The crazy PhysX card I read about a couple months ago has been released! Made by AGEIA, the PhysX SDK v2.6 packs some pretty powerful physics emulation power. This thing has the power to render water effects like it would a non-textured square. Will it succeed? You, the consumers, decide.
AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 Brings Dynamic, Interactive Realism to
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit & Linux Environments
Latest SDK Provides Deformable Object Features With Impact Retention And Self-Collision Prevention Capabilities For Game Developers
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – October 3, 2006 – AGEIA™ Technologies, Inc., the pioneer in hardware-accelerated physics for games, today announced availability of the AGEIA PhysX™ SDK v2.6. The latest version of its acclaimed physics API and runtime engine dramatically enhances and accelerates the development of cutting edge games with complex physics-based environments that feature real-time dynamic motion and interaction on a massive, persistent scale.
The SDK v2.6 brings new Deformable Objects™ features and Self-Collision Prevention™ capabilities to developers of games for Windows, and leading next generation videogame platforms, as well as new added support for Microsoft Windows Vista 64-bit & Linux environments.
“We are constantly advancing the creative options for game developers by delivering more physics acceleration features and capabilities in our software development kit,” said Manju Hegde, CEO of AGEIA. “The AGEIA PhysX SDK 2.6 physics acceleration solution has even more game physics options and sets a new bar for realism and character and environmental interaction in games. Now developers will have a competitive edge for bringing more stand-out, entertaining and immersive games to market.”
The AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 now supports physics simulations for applications developed for Linux operating systems, and supports hardware acceleration for applications running on Microsoft Windows Vista.
Beyond new support for Microsoft Windows Vista and Linux, the AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 includes two significant advancements in physics-based features that will give game developers even more tools to take their games to the next level of interactive gameplay; dynamically deformable objects with impact retention, leveraging AGEIA PhysX cloth simulation technology, and both software and hardware-accelerated cloth with self-collision prevention.
Dynamic Deformable Objects with Impact Retention
The AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 contains a groundbreaking deformable object API which opens up a wide range of exciting new gameplay possibilities. With AGEIA’s technology, developers can create realistic deformable objects that act and react in real-time. With a deformable shell covering the structure of a vehicle, for example, the car body can now be realistically damaged in a collision so that it retains the shape of the impact. This collision can then affect the car’s dynamics, and dramatically impact game play. In addition, because all of these interactions and reactions happen in real-time, and according to the laws of force, speed, pressure, density and volume, the next time the gamer has a collision it may cause an entirely different set of real-world reactions, adding to the re-play value of each game..
Self-Collision Prevention
AGEIA’s SDK 2.6 also provides the most advanced collision detection API available to game developers. With newly added cloth self-collision detection, game creators can now use complex cloth materials in their games without side effects or a reduction in performance. Without this ground-breaking new advancement, cloth materials, used in clothing, flags or various other coverings, could fold or tear unrealistically, removing the player from the experience.
“Everything we do is focused on opening up an entirely new realm of advanced game physics options to developers that can be easily integrated into today’s game designs; our scalable hardware architecture and SDK only grow those possibilities for creative game design in the future” added Hegde.
Today, more than 70 developers and publishers are creating over 120 new games utilizing AGEIA’s powerful physics acceleration technology, which is optimized for the AGEIA PhysX processor, the world’s first dedicated physics processing unit.
Content Creation Tools Support
The AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 provides support for modeling and art tools, including plug-ins for Autodesk® 3ds Max®7 and Alias® Maya 7, as well as COLLADA™ Physics format import/export support. AGEIA PhysX technology is also integrated into Softimage®|XSI™ v5.0, available directly from Softimage.
SDK Availability & Support
Qualified developers can obtain versions of the AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 from AGEIA. To download the PC SDK or obtain more detailed information on the capabilities of the AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6, please visit the AGEIA website at
http://www.devsupport.ageia.com
About AGEIA
AGEIA™ Technologies, Inc., is the pioneer of hardware-accelerated physics for PC games and has developed the world’s first dedicated physics processor, the AGEIA PhysX processor. The AGEIA PhysX processor powers massive and pervasive real-time interactive worlds that for the first time obey the laws of classical physics. AGEIA provides a world-class cross platform software development kit to simplify advanced physics programming for the PhysX processor, as well next-generation gaming consoles. AGEIA is changing the face of gaming by working with more than sixty leading developers and publishers to deliver the next generation of physically immersive entertainment. The company, headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is privately-held. For more information visit
http://www.ageia.com.
