Physics engine hardware...Interesting

[James]

This is very, very interesting; a company called Ageia has announced their plans to release a dedicated physics processor called PhysX, designed to coexist with existing GPU and CPU chips. What this means is that instead of having like a dozen physics objects in the game, you'd have something like 30,000 to 40,000 of them. Learn more details about the PhysX technology here.

GS: Can you give examples of how a game might be able to increase realism with the help of a PPU?

TS: When people talk about physics in recent games, they mostly think of Unreal Tournament 2004's vehicles or Half Life 2's dynamic objects. There, you have tens or perhaps 100 big objects interacting physically in an otherwise static environment. Knocking chairs and tables around is fun, but that's hardly the apex of physics simulation! The next steps are realistic dynamic environments, fluid simulation, large-scale particle simulation, and other very large-scale physical phenomenon. If you look at a modern action or sci-fi movie, and what's possible with the non-realtime computer graphics effects there, it's clear that major new physics innovations will be introduced into gaming as hardware performance increases 10X, 100X, and more.

Taken from gamespot
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/08/news_6119895.html

 

[Decotey]

nice
prolly gonna cost u an arm and a leg

 

[antowan]

So what you are telling me is that I will really get to meet the lady in red from the Matrix movie soon?!!?

Yeah!

 

[ic]

Lady in red? I can never remember her name, but I have the hots for the lady in the black leather/pleather - same woman?

 

[antowan]

Nope, not the same woman. Trinity maybe? Or are you refering to the french woman that peeves off Trinity by forcing Neo to kiss her?

 

[ic]

Nope, not the same woman. Trinity maybe? Or are you refering to the french woman that peeves off Trinity by forcing Neo to kiss her?

Yep that's right Trinity...hmmm...me likes - what's her non-Matrix name though
it's bugging me...google...ok her name is Carrie-Anne Moss.

About that French kissing now I really need to see part 3 of The Matrix bcos I think I would remember that ...

Ok, apologies, I just read your post properly - I thought you said there was a French girl that was kissing Trinity

 

[DFantom]

I thought you said there was a French girl that was kissing Trinity

If that was there then it might have saved the triology from ending so trash

 

[Bobb]

I'm sorry are you reading this thread or were you watching the lady in the red dress?

 

[martin]

If that was there then it might have saved the triology from ending so trash

I'm still carrying the emotional scars of The Matrix sequels.

 

[Darric]

Anyone else not really looking forward to the days when PC games will have listed under their system requirements:

128 MB Physics card or better required

Darric

 

[stoke]

But picture it - A game where you can grab your "friend" by the ankle, swing him around and throw him into the hovering helicopter's blades and then catch his still beating heart if you're lucky. Weeeee.

A couple of years later and all this sci-fi stuff is becomming possible. Welcome to the Matrix will be the slogan of an entertainment company, not a movie.

Wind will come into play, the effects of heat and lighting will make more sense, walking through a field of long grass will actually effect the grass.

The shading they use nowdays is flawed, how can a wall not show up when a torch is shined right at it - thats just silly.

Bigger better faster more !!!! Go Go Go.

 

[bb_matt]

I'm looking forward to :-

128mb Artificial Intelligence card or better required

What really bugged me about some of the latest games with physics and more eye candy, was the often crappy quality of the AI.

Doom3 was plain rotten in that regard, Far Cry was reasonable but had it's bad moments and Half-Life 2 was much the same - possibly a little better.

The way I understand it is to get truly complex AI requires heaps of processing power. Wouldn't it be great if games could start reasoning to a degree ?
To be able to do away with scripted events and cut scenes and actually have the AI work the story out based on your actions and a loose plot ?

Instead of Alyx in Half Life scripted to tell you exactly the same thing and go through exactly the same motions, she actually will know what you are supposed to be doing and going. If you do something silly like throw a barrel at her, she won't just stand there blinking, she'll dodge or catch the barrel and ask you what the hell you think your doing.

As far as the physics goes - so far Half-Life 2 has used it to the best effect, but what still irritates me is the collision detection.
It's just so easy to poke a crate or barrel through a character - it looks really stupid and destroys the immersion.

 

[RoosTa]

I'm not too sure if I want an AI card. Have you ever watched Terminator?

 

[arf9999]

Maybe this is what is required:

http://www.blachford.info/computer/Cells/Cell0.html

 

[Decotey]

Disclaimer : We cannot be held responsible for any loss of memory or brain damage caused by using this piece of hardware

 

[Decotey]

Heres another article on the physics engine : http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2376