Ageia: Successful Launch? @ GDHardware

Iria · May 11, 2006, 08:41 PM

Source: GDHardware
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All too many times – in the name of getting reviews out first – many hardware sites (ours included) have overlooked some important implications of what the hardware is all about. Most recently we’re seeing this in the launch of Ageia’s PhysX processor (PPU). I’m not passing out blame here like omelette's at a short-order truck stop only to the press but would like to raise awareness about this particular launch and how it had caused so much controversy.

Ageia’s PR had PhysX cards shipped out to members of the print and online media outlets this past week and in doing so have potentially done a great deal to damage the launch. Whenever you introduce a brand-new product segment to an already skeptical market of enthusiasts, you’d better make damned sure all your ducks are in a row. We’ve pointed out in past articles that Ageia really needs just one killer application that’s a huge-seller which can truly harness the power of the PPU. Instead, we have one flagship title – Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (GRAW) – which use a PhysX band-aid over the Havoc engine and doesn’t do Ageia any favors in terms of justifying a $300 dollar price tag to get some added particles.

Currently, the only software that’s forward-looking to what this card is more capable of isn’t a full game at all – it’s Cell Factor – a technology showcase made for the PhysX PPU to be used by Ageia in product demo’s etc.

May 11, 2006, 08:41 PM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Ageia: Successful Launch? @ GDHardware Source: GDHardware __________ All too many times – in the name of getting reviews out first – many hardware sites (ours included) have overlooked some important implications of what the hardware is all about. Most recently we’re seeing this in the launch of Ageia’s PhysX processor (PPU). I’m not passing out blame here like omelette's at a short-order truck stop only to the press but would like to raise awareness about this particular launch and how it had caused so much controversy. Ageia’s PR had PhysX cards shipped out to members of the print and online media outlets this past week and in doing so have potentially done a great deal to damage the launch. Whenever you introduce a brand-new product segment to an already skeptical market of enthusiasts, you’d better make damned sure all your ducks are in a row. We’ve pointed out in past articles that Ageia really needs just one killer application that’s a huge-seller which can truly harness the power of the PPU. Instead, we have one flagship title – Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (GRAW) – which use a PhysX band-aid over the Havoc engine and doesn’t do Ageia any favors in terms of justifying a $300 dollar price tag to get some added particles. Currently, the only software that’s forward-looking to what this card is more capable of isn’t a full game at all – it’s Cell Factor – a technology showcase made for the PhysX PPU to be used by Ageia in product demo’s etc.