Microsoft to create standard Physics API - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 2nd May 2006, 19:05

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/05...e_physics_api/

stephen2002 · 2nd May 2006, 19:39

This might mean Agea will drift away just like Glide did.

Lazlow · 2nd May 2006, 19:46

It's a shame that Ageia were the ones to publicise the new technology, and now it seems the others are all jumping on the bandwagon - but I guess that's the IT industry for you.

Mister_Tad · 2nd May 2006, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazlow

but I guess that's the IT industry for you.

Standardisation? I'm all for it.

Do you recall the days that when games were released you could only have those pretty accelerated graphics on certain cards? You could use your shiny new £300 graphics card to play X and had to suffer low-res grainy gaming on game Y, depsite the power under you had under the bonnet.

A standardised physics API is the natural progression of things and it is exactly what we need.

konsta · 2nd May 2006, 20:15

I have a feeling that it may slow down progress substantially - can you imagine how many years it will take microsoft to actually create something like this and disseminate it? Remind me...how many years overdue is Vista now? As it is, Ageia have something that we have thus far been led to believe actually works and is ready for the prime time, software considerations aside.

Maybe it will all be for the best in the end though.

Ramble · 2nd May 2006, 20:18

Then again, the Windows team and the DirectX team are completely seperate.

How would you feel if you had no DX9 games to play?

Mister_Tad · 2nd May 2006, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by konsta

I have a feeling that it may slow down progress substantially - can you imagine how many years it will take microsoft to actually create something like this and disseminate it? Remind me...how many years overdue is Vista now? As it is, Ageia have something that we have thus far been led to believe actually works and is ready for the prime time, software considerations aside.

Something like this would open the market right up, allow just anyone to make a physics card for any game, allow nvidia and ATI to integrate PPUs on their cards.

At the moment, you buy a PhysX card for a handful of games, and its useless in others

Kaze22 · 2nd May 2006, 20:24

Good Direct Physics, it's about time.

Ionix · 2nd May 2006, 20:47

I'm glad Microsoft are stepping in on this one because the Nvidia/HavokFX API seemed like a bit of a con to me, just showing 'pretty' physics eye candy rather than real, interactive physics. It'll also mean that we can compare Ageia's, Nvidia's and ATi's hardware fairly when games use a common API.

Tim S · 2nd May 2006, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen2002

This might mean Agea will drift away just like Glide did.

I doubt it, I think that AGEIA, NVIDIA and ATI will all work toward the one standard. I'm all for a single standard, in that respect.

Tim S · 2nd May 2006, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ionix

I'm glad Microsoft are stepping in on this one because the Nvidia/HavokFX API seemed like a bit of a con to me, just showing 'pretty' physics eye candy rather than real, interactive physics. It'll also mean that we can compare Ageia's, Nvidia's and ATi's hardware fairly when games use a common API.

I completely agree - it'll show who's got the best solution and developers are able to learn to write physics code based on a standardised platform.

Bladestorm · 2nd May 2006, 21:01

Glad to see it meself, could shorten an otherwise possibly very protracted battle and bring mainstream use of advanced physics a lot closer than it otherwise would have been.

As to how long it will take, we don't have any indication of how long they've already been at it do we ?

Tim S · 2nd May 2006, 21:03

that job was advertised last year in August - not sure how far they got in finding someone, though.

Veles · 2nd May 2006, 22:37

I think a little more competition is a good thing, competition drives each company to offer better products that thier rivals to entice you to buy them.

Look how quickly graphics technology has rocketed, partly due to the ATI-nVidia war. AMD have been producing very good chips, making intel finally get off thier arse and do something other than develop a new form of central heating.

I think it's good that microsoft is looking in to standardise physics processing, I don't want to have to get both SLI physics and PhysX so I can enjoy improved performance and physics in my games.

automagsrock · 2nd May 2006, 23:35

I am for MS stepping in. I mean look at DirectX. It was developed by a team fro Microsoft and look at what it does for graphics. I am pretty sure a similar solution for the PPU end of PCs is a good idea, but I will wait and see just what happens before I throw any money anyones way over it.

ozstrike · 3rd May 2006, 00:01

I think that this is a good thing. I couldn't see physics accelleration taking off otherwise, with two incompatible APIs battling.
It's not like it's going to kill competition: it's still going to be the same companies battling it out for the best performance, and your money, but it'll be more of a ATI vs NVidia battle, rather than a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD battle.
Plus, with the full backing of Microsoft, it will undoubtedly become a popular addition for new games.

sadffffff · 3rd May 2006, 03:33

go MS, standardize it!

Direct3d, directDraw, direct Input, direct Sound, direct Music, direct Play, and next direct Physics. sounds good to me

scq · 3rd May 2006, 07:43

I think this whole PPU thing is silly - at least for now. If most games run fairly well under single threaded processors, and since both Intel and AMD are pushing dual core processors, why not have the other core manage physics?

While I'm all for extra power, I think add in cards are none too great. What's next? An AI card? A lighting card? A water effects card?

yahooadam · 3rd May 2006, 08:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ionix

I'm glad Microsoft are stepping in on this one because the Nvidia/HavokFX API seemed like a bit of a con to me

i also think thats true

having to buy 2 gfx cards, and a phsix card to be able to run all the physix apps out there

i dont like that solution

on another note, although im all for standardisation

this is just another thing to make sure MS stop you from playing games on anything but winblows

phxbadash · 3rd May 2006, 14:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by scq

I think this whole PPU thing is silly - at least for now. If most games run fairly well under single threaded processors, and since both Intel and AMD are pushing dual core processors, why not have the other core manage physics?

