DirectX 10 could well usher in a new era of PC graphics. This three-part series includes interviews with graphics card makers and game developers working on DX10 products, and here in the first part, we talk with Microsoft's Chris Donahue and David Blythe. When DirectX 10 rocks your PC with the release of Windows Vista early next year, it will come courtesy of a trio of forces: The graphics card companies obviously play a huge role, as do the game developers, but DirectX is Microsoft's baby. Ultimately it is up to Microsoft engineers to work together with IHVs (the independent hardware vendors that build the graphics cards) and game developers (aka ISVs?independent software vendors) to define the API.

We managed to sneak some time into the busy schedules of two key Microsofties to find out what makes DX10 tick, and why they think you're going to want to migrate to a DX10-capable computer for the best experience the PC has to offer. Chris Donahue is the Director of Business Development in the Games for Windows Entertainment and Devices Division, while David Blythe is a Software Architect with the Graphics Platforms Unit.

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