When I read comments that some people who want DirectX in this or that console it make me want to tear the little hair I have left out of my head. And it is apparent that these people have no idea of what DirectX is and what it does.
First off before I delve into some more semi-technical aspects of what it does. I will go into what it is. DirectX is a wrapper “language” that helps developers make graphic intensive programs for the WINDOWS platform. (aka anything that runs Windows in some form) So right there you can rule out DirectX ever being used for any Sony or Nintendo product, these companies make their own proprietary OS for their systems.
Now what is a wrapper programming language and what does it do for programmers. On a programming aspect you can view a computer system that runs windows as a building with many different stories. It runs from Machine level (dealing with custom programming each and every single piece of hardware in a computer to do what you want it to) to the various API layers of Windows.
Windows is a system comprised of many layers that separates programs from the hardware layer. This helps in that you can use the generic virtual drives that Windows provides so you do not have to worry about optimizing your code to run on a specific device. The down side to it is that sometimes the layers have trouble communicating with each other and trigger the Blue Screen of Death.
What DirectX does is add another layer to this and deals with communicating with these generic drivers and messaging systems so the programmer and concentrate one make their program. This gives developers a easy entrance into programming for Windows, the down side is you sacrifice power and optimization (and in some part stability) for ease.
So DirectX in console is basically a step that allows programmers the ability to quickly make code for the Xbox. But as time goes by the DirectX portions of the engines get replaced in favor of machine code that allows the engine to run faster take up less RAM and do amazing things that just are not possible with DirectX. They may still use DirectX for items such as I/O functions since these tend to be closer to the machine level, and are optimized fairly well. (No need to reinvent the wheel.)
Nintendo and Sony do use a wrapper language for their systems, it comes in the form of the open source OpenGL/AL formats since these do not need to talk to the Windows API layers, which allows easier porting to various other platforms. (Though the OpenGL/AL in these are optimized and trimmed down for use with the systems it is intended for.)
Well that is all I can say for now. I was working on this for a book I'm writting to try and combat my major student loan issues. So I'm gathering what I learned about game development and presenting it for those who want to use it as a hobby and do it as inexpensivly as possible. (Unlike me who got taken by a "private technical collage" who took all my financing and now the creditor want their money...)
