opt for a traditional full-install before playing via the "Customize Game Install" option. Upon inserting the game disc AutoPlay went to work and we were treated to the Halo 2 menu pop-up. The office box's specs (3.0-GHz P4, 1-GB ram, X800 GTO, Vista Home Premium) are just a bit above the minimum requirements of Halo 2, so we figured we wouldn't make Tray and Play's job too easy with overwhelming processing power. We decided to base our testing on a relatively average computer instead of one of our gaming powerhouses.
#XBOX 360 WIRELESS RECEIVER FOR WINDOWS VISTA PC#
Does background-installation slow a game to a crawl? What happens when you quit before the process is complete? Is Tray and Play the future of instant-gratification PC gaming? Let's see. Though the game doesn't launch unit May 8th, we got our hands on a review build today and went to work testing Tray and Play functionality. Halo 2 for Vista will be the first game to feature the capability.
![xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows vista xbox 360 wireless receiver for windows vista](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61HrE0GdfcL._SX425_.jpg)
Dubbed "Tray and Play," the new initiative aims to allow gamers to pop a new PC game in the computer and jump into the action almost immediately while the game installs itself in the background. To address this issue, Microsoft is rolling out a new feature in the Games for Windows push. Though veterans have become so accustomed to the chore that it takes on ritualistic overtones, console gamers and the broad consumer base are not excited by the prospect of clicking "Next" buttons for half an hour while a new game installs, and in some cases so intimidated as to give up. Coupled with accessories like the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows (review) and online services like Windows LIVE and upcoming Xbox Live Anywhere, Microsoft is putting some real effort into adding value to the brand and reestablishing the PC as a true gaming platform.Ī serious challenge in elevating the PC to platform status, however, is the fact that no matter how nice a gaming computer one has, the process of installing new games is an incredible hassle compared to the convenience of just throwing a new disc in the Xbox 360. For example, by dint of Games for Windows requirements, all PC games bearing the branding ship with integrated support for Xbox 360 controllers. What at first had the look of a shallow marketing ploy is, in fact, is proving to be more than yet another sticker on a game box, and is developing into a unified system for peripheral support and gaming functionality. The Games for Windows push has been one of Microsoft's big focuses in promoting the launch of Windows Vista.