While I'm all for extra power, I think add in cards are none too great. What's next? An AI card? A lighting card? A water effects card?

Because standard CPU's SUCK at physics. They are terrible at Out-of-order execution. Physics is all about that and it makes sense to make a specialized chip for it. The physics in most games right now are just eye candy because normal cpu's can't handle all of the data that full phyics would throw at them.

As for having specific cards for specific effects. A GPU is designed for lighting calculations and the physics card covers fluid dynamics, so no need for a water effects card, but the AI card is perfectly feasible and I think will be the next step that is taken though I doubt that will happen any time soon.

All-in-all it's good that MS is going to integrate physics into the directx API, standardizing it means more support for it in games and manufacturers will bring the cards out at lower prices because the uptake will be greater.

2nd May 2006, 19:05	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Microsoft to create standard Physics API http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/05...e_physics_api/ __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

2nd May 2006, 19:46	#3
Lazlow I have a dremel. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lincoln, UK Posts: 1,464	It's a shame that Ageia were the ones to publicise the new technology, and now it seems the others are all jumping on the bandwagon - but I guess that's the IT industry for you. __________________ Logs: Red Nineteen\|Pink PC Links: slickhouse.com\|Free file upload

2nd May 2006, 20:18	#6
Ramble Ginger Nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Exeter, Devon/Wantage, Oxfordshire Posts: 5,233	Then again, the Windows team and the DirectX team are completely seperate. How would you feel if you had no DX9 games to play? __________________ Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Ensign Ricky are beaming down to the planet. Guess who's not coming back.

2nd May 2006, 21:01	#12
Bladestorm Hypermodder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 682	Glad to see it meself, could shorten an otherwise possibly very protracted battle and bring mainstream use of advanced physics a lot closer than it otherwise would have been. As to how long it will take, we don't have any indication of how long they've already been at it do we ? __________________ Athlon 64 X2 3800+ @ 250x10 (1.475v) \| EVGA GTX 260 55nm SSC \| A8N-SLI Premium \| 2x(4GB) Corsair Twinx2048-PC3200C2 \| Asus Xonar DX \| Antec truepower 550w \| Akasa Eclipse-62 DDC12VPlus1, DD TDX, 3/8 tygon r3603 tubing, PA120.2, DD double floppy bay res

2nd May 2006, 21:03	#13
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	that job was advertised last year in August - not sure how far they got in finding someone, though. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

2nd May 2006, 19:39	#2
stephen2002 Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 182	This might mean Agea will drift away just like Glide did.

2nd May 2006, 20:15	#5
konsta Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London Posts: 92	I have a feeling that it may slow down progress substantially - can you imagine how many years it will take microsoft to actually create something like this and disseminate it? Remind me...how many years overdue is Vista now? As it is, Ageia have something that we have thus far been led to believe actually works and is ready for the prime time, software considerations aside. Maybe it will all be for the best in the end though.

2nd May 2006, 20:24	#8
Kaze22 Supermodder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Earth Posts: 419	Good Direct Physics, it's about time.

2nd May 2006, 20:47	#9
Ionix What's a Dremel? Join Date: May 2006 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 11	I'm glad Microsoft are stepping in on this one because the Nvidia/HavokFX API seemed like a bit of a con to me, just showing 'pretty' physics eye candy rather than real, interactive physics. It'll also mean that we can compare Ageia's, Nvidia's and ATi's hardware fairly when games use a common API.

2nd May 2006, 23:35	#15
automagsrock Hypermodder Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Great Falls, Montana, US Posts: 936	I am for MS stepping in. I mean look at DirectX. It was developed by a team fro Microsoft and look at what it does for graphics. I am pretty sure a similar solution for the PPU end of PCs is a good idea, but I will wait and see just what happens before I throw any money anyones way over it. __________________ I am bored of my old sig, so here's my WoW character armory link instead PS3 network name: Myrmccheese

3rd May 2006, 00:01	#16
ozstrike yip yip yip yip Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lake District, UK Posts: 2,921	I think that this is a good thing. I couldn't see physics accelleration taking off otherwise, with two incompatible APIs battling. It's not like it's going to kill competition: it's still going to be the same companies battling it out for the best performance, and your money, but it'll be more of a ATI vs NVidia battle, rather than a Blu-Ray/HD-DVD battle. Plus, with the full backing of Microsoft, it will undoubtedly become a popular addition for new games. __________________ Last.FM \| Flickr \| Enter the POTM! \| Blog

3rd May 2006, 03:33	#17
sadffffff Hypermodder Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: sadffffff Posts: 676	go MS, standardize it! Direct3d, directDraw, direct Input, direct Sound, direct Music, direct Play, and next direct Physics. sounds good to me

3rd May 2006, 07:43	#18
scq Hypermodder Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 783	I think this whole PPU thing is silly - at least for now. If most games run fairly well under single threaded processors, and since both Intel and AMD are pushing dual core processors, why not have the other core manage physics? While I'm all for extra power, I think add in cards are none too great. What's next? An AI card? A lighting card? A water effects card?