Bioware goes PhysX

[SlamDunk]

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/11/07/bioware_integrates_PhysX_into_new_engine/

In a move that could see some real traction being gained for add-in physics boards, A-grade game developer Bioware has agreed to use AGEIA's PhysX technology in its next-generation gaming engine.

Bioware has previously been responsible for some of the best games ever to hit the PC, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Neverwinter Nights series. And who could forget Baldur's Gate?

The Eclipse Engine is the next iteration of the engine seen in Neverwinter Nights 2, and will first been seen in Dragon Age, an upcoming fantasy RPG which doesn't yet have a release date. Bioware has described Dragon Age as the spiritual sucessor to the Baldur's Gate series.

 

[penguin]

Saweet
As much as I hate having to spend $200 on a new card to do physics, I think Ageia's implementation is worth it, so it's nice to see a company hop on board.

 

[StevetheFox]

Ack. More reliance on unnecessary hardware. IT pains me so.

On the other hand we see ppu games availabale now (however few) whereas havok's gpu accelerated physics is no where to be seen yet. Bleh. I dunno.

 

[theelectic]

Does that mean they're just using the PhysX libraries, like the PS3, with no hardware support, or is the library going to be accelerated by the hardware? I wonder. You can have the PhysX software without the hardware.

Interestingly enough the latest Splinter Cell: Double Agent comes with PhysX drivers on the disc, but doesn't install (at least in my case it didn't). I wonder if PhysX is being used underneath, but with no HW acceleration.

 

[RavenD]

PhysX can be done by a PPU, or in absence of a PPU it can be done the the cpu.

 

[amromousa]

great news

 

[mentok1982]

Finally a second game that is PhsyX enabled that I want to play soooo bad.

Horray!

 

[theelectic]

PhysX can be done by a PPU, or in absence of a PPU it can be done the the cpu.

Not the other way around though - software PhysX is not automatically shifted to hardware if available. First Unreal Engine 3 game out, Roboblitz, uses PhysX for physics but has no hardware support

 

[SuperGee]

But using Hardwre PhysX with a bit decent use off enhanced Physics makes the API free for De'v's. Could be a hard point for budged projects.

 

[StevetheFox]

Often overlooked, but an awesome point.

 

[Lord_Exodia]

I'm just happy A-Grade developers are making an effort to take better advantage of physics period. I think physics are the next step to gameplay evolution, so bring it on!!!

 

[StevetheFox]

I'm just happy A-Grade developers are making an effort to take better advantage of physics period. I think physics are the next step to gameplay evolution, so bring it on!!!

Amen. I say make static objects go the way of the dinosaur.

 

[GreenMonkey]

Now you're talking. Now I want to see video of it in action to convince me to spend the money.

 

[k2_1971]

Glad to see Bioware adopt Ageia's solution for real-time physics processing. Really looking forward to how they implement it (only graphical physics simulation vs. actual game-affecting object manipulation).

 

[Hvatum]

Glad to see Bioware adopt Ageia's solution for real-time physics processing. Really looking forward to how they implement it (only graphical physics simulation vs. actual game-affecting object manipulation).

Same here, no matter who you're rooting for this is an exciting development. Unless of course you're rooting for computer gaming vagrants who want hardware development to stop now so they never have upgrade again.