Games for Windows (May 2007)

Source: Games for Windows – Issue Number 6 – May 2007

Microsoft bought Computer Gaming World and turned it into Game for Windows. The content didn’t really change much which was a good thing. However, it wouldn’t survive very long in its new form. The May 2007 issue includes:

Features

Cover Story: Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts – A detailed look into the second game of this World War II series.

Windows Vista – A detailed examination of Microsoft’s latest OS, particularly as it relates to gaming. Here they give it a mostly positive review (but then, this is a Microsoft magazine) but note driver issues. Driver issues would basically plague Windows Vista forever.

Departments

Editorial – Giving credit to some of the freelance contributors to the magazine.

Letters – Comments on articles in previous issues, graphics vs. game play, comparability, older gamers, and more.

Start – A preview of Crysis; an interview with John Carmack, co-founder of id Software; a preview of The Witcher; a preview of World in Conflict; an interview with Michael Mateas and Andrew Stern, creators of Facade and The Party; A brief look at some of the latest free games including Ivan Drago: Justice Enforcer, Clean Asia, Kumoon, and Racing Pitch; a preview of Sins of a Solar Empire; and much more.

Reviews
- Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar – An expansion to what is probably one of the best 4X strategy games to this day. (9/10)
- Vanguard: Saga of Heroes – An apparently terrible Everquest knock-off. (3/10)
- City Life: World Edition – An expanded version of the original City Life city simulator with more variety. (8.5/10)
- Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars – The third game in one of the most popular real-time strategy games ever. (9/10)
- Secrets of the Ark: A Broken Sword Game – An adventure/puzzle game. (7/10)
- Blitzkrieg II: Fall of the Reich – A mediocre World War II themed real-time strategy game. (5/10)
- Sam & Max: Episode 4 – Another decent entry in this comedic adventure game. (8/10)

Extend – Tom and Bruce go head to head in Supreme Commander. Plus a look at the latest in hardcore war-gaming, as well as casual games (like Monopoly), and more.

Tech – A look at some off-the-shelf small form factor gaming PCs including the Shuttle XPC 1337 Series SDXi, the Falcon Northwest FragBox II, and the Shuttle XPC P2 3700g vs. building your own. Their middle of the road parts list includes a Core 2 Duo E6600 and a GeForce 8800 GTS. Their “Dream Rig” includes a Core 2 Extreme QX6700, GeForce 8800 GTX and 4GB of DDR2-800 which combined with other needed parts comes to more than $3800.