Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 28 Apr 2010 12:09 and updated at 29 Apr 2010 05:32
DirectX Versions
In order to understand the DirectX components it is a good idea to know the history of development of various DirectX components in older versions.
DirectX Version 1.0
DirectX 1.0 is released by September 1995 to help write computer-games based on 2D graphics with sound, that can support multiplayers over network as well as handle various input devices. It contained the following components:-
Component Description
| DirectDraw | 2D Graphics support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectSound | Sound support |
DirectX 1.0 does not include Direct3D. The only Microsoft game that uses DirectX 1.0 is Close-Combat, version 1.0. Microsoft Return of Arcade also used modified DirectX 1.0.
DirectX Version 2.0
Direct3D was introduced in DirectX Version 2.0. It provided support for 3D graphics. Close-Combat, version 1.0a used DirectX 2.0. Similarly Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95 is based on this version. Other games: Microsoft Soccer and Microsoft Golf. Released by June 1996. (There was a modified version called 2a.)
Component Description
| Direct3D | 3D Graphics support |
| DirectDraw | 2D Graphics support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectSound | Sound support |
Full list of games on DirectX Version 2.0a
- Microsoft Close Combat for Windows, version 1.0a
- Microsoft Deadly Tide for Windows, version 1.0
- Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95, version 1.0
- Microsoft GEX, version 1.0
- Microsoft Hellbender for Windows, version 1.0
- Microsoft Monster Truck Madness, version 1.0
- Microsoft NBA Full Court Press for Windows, version 1.0
- Microsoft Soccer, version 1.0
- Microsoft Golf for Windows, version 3.0
DirectX Version 3.0
DirectX Version 3.0 included a new DirectPlay version though it retained the old DirectPlay. Escape from Horrorland, a game by Dreamworks was based on this DirectX 3. (There was a modified version called 3a, an update to DirectX 3.0 supplied to game vendors). Released by September 1996.
Component Description
Direct3D 3D Graphics support
DirectDraw 2D Graphics support
DirectInput Input Devices support
DirectPlay Network support
DirectSound Sound support
Old DirectPlay Old version of DirectPlay
Games on DirectX Version 3.0
- DreamWorks Interactive, The Neverhood, version 1.0
- DreamWorks Interactive, Scholastic's Goosebumps Series: Escape from Horrorland, version 1.0
DirectX Version 5.0 and 5.2
There were no DirectX Version 4.0. The DirectX Version 5.0 maintained the same component structure. Then there was DirectX Version 5.2 that maintained the same component structure. Attack of the Mutant a game by Dreamworks was based on this DirectX 5. DirectX 5.0 was released by July 1997. DirectX 5.2 on Windows 98 was released by May 1998.
Component Description
| Direct3D 3D | Graphics support |
| DirectDraw | 2D Graphics support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectSound | Sound support |
| Old DirectPlay | Old version of DirectPlay |
DirectX Version 6.0 and 6.1
DirectX Version 6.0 maintained the same component structure where as DirectX Version 6.1 introduced a new component called DirectMusic. This component supported dynamic music creation capability. Microsoft Age of Empires and Microsoft Age of Empires Expansion: The Rise of Rome were famous games written based on DirectX Version 6.1. Released by February 1999. on Windows 98 SE.
Component Description
| Direct3D 3D | Graphics support |
| DirectDraw | 2D Graphics support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectMusic | Dynamic music support |
| DirectSound | Sound support |
| Old DirectPlay | Old version of DirectPlay |
Full list of Microsoft games on DirectX 6.1:-
- Microsoft Close Combat III: The Russian Front, version 1.0
- Microsoft Age of Empires, version 1.0
- Microsoft Age of Empires Expansion: The Rise of Rome, version 1.0
- Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator: WWII Europe Series, version 1.0
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 98
- Microsoft Monster Truck Madness 2, version 2.0
- Microsoft Motocross Madness, version 1.0
DirectX Version 7.0
DirectX Version 7.0 maintained the same component structure. Released by September 1999.
Component Description
| Direct3D | 3D Graphics support |
| DirectDraw | 2D Graphics support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectMusic | Dynamic music support |
| DirectSound | Sound support |
| Old DirectPlay | Old version of DirectPlay |
DirectX Version 8.0
DirectX Version 8.0 thoroughly revised the DirectX components Direct3D and DirectDraw are combined to form DirectX Graphics. DirectMusic and DirectSound are combined to form DirectX Audio. DirctPlay is updated to support voice communication between players. DirectInput introduces action-mapping. DirectShow which was considered separate from DirectX is now a part of DirectX. DirectX 8.0 is released by September 2000 (A version 8.1 was released by November 2001). (The set up utility is also considerd now as a DirectX component named Direct Setup.)
Component Description
| DirectX Graphics | 3D/2D Graphics support |
| DirectX Audio | Audio support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectShow | Video support |
| DirectSetUp | Installation support |
DirectX Version 9.0
DirectX 9.0 was released by December 2002. It has not many changes to DirectX Graphics component. A new component called DirectX Media Objects is introduced in this version.
Microsoft DirectX Media Objects (DMOs) are COM-based data-streaming components. In some respects, DMOs are similar to Microsoft DirectShow® filters. Like DirectShow filters, DMOs take input data and use it to produce output data. However, the application programming interfaces (APIs) for DMOs are much simpler than the corresponding APIs for DirectShow. As a result, DMOs are easier to create, test, and use.
Component Description
| DirectX Graphics | 3D/2D Graphics support |
| DirectMusic | Dynamic music support |
| DirectSound | Sound support |
| DirectInput | Input Devices support |
| DirectPlay | Network support |
| DirectShow | Video support |
| DirectSetUp | Installation support |
| DirectX Media Objects | Data streaming support |
Later versions
| DirectX 9.0a | March 2003 |
| DirectX 9.0b | August 2003 |
| DirectX 9.0c | August 2004 updated in every 2 months |
| DirectX 10.0 | for Windows Vista |
| DirectX 11.0 | for Windows 7 |
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