Open GL is available on more platforms than DirectX or Direct 3D
DirectX or Direct 3D is a microsoft product available only on microsoft OSes including a hacked variant of it on the Xbox - MS would prefer people to learn Direct 3D rather than Open GL this so thay cant port or write softwae for other operating systems.
Open-GL is available on MS windows (XP and Vista) all unix (solaris ,hpux, aix ,tru64, linux),vms? Mac ,etc. and a variant of it on the PS3, basically it's supported on a huge range of devices and OS's
used for both games and other visualisation products.
They are pretty much capable of the same thing - that is giving a consistant way to provide 3d geometry and rendering ,and porting one to the other probably is not a huge difficulty.
Older games consoles like Wii or Ps2 i think they use direct hardware access - anyone clarify this ?
Anyway multiport games are pretty easy to do if middleware engine is supported by multiple platforms ie Unreal engine on PC , PS3 or X360 , Phys X on Ps3 PC and X360 (this is physics though) to really do really cutting edge stuff can require more effort however. Depending on the platform they may run faster or slower or use more software or hardware etc.
PS3 number 1 fan
