One of Microsoft’s big strengths — and weaknesses — is their focus on backwards compatibility. Most Windows applications will work just fine on Windows 8. This is especially true if they worked on Windows 7, as Windows 8 is very similar to Windows 7. Some old games and software, particularly ones designed for older operating systems like Windows XP, Windows 98, or DOS, may not work properly out of the box. Whatever type of software you’re dealing with, whether it’s a PC game or a piece of business software, performing a Google search for the name of the game along with “Windows 8″ or the exact error message you received will probably help. The below tips apply to all different types of software, but finding information specific to your buggy program is always a good idea.

Why Games & Software Might Not Be Compatible

There are a variety of reasons why programs and other software may not work properly on Windows 8.

• Bad Programming Practices: Some software may depend on administrator access, which was taken for granted on Windows XP, and break when running as a standard user on newer versions of Windows. Some software may have depended on issues in older versions of Windows that have since been fixed, resulting in the application breaking on modern versions of Windows.
• Dependencies on Old Versions of Software: Some software may depend on old libraries, like the .NET Framework version 3.5, which is not installed by default on Windows 8.
• 16-bit Software: 64-bit versions of Windows no longer contain the compatibility layer for 16-bit Windows applications. If you have a 16-bit application written for Windows 3.1, you’ll need to use the 32-bit version of Windows 8 to run it.
• DOS Software: Windows 8, like all versions of Windows back to Windows XP, no longer runs on top of DOS. While some DOS software still runs, advanced DOS software — like PC games written for DOS — doesn’t work in the Command Prompt environment.

Before Upgrading

Microsoft has some information you can consult before upgrading. You can download and run the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, which will scan your computer and let you know if your software and hardware will work properly under Windows 8. This won’t detect all programs that won’t work properly, but it still provides some useful information.

Microsoft also provides a Windows Compatibility Center website that lists whether games, other software, and hardware will work properly on Windows 8. The website also provides a discussion feature so you can see what other users say about their experiences.

Update Your Software

If the software won’t run on Windows 8, you should update it to the latest versions with whatever patches are available. For example, an old game may not run properly on Windows 8 when installed from disc, but the game’s developer may have released a patch that allows the game to run on newer versions of Windows. You should also try updating related software. For example, many games using Microsoft’s own Games for Windows Live don’t run properly on Windows 8 until an update for GFWL is installed.

You may also need to install old libraries that your software depends on. For example, Windows 8 only includes version 4.5 of the .NET Framework. If you receive a .NET Framework-related error, you should visit the control panel and install the .NET Framework 3.5 package, which allows software that depends on .NET 3.5, 3.0, or 2.0 to run.

Run as Administrator

Fixing a problematic application could be as simple as running it in administrator mode. Windows normally detects when applications require administrator access and deals with this, but it may not always work. To run a program in administrator mode, just right-click its shortcut and select Run as administrator.

You could also fix this by disabling User Account Control entirely. We don’t recommend disabling UAC, as it’s an important security feature and it shouldn’t bug you too much — UAC has improved a lot from its sorry state in Windows Vista. Almost every Windows program will work fine with UAC enabled.

Enable Compatibility Mode

Windows 8 includes a Program Compatibility Troubleshooter along with compatibility options you can tweak. Just right-click the shortcut for the program you’re having problems with, select Properties, and click the Compatibility tab. From here, you can run the compatibility troubleshooter to have Windows walk you though choosing settings that my fix your problem. Alternatively, you can try to trick the program into thinking it’s running on a previous version of Windows, such as Windows XP or Windows 98. This may solve problems with programs that worked on previous programs but no longer work. The Compatibility tab also allows you to always start programs in administrator mode — useful if they must be run as administrator.

Use DOSBox

If you have an old DOS application that isn’t working properly in Windows — likely an old DOS game like the original DOOM games — you can run it in DOSBox. DOSBox is a free application that runs a full DOS environment in a window on your computer, allowing you to run DOS software. It’s much more compatible and full-featured than the Command Prompt included with Windows. DOSBox works so well that many game developers bundle DOSBox with their own games — if you buy a game like the original DOOM or Quake games on Steam, they’ll come bundled along with DOSBox.

