Hardware-accelerated physics is coming soon to laptops. AGEIA Technologies has announced the world’s first PhysX Mobile processor, the AGEIA PhysX 100M, for high-performance gaming notebook PCs. The physics processor will consume low power and thermal design with power dissipation of nearly 10W under gameplay conditions. It also includes active power management to throttle down the clock in high heat system conditions and reduce the clock when not active. Interestingly, the performance will be same to that of its desktop counterpart.
The 100M processor is available now and is expected to be included in new notebook models hitting the market soon. It is being showcased at the company’s GC booth.
AGEIA also sent word that it will showcase Warmonger, a new FPS from NetDevil, at its booth. The game, powered by Unreal Engine 3, features support for the PhysX processor and includes fully destructible environments and more. The company will also be showing off Unreal Tournament 3’s physics support.
AGEIA sends word that BioWare is integrating its PhysX technology into its next-gen Eclipse Engine for PC and next-gen consoles. The development studio will be using the physics solution in Dragon Age, as well as in future titles.
Those looking forward to upgrade their physics can purchase the AGEIA PhysX processor available now in computers from Dell and Alienware; it is also available as add-in boards from ASUS and BFG Technologies.
Artificial Studios has announced the December 2006 release of CellFactor: Revolution, an action FPS that was originally a showcase for the AGEIA PhysX processor.
Developed in conjunction with Immersion Games, CellFactor has players manipulate thousands of objects simultaneously through psychic power, control vehicles and fight against AI-controlled opponents or challenge friends in the network mode. Some details:
- Fully destructible architecture in five unique environments - bust through walls, break down pillars, blow up bridges and more.
- CellFactor: Revolution establishes a new standard of real-time multiplayer interactivity - thousands of breakable objects become instant deadly arms. Four times the amount of interactive objects as CellFactor: Combat Training.
- Powerful new Psychic abilities, including Psi Rift (hold many objects at once with both hands), Psi Crunch (implode whatever the character is holding), Psi Wave (part an ocean of objects in front of you), Dual-Wielding of any two weapons and more.
- New vehicles, including a flying mechanized power-suit that creates an dynamic gameplay experience.
- New weapons, including a physically realistic Grappling Hook, giving players more ways to destroy enemies and the environment around them.
- Fresh gameplay modes include Assault and physics-oriented sports modes in addition to Deathmatch and Physical Capture the Flag.
Quantic Dream, the studio behind the awesomely-excellent Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy, has revealed its next-gen project through private viewings at E3. Dubbed “Heavy Rain,” the video shown was a tech demo run on the PS3 which showed off “The Casting” of a young actress for the lead role of the game. It features the virtual actor expressing emotions and crying in real-time 3D; Aurelie Brancilhon was the chosen actress.
“Our objective was to recreate not only the likeness of a living actor, but its complete acting performance, in particular in its emotional dimension” says David Cage, the founder of Quantic Dream and director of Heavy Rain. “At Quantic Dream, we believe that emotion will be a key component of Next Gen games and we are heavily investing in technologies to create Virtual Actors since several years. By expanding the range of emotions video games have to offer, they will be able to reach a far wider audience. This demo is just the beginning of what can be achieved, but I hope it already shows the fascinating new possibilities this media will offer in the coming years”.
“The Casting” featured full body and facial motion capture, including eyes, pupils, fingers and tongue; real-time tears, wrinkles on the face; advanced skin shades; and advanced rendering features.
Heavy Rain is being developed as a new franchise for the PC and next-gen consoles, and will make use of emotion and innovative gameplay mechanics.
The tech demo shown at the event was created in collaboration with AGEIA (physics engine), VICON PEAK (motion capture) and with the support of SCE. A high-resolution 720p video can be downloaded here (direct link).
Southpeak Interactive and Artificial Studios have announced that they have joined forces, and that the former will be publishing Monster Madness for PC and next-gen platforms.
Both companies will be showing off the game, a co-op action shooter, which utilizes the AGEIA PhysX processor, at E3. The game will be shown off at one-on-one meetings.
AGEIA announced that its PhysX processor is now available, accelerating physics in supported games through hardware. A lot of companies have made related announcements: Alpha Prime, Blink 3D, City of Villains, DarkBASIC Professional, EMotion FX 3 Character Animation System, Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Unreal Tournament 2007.
The PlayStation 3 news keeps rolling in as AGEIA announced that its PhysX SDK v2.4 will become available to registered PS3 game developers on March 31. Details:
The AGEIA PhysX SDK is highly recognized for its extensive physics functionality and multithreading capabilities, which are uniquely suited for the multicore architecture of the Cell processor adopted on PLAYSTATION®3. The latest AGEIA PhysX SDK version 2.4 is optimized for the Cell processor, adding mind-blowing physics action to the high-definition graphics of PLAYSTATION®3 titles.In the 2.4 release, several components of the AGEIA PhysX pipeline have been offloaded from the PPU of the PLAYSTATION®3 to the SPUs; developers can fully control the component deployment. This has resulted in a 50% reduction in maximum PPU load, leaving more room for game code and smooth frame rates.
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