This is not necessarily a BMax issues as in BlitzPlus OpenGL blew away the DirectDraw performance.
The problem is, we were used to the 2D performance in Blitz BASIC and Blitz Plus which used DirectDraw. BlitzMax emulates 2D via 3D methods in Direct3D.
WinG was 2D, when it became DirectDraw it was 2D. It was some time before Direct3D came along and it was even longer before Direct3D was capable of emulating 2D.
However, from its first release, OpenGL has always been able to emulate 2D and has done so quite well.
In true 3D games, I think DX is better than OpenGL, but when it comes to emulating 2D, OpenGL beats DX hands down, especially when you are using really old versions of DX like DX7. DX 8 & DX 9 are much better at emulating 2D IMHO.
The problem is, we were used to the 2D performance in Blitz BASIC and Blitz Plus which used DirectDraw. BlitzMax emulates 2D via 3D methods in Direct3D.
WinG was 2D, when it became DirectDraw it was 2D. It was some time before Direct3D came along and it was even longer before Direct3D was capable of emulating 2D.
However, from its first release, OpenGL has always been able to emulate 2D and has done so quite well.
In true 3D games, I think DX is better than OpenGL, but when it comes to emulating 2D, OpenGL beats DX hands down, especially when you are using really old versions of DX like DX7. DX 8 & DX 9 are much better at emulating 2D IMHO.