I wouldn't say OpenGL is ugly as hell. Modern OpenGL (using vertex buffers and such) isn't too bad. But politics, platform-compatibility and corporate hating

I wouldn't say OpenGL is ugly as hell. Modern OpenGL (using vertex buffers and such) isn't too bad. But politics, platform-compatibility and corporate hating aside, Direct3D is the better API. OpenGL suffers from a lot of the same issues as HTML -- designed by a committee of mostly competitors. It should surprise no one that while systems that come out of such arrangements can be vital for the industry, they are very slow moving when compared to an SDK defined by a dictator (benevolent or otherwise) and much more hesitant to allow for the massive changes that new technology would otherwise allow.