PhysX

[Richey79]

Since the other thread was closed for beginning with an 'inflammatory' post, let's start another thread with a statement from Bis about Physx in VBS2:

'Limited support for the PhysX library from Nvidia is being deployed within VBS2. Hardware acceleration is not required at this time. It is anticipated however that hardware acceleration of the PhysX routines will only be available on Nvidia platform video cards.'

So... at the moment Physx won't speed up the game's performance, but they have clear plans for it to do so in the future. Well, we can presume that the future engine tech will be included in Arma 3, with its 2012 release.

I think what ATI users are getting upset about is that there are other physics engines out there that would allow physics calculations to take place on the graphics card regardless of brand, whereas Bis have chosen to use Physx, which NVidia specifically made proprietory.

Why make a choice that - as is suggested by your own development road map - will significantly damage performance for around half your potential customers?




Edit - some interesting quotes from a Bis dev regarding Physx and reveals that will happen at E3 (with thanks to Daniel for digging them up):

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damu
I can assure you both Nvidia and ATI (including others) will be supported. No panic, please. Nothing is going to be changed, except the world.

Concerning E3:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Damu
Yes, there will be some presentation of PhysX too, but note we have almost a year to do much more/better.

So, it seems likely that Physx will work fine on both Nvidia and Ati systems, with the possibility of some extra eye-candy on Nvidia systems thanks to Physx hardware acceleration. Looking forward to finding out a bit more at E3.

[CarlosTex]

It was a BIS choice, it might be do to experience with PhysX and maybe it was the best choice for RV engine right now.

But i also don't like those who say tha AMD has no hw physics. That's just plain crap. Any AMD GPU can accelerate physics engines via OpenCL. End of story.

[Meek]

I'm wondering what type of things PhysX is used for.

In VBS2, PhysX is used for more "complex" vehicles (such as a trailer or something attached to the back of a vehicle), as well as for fast-roping.

Anything else? how deeply is it implemented, will all animations be directly tied into it? Just death animations?

[Nicholas]

What about the majority of us who have ATI cards, with we not be able to use the new Physics? Since it uses NVidia's PhysX?

[dale0404]

As has been said many times previously, ATI cards owners will be able to take advantage of PhysX, just not GPU based...

[Jeza]

What about the majority of us who have ATI cards, with we not be able to use the new Physics? Since it uses NVidia's PhysX?

Yeah good point im one of them, but if worst comes to worse for me I may spend 170£ on a 560 by then, as id love to get the best out of the game.

[CarlosTex]

You won't have HW PhysX at all. All Nvidia would have to do is to eithe allow PhysX to be accelerated in AMD's VLIW architectures or to allow their drivers to work with an AMD card. That way you could have AMD main GPU paired with a discrete NVidia just for PhysX.

[Meek]

What about the majority of us who have ATI cards, with we not be able to use the new Physics? Since it uses NVidia's PhysX?

You can run PhysX on the CPU.

But really, it's going to be released about a year from now, is it really too hard to upgrade accordingly?

[danny96]

ARMA III will have ragdoll physx?

[CarlosTex]

ARMA III will have ragdoll physx?

Yes it appears so.

And please people stop saying ATI. ATI went from a company to just a brand and now nothing. It's AMD since 2006.