What did you guys think of the whole windows 8 discussion? For those that can't be bothered listening it is near the end and regards the fact that windows 8 places severe restrictions on what apps can be run in the form of licensing fees and certification. The suggestion was that this could be a threat to dwarf fortress as many win8 users won't be able to play.
I am personally of the opinion that it is all part of a trend in the right direction. PC games are becoming less profitable, meaning big development studios are moving away from the platform in attempt to maintain their multi-million bottom lines. This has opened the stage for independent developers and people who don't require millions of dollars to produce content. This thing with windows is the logical next step, microsoft wants $$$ and they are making changes based on this. DF is already out for linux and my hope is that windows 8 will prompt many small developers to consider also moving to linux. I would have migrated my desktop years ago if there was a good selection of games available. In combination with the fact that steam is making a concerted effort to build a linux presence, I think what we are seeing is the end of windows dominance in the pc gaming market, and the dawn of a new era of open, community driven content that is moddable, cheap/free and packed with new creative ideas and innovations. I support and praise microsoft for helping this process along and will also laugh heartily when it destroys them.
That is true for Windows RT.
That is false for Windows 8.
Windows RT, the tablet version of Windows 8, works with the windows store and apps needs certifications.
Windows 8, the desktop operatign system, can run everything with no restriction.
In the interview they talked as if there was only Windows RT on tablets.
They are wrong, gave false information and panicked for no reason.
Dwarf Fortress is working just as well in windows 8 as it is in windows 7, right now, today. Install windows 8 in a virtual machine, copy over your DF folder and play.
But if you go to a store and buy a Windows RT tablet like Microsoft Surface, then you will be limited to the application store indeed.
The Surface Pro tablet will be just like a desktop and run any apps.
Windows RT is for devices powered by CPU using the ARM architecture.
Windows 8 is running on x86 and run anything.
There is no crisis, the is no panic. Only misunderstanding.