Windows 8: Backwards Compability? ..Forwad Compability?

[Realitycrash]

Hi. I've found a good deal for a new gaming-rig. Problem is; It ships with Windows 8. I've looked around, and it doesn't seem that most games right now are compatible with Win 8 (or at least it doesn't say). So, do you know if games listed as Win 7/Vista-Compatible (Like say Dishonored or XCOM) are also compatible with Win 8?
And do you think games released this spring and onward will be? Because I am unsure if I can make them sell me a Win 7 instead of a Win 8 at shipping.

 

[Rayken15]

Well, Windows 8 is just a small upgrade to Windows 7 (start menu is like a tablet menu, metro I think twas called) and a few performance tweaks. It should run everything just fine.

 

[thesilentman]

Hi. I've found a good deal for a new gaming-rig. Problem is; It ships with Windows 8. I've looked around, and it doesn't seem that most games right now are compatible with Win 8 (or at least it doesn't say). So, do you know if games listed as Win 7/Vista-Compatible (Like say Dishonored or XCOM) are also compatible with Win 8?
And do you think games released this spring and onward will be? Because I am unsure if I can make them sell me a Win 7 instead of a Win 8 at shipping.

You'll be fine. Windows 7 and 8 share the same kernel, so many games that run in Vista/7 will work in 8. I'm (still) running the Release Preview and all of my applications work, ranging from Dishonored to LibreOffice to VIM.

 

[Realitycrash]

Hi. I've found a good deal for a new gaming-rig. Problem is; It ships with Windows 8. I've looked around, and it doesn't seem that most games right now are compatible with Win 8 (or at least it doesn't say). So, do you know if games listed as Win 7/Vista-Compatible (Like say Dishonored or XCOM) are also compatible with Win 8?
And do you think games released this spring and onward will be? Because I am unsure if I can make them sell me a Win 7 instead of a Win 8 at shipping.

You'll be fine. Windows 7 and 8 share the same kernel, so many games that run in Vista/7 will work in 8. I'm (still) running the Release Preview and all of my applications work, ranging from Dishonored to LibreOffice to VIM.

Alright, cheers.

 

[devotedsniper]

I have yet to find a game or piece of software which does not run on 8, unless your trying to run something insanely old. The only thing I've had to do so far is run in compatibility mode for rollercoaster tycoon (not really surprising) and i had to do a bit of playing about to get GTA4 working (had to update games for windows, also had an issue with my graphics card having too much memory but that's a game bug).

Other than the new start menu (Metro) everything's basically the same except a few gui changes and some extra native support for things such as .iso's.

 

[Tanis]

I feel your pain.

Word of advice:
Invest in Stardock_Start8.

It'll make Win8 look like Win7.