Nvidia snaps up PhysX with Ageia buy

Nvidia snaps up PhysX with Ageia buy

Daniel Fleshbourne on 05 February 2008 - 17:26 · 29 comments & 29246 views

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Graphics firm Nvidia has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ageia Technologies, a privately held gaming physics technology developer based in California. Ageia is best known for its PhysX software, which is shipping or in development with more than 140 PhysX-based games on Sony's PlayStation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Nintendo's Wii and gaming PCs.

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#1 Swordnyx on 05 Feb 2008 - 17:54

GeForce 10: PhysX integrated?

EDIT: Actually, that would work right? GeForce X: PhysX.. GFXPX. GPX. I don't know it's cool though.

Last edited by Swordnyx on 06 Feb 2008 - 02:05

(2 replies) #2 neufuse on 05 Feb 2008 - 18:11

Wonder how long until DirectX has a physics system built right in...

#2.1 IceBreakerG on 05 Feb 2008 - 20:38

(neufuse said @ #2)

Wonder how long until DirectX has a physics system built right in...

Wasn't there a rumor that DirectX 11 was supposed to include a physics API? Can't remember where I saw it at, but I do remember seeing it somewhere.

#2.2 Swordnyx on 06 Feb 2008 - 05:53

(IceBreakerG said @ #2.1)

(neufuse said @ #2)

Wonder how long until DirectX has a physics system built right in...

Wasn't there a rumor that DirectX 11 was supposed to include a physics API? Can't remember where I saw it at, but I do remember seeing it somewhere.

I remember reading that too, they said it was DX10.1 or something but then it was ditched and saved for DX11.

#3 +Troll on 05 Feb 2008 - 18:36

I like this acquisition. AMD and such probably not so much, but PhysX cards were more of a niche market in my opinion. The fact that the technology can be implemented onto a single card leads to interesting possibilities. And as competition always shows, AMD will be forced to step up and implement a similar solution once it becomes standard, which is a positive for the consumer.

From a more personal level, I don't play as many PC games as in years past, and have been more focused on the HTPC front. Just looking for the next breakthrough on HD content for the PC, but if I grow tired of my 360 I may come back to PC gaming...

#4 +King Mustard on 05 Feb 2008 - 18:39

Exciting acquisition

#5 Cøbra on 05 Feb 2008 - 18:52

About time. Doesn't come as a surprise to me, to be honest.

(2 replies) #6 trancefreak on 05 Feb 2008 - 19:06

ive heard about but havnt a slightest clue to what PhysX software is. Ill have to read up on it now

#6.1 neufuse on 05 Feb 2008 - 19:50

(trancefreak said @ #6)

ive heard about but havnt a slightest clue to what PhysX software is. Ill have to read up on it now

Well the cards help accelerate physics related mathematics to create better physics in games... thats the big picture

#6.2 Skyfrog on 05 Feb 2008 - 19:56

In the same way 3D cards took the job of rendering polygons and textures off of your CPU, this type of accelerator takes the job of calculating in game physics off your CPU. Things like ragdoll effects, breakable objects, the way objects are affected by gravity in a game, etc. With this you can have tons of objects reacting realistically in a game without major slowdowns. Like a building in a game exploding and debris flying everywhere, affecting whatever it hits.

#7 xan K on 05 Feb 2008 - 20:11

cool news! acquisitions not always have meant advantages to the end user, but I think this one will.

#8 zeta_immersion on 05 Feb 2008 - 20:15

nice, slap it into a geforce card and i am sold ... could you imagine the possibilities ? ... :drooling over the keyboard:

(1 reply) #9 lothodon on 05 Feb 2008 - 20:16

i think with nvidia behind the marketing now, the pc gamers might really start to see this supported...oh wait, they stopped making anything more than 1 good pc game a year now, nevermind.

#9.1 Esvandiary on 06 Feb 2008 - 02:30

So I suppose CoD4, Crysis and UT3, to name but a few, are all bad games? (Without even going out of the FPS genre, no less).

#10 X'tyfe on 05 Feb 2008 - 20:30

well done nvidia

this is nothing but good

#11 Borbus on 05 Feb 2008 - 20:38

This could be good news for UT3 on linux! Now that Nvidia directly have an interest in UT3, they might get off the arses and release the linux installer.

(3 replies) #12 +BeLGaRaTh on 05 Feb 2008 - 21:22

I reported this yesterday ...

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=617853

#12.1 iczman on 06 Feb 2008 - 00:21

Thank you for posting. You do realize sometimes people get the same news at the same time, despite coming from different sources?

#12.2 +BeLGaRaTh on 06 Feb 2008 - 00:26

True, but I posted 18hrs + earlier

#12.3 RangerLG on 06 Feb 2008 - 01:38

To the front page? Not everyone reads the forums.

#13 spacer on 05 Feb 2008 - 21:28

Good move IMO.

#14 YaZoR on 05 Feb 2008 - 22:58

I'm with Carmack on PPU's. Multi-core CPU's make having and coding for a PPU pointless.

(1 reply) #15 macrosslover on 05 Feb 2008 - 23:01

Nvidia is making some good moves right now. what I don't understand however is why is Ati seemingly strapped for cash. With the Wii and 360 doing well and both using ati graphics chips, the money they get from that should be a good little amount.

#15.1 eAi on 06 Feb 2008 - 01:48

The competition for getting the contract for producing the cards for the consoles must have been quite considerably. Having an essentially guaranteed income for the next 5 years or so is a good incentive to offer Microsoft/Nintendo/Sony a very good price... They might even be doing it below cost initially...

#16 michaelof36 on 05 Feb 2008 - 23:22

Time to start looking for a new card and get rid of that old ATI. I doubt anything will be out soon though

#17 GreyWolfSC on 06 Feb 2008 - 03:35

I'm thinking they want the PhysX SDK more than the PPU technology.

(1 reply) #18 dragon-x on 06 Feb 2008 - 07:16

thank goodness i left the PC gaming scene - it's starting to cost a person a bit too much already for no good reason - and games for the PC are practically dead!

#18.1 nunjabusiness on 06 Feb 2008 - 11:45

(dragon-x said @ #1

thank goodness i left the PC gaming scene - it's starting to cost a person a bit too much already for no good reason - and games for the PC are practically dead!

What rock do YOU live under? "Games for the PC are practically dead?"
Ever heard of some little games called World of Warquest, EQ, UT, Crysis?

Actually, what I see happening over the next few years is that consoles will become more like fully-functioning PCs. Consequently, most games will be PC-based.

#19 jamesyfx on 06 Feb 2008 - 08:56

If you leave pc gaming you don't notice what's going on. I'm not into it but I build gaming pc's for people, and for what I hear, things are more promising than ever. Theres tons of new technologies flying in.

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Nvidia snaps up PhysX with Ageia buy

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