Use a Virtual Machine

Virtual machines will allow you to run software that ran on previous versions of Windows. With a virtual machine, you can install a previous version of Windows — like Windows XP — and run it in a window on your computer. You can then run your old software in the virtual machine. Windows 8 no longer includes Windows 7′s Windows XP mode, but you can get basically the same feature by installing Windows XP in VirtualBox or VMware Player. Virtual machines aren’t ideal for games, as they’re a bit slow and 3D graphics don’t work amazingly well inside them. However, they do have some limited support for 3D graphics, so if you have an ancient PC game, it may play just fine in a virtual machine. You may also run into problems if your software needs direct access to certain hardware devices — you can connect USB devices to your virtual machine, but software that depends on direct access to certain pieces of hardware may not work.

Tips for Troubleshooting Specific Games

Windows 8 users will likely run into the most issues with games, as so many old games are still work playing, while old software is generally replaced and upgraded. If you’re running into issues with any specific game, try looking the game up on the PC Gaming Wiki. This website provides detailed information for fixing issues with many games — not only on Windows 8 but on other versions of Windows and other operating systems, too.

Do you have any other tips for making old software make on Windows 8 or even Windows 7, which works similarly? What software have you had trouble with, and how did you fix it? Leave a comment and share your experiences!

Did you know that the very first gaming console to make use of a CD-ROM was released in 1987? Do you know what it was called? What’s the best selling gaming console in history? Which was the first gaming console to feature full-colour output, sound and cartridge-based games? Look for the answers in this detailed and interesting infograph on the evolution of gaming consoles!

How many of these gaming consoles have you owned?

Click to enlarge.

via OnlineGameDesignSchools.org

In most forms of entertainment, romance is a key part of the story. Even horror movies tend to have some sort of hidden or not so hidden romance tucked away in the film. Video games tend to escape this in many cases, as the storytelling in video games has not evolved as well as some of the other mediums. After all, it’s a pretty new way for people to tell stories, so it has not had much time to mature.

That being said, there are some examples of video games with romance done right. I am not talking about the weird relationship where Mario seems to constantly allow Princess Peach to get kidnapped so he can rescue her. No, I am talking about genuine romance that actually feels like true love blooming. Romance goes a long way towards humanizing a fictional character, and when it’s done right in a game, it can really take a character to the next level.

SPOILER ALERT: Some of these will contain spoilers, as I might have to talk about how the romances develop throughout a game, which could ruin the ending if you haven’t played it. Consider yourself warned.

Uncharted Series

Uncharted, a franchise known for its ultra-manly violence, actually has one of the best romances going with Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher. The slow development between these two feels truly genuine, and all the way through the series, it feels like something you would expect to see in a movie with a big budget.

Part of what makes the romance in Uncharted work so well is that the characters run into problems throughout the game that, even though they are taking place during a crazy unrealistic treasure hunt, feel like something that could actually happen between two lovers. Another great thing about the love between the two is that it is always there, but Naughty Dog does not throw it in your face at every turn, so it actually feels quite subtle.

Red Dead Redemption

In my most humble opinion, I think the story in this game is among the best ever told in the land of video games. The love between John Marston and Abigail Marston, the main character and his mostly off-screen wife, adds a great deal to the story. John has ample opportunity to be unfaithful to his wife, but being the genuinely good person and loving husband that he is, he ultimately passes.

At the end of Red Dead Redemption, the player even takes part in a small section featuring no action, and just John and his wife living out their happiness together. It’s very interesting from a gameplay perspective, but it also adds a lot to the story. The ultimate ending of the game sees John making a huge sacrifice for his wife and family, and while I did give a spoiler warning at the beginning of the article, I am going to let you find out for yourself just what that is.

Persona 4

Persona 4, which is one of my favorite Japanese role-playing games, features one of the best romance and dating aspects you will ever find in a game. The player can court and go after a number of other characters in the game, and blossoming romance feels extremely genuine. Because the game is so long, the budding romances are given plenty of time to come to reality. When you finally make the move and take one of your relationships to the next level, it feels a lot like real life.

Personally, I ended up going after Yukiko in P4, but each of the characters has their own quirks that might attract gamers to go for them. On top of the enjoyable romance from a story perspective, reaching the highest relationship level with another character actually offers benefits in battle, which is something you don’t see too often.

Mass Effect

Like Persona, the Mass Effect series doesn’t force a certain romance upon players. Instead players can choose who they wish to pursue, and this feels much more like the real world. Of course, Persona is a little more sweet in its relationships than Mass Effect, but that’s because it features first love and high school students. Still, even if the ultimate goal is getting someone to sleep with you, the process of learning about the characters and ultimately hooking up is quite entertaining.

