Update: For my list of the best Windows 8 Store games right now, click here.
Microsoft Surface Pro reviewers did a good job. Let me just say that. They tested the device under as many different conditions as you could think of, they ran whatever programs they deemed relevant to their readers and they doled out scores that, I think, laid out the new device just right. The Surface is not perfect, it's definitely nifty, and it may just be a step in the right direction for Microsoft.
But what the hell does it do for gamers? Most reviews touched on this, letting people know with which settings they can run which high-profile games, and that's all well-and good if you're reviewing a gaming computer, but the Surface is a tablet with the (supposed) ability to run any program on Windows today. It's a completely different beast.
I don't want a megaton rig to run "Battlefield 4" so realistically I forget I'm sitting down, I just want to be able to access the new wave of PC games, indie and big-publisher alike, that I won't be able to get on my consoles. So what can the Microsoft Surface Pro, running Windows 8 in all its controversial glory, do for me?
Well, despite my grandiose plans, the first thing I did was look for solitaire. Having been on a Mac for so long, I missed those stupid virtual cards and the time-melt they gave me. But alas, it was not pre-installed, I had to venture into the Windows Store to find "Microsoft Solitaire Collection" and then, of course, "Microsoft Minesweeper." Both are free, and both are optimized for touch screen use.
In fact, the fancy Surface stylus, which shows you where you're pointing at the screen before you actually make contact, made this version of "Minesweeper" the most efficient I've ever played. With leaderboards, statistic tracking and even achievements, both games felt appropriately modern. "Minesweeper" even had a "Spelunky" inspired mode called "Adventure" where you take a spelunker through some caves in rogue-like fashion, uncovering traps much as you do in the traditional game. It was a nice, cute surprise, but only worth a couple plays.
Which brings me back to the stylus, because I just love using it with games that would normally beg for your index finger instead. The accuracy is unparalleled and I believe it makes most games at least a little bit easier to handle. If you're skeptical, there's another aspect to the store you should know about.
Microsoft is pushing demos as hard on this store as they did for the Xbox Live Arcade. Nearly every title I saw had a "Try" demo right next to the "Buy" button, so no more scanning for free versions of a game you're on the edge about.
My Grand Conclusion
Yes, you can run whatever PC game you want on this thing, even if it's "Borderlands 2" running at two frames per second. Obviously that's not the point. The point is, the Surface is hitting some weird middle-ground for gaming just like it is for computing. The stylus goes a long way towards maximum accessibility, but the heat issue is definitely a setback for that ideal, resting-on-your lap image.
But I see no reason to feel regret about the purchase. My AAA gaming, for now, stays on consoles, and I'm pretty sure everything else I'm going to want, the Microsoft Surface Pro can run. The Windows Store has some growing to do, but if developers utilize it as the middle-ground Microsoft hopes it can be, gaming on Windows 8 tablets in general may be a truly unique way to go.
