Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, DirectSound, and so forth. The name DirectX
was coined as shorthand term for all of these APIs (the X standing in
for the particular API names) and soon became the name of the
collection. Direct3D (the 3D graphics API within DirectX) is widely used in the development of video games for Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Xbox, and Microsoft Xbox 360.
Direct3D is also used by other software applications for visualization
and graphics tasks such as CAD/CAM engineering. As Direct3D is the most
widely publicized component of DirectX, it is common to see the names
"DirectX" and "Direct3D" used interchangeably.
The DirectX software development kit (SDK) consists of runtime libraries in redistributable binary form, along with accompanying documentation and headers for use in coding.
The latest versions of Direct3D, namely, Direct3D 10 and Direct3D 9Ex, are only officially available for Windows Vista and Windows 7, because each of these new versions was built to depend upon the new Windows Display Driver Model
that was introduced for Windows Vista. The new Vista/WDDM graphics
architecture includes a new video memory manager that supports
virtualizing graphics hardware to multiple applications and services
such as the Desktop Window Manager...............sodeep
Direct X is a graphics handling addon, usually distributed via Microsoft. Usually when you start the game it will advise you that you need to install DirectX. Sometimes the game opens the browser and takes you to micosoft to download.
However, you can proceed directly to MS and do a search for directX and have it download and automatically install.
Direct X has moved on beyond 9 now It is currently at version 11. This should not be a problem as it allows for earlier versions to be accommodated. Here is a link for you to download from at MS games
http://www.microsoft.com/games/en-US/aboutGFW/pages/directx.aspx
Just select the download and let it do its own thing after you follow the prompts... enjoy!
Thanks for using FIXYA
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