In Mass Effect, relationships with other members of the crew can lead to drama, which is also something very authentic to the real world. Issues like jealousy can come up from other parts of the crew, which adds a lot of entertainment to the story. While not perfect, Mass Effect definitely does a great job of portraying romance in an authentic way.

Conclusion

Who says video games can’t do authentic love? It’s not easy, and many games screw it up, but it most certainly is possible, and these games prove just that!

What video game romances do you think are the best? Hit the comments below and let us know.

The next-gen video game consoles are almost here, with both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 due to be released before the end of 2013. We’ve taken a first look at both consoles, with Matt explaining why he’s firmly in the Xbox One camp, and myself explaining why I’m firmly in the PS4 camp. But to be honest, both deserve a place underneath your television.

A new generation of consoles obviously brings better visuals with it, but graphics aren’t everything. While previous console generations relied rather heavily on improvements to how the games looked, this one is set to value a wide variety of other features above pure aesthetic appeal.

What follows is a list of five key features the next-gen consoles are set to bring with them, all of which are likely to have you salivating at the prospect of obtaining one or both of the previously mentioned machines.

Video Streaming

While non-gamers will no doubt wonder why on earth anyone would watch someone else play a video game, it happens, and with increasing frequency. Gameplay videos are watched by millions of people on YouTube, and live streaming footage of people playing games can be viewed on the likes of Twitch.tv and other sites.

The next-gen consoles are catering to this demand, with both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 constantly recording gameplay in the background. The Xbox One will reportedly save the last five minutes of footage, while the PS4 will save the last 15 minutes. This means that if something awesome happens within the game, you’ll be able to share it with other like-minded individuals in an instant.

Social Networking

This brings us neatly onto social networking, which is going to be built into both next-gen consoles. The PS3 and Xbox 360 already have some social features, including chat functionality and Trophies/Achievements, but these are going to look petty and underwhelming in the face of what’s to come.

We don’t quite yet know all of the details, but it looks clear from what we have seen so far that both consoles will let you plug into various online social networks in a big way. This will make it easier to connect with your fellow gamers online, meaning multiplayer matchmaking will be easier than ever.

Multiplayer Madness

Speaking of online multiplayer, this is one area which both console manufacturers (and the game developers who support the consoles) are keen to improve. After all, a good multiplayer experience can mean the difference between a mediocre review score and a near-perfect 9/10 (that some people will disagree with).

The processing power of the next-gen consoles will make multiplayer matches more epic than ever before. Rather than having dozens of people in a single match we’ll see hundreds (or even thousands) competing in the same environment and on the same server. And if the developers do their job properly, bugs and glitching should be reduced as well.

Improved AI

It doesn’t seem to matter how powerful games consoles become, how good the visuals look, or even how moving the storylines are, the AI of NPCs is often shockingly poor. Take The Last Of Us, for example, which has everything going for it apart from some woeful AI from the people travelling with your character.

Perhaps I’m being overly optimistic here but I can’t help feeling there will be significant improvements made to the AI in next-gen titles. The developers can no longer blame a lack of resources, so if an Xbox One or PS4 title does feature poor AI it will be as a result of programming inadequacies.

Epic Scale

Last but not least is a feature that could be argued comes under the general heading of “visuals.” But I think it stands out on its own, disconnected from the unimportant graphical improvements the next-gen will bring. I am talking about scale, a small (rather ironically) part of any game which actually has a big bearing on how a game makes you feel.

Some PS3 and Xbox 360 games have been able to show off large environments and give the player an impressive sense of scale, but these games are few and far between, and include moments picked out to show off a setpiece rather than sweeping, ever-present portions of the games. The next-gen, however, should allow a sense of scale to shine through unhindered in every single game.

Conclusions

As someone whose desire for better visuals has waned over the years, these features are the real reasons I’m now psyched at the prospect of playing next-gen titles on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. After all, some of my favorite gaming experiences in recent years have come from playing games which value everything else above mere graphics.

Are any of the features listed here enough to get you excited about the next generation consoles? Are any of them — particularly the video sharing and social networking aspects — actually turning you off from making the leap to the new hardware? What other key features are you hoping the next generation of games consoles bring with them? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.