NVIDIA Announces PhysX SDK Support for Nintendo Wii Console

[malware]

NVIDIA Corporation today announced that it has been approved as a third party tools solution provider for the Wii console. As a result, the NVIDIA PhysX technology SDK is now available to registered Wii developers.
"Nintendo has reshaped the home entertainment and video game market with the success of the Wii console. Adding a PhysX SDK for Wii is key to our cross-platform strategy and integral to the business model for our licensed game developers and publishers," said Tony Tamasi, senior vice president of content and technology at NVIDIA. "With NVIDIA PhysX technology, developers can easily author more realistic game environments for the evolving demands of a broad class of Wii gamers."


The NVIDIA PhysX software development kit (SDK) consists of a full-featured API and robust physics engine, designed to give developers, animators, level designers, and artists unprecedented creative control over character and object physical interactions by allowing them to author scalable physics in real time.

The PhysX SDK for the Wii console, and all major gaming platforms, are available for license directly from NVIDIA. For more information on licensing PhysX SDKs or NVIDIA PhysX technology, please visit: http://www.nvidia.com/physx.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Conti027]

so they are going to have a SDK for all the systems? thats kool. the Wii is a fun system

 

[alexp999]

I doubt the 360 will get it, as it has an ATI GPU

 

[zithe]

I doubt the 360 will get it, as it has an ATI GPU

So does the Wii.

 

[1Kurgan1]

I really hate when everything starts getting labeled like this, Games for Windows is another one.

 

[Mistral]

This looks like a bargaining rights move. Who does actually think the Wii has the extra power to run any complicated physical calculations.

 

[alexp999]

So does the Wii.

So it does, wow.

Then this was unexpected.

Bring on Physx for the 360

Not that it will change much for any of the consoles, lol.

 

[EviLZeD]

I guess Nvidia are trying hard now to make physx for physics standard in games now?

 

[Conti027]

This looks like a bargaining rights move. Who does actually think the Wii has the extra power to run any complicated physical calculations.

i dont. lol

 

[Silverel]

Kinda silly move unless they're trying to leverage a nVidia GPU for the next iteration of Wii GPU's. Proof of concept that it'll run with ATI gear, betting it'll lead to someone engineering this for the 360, and eventually something for PC's running ATI.

 

[shiny_red_cobra]

Doesn't PhysX require hardware support? What hardware in the Wii supports PhysX?

 

[CDdude55]

Doesn't PhysX require hardware support? What hardware in the Wii supports PhysX?

Its more likely a lower rate version/modified version of Phsyx to cater to the Wii's GPU power

Should be awesome tho.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Not that it will change much for any of the consoles, lol.

Exactly. Simplifed physics still rule the game world.

I think NVIDIA is actually trying to get their foot in the door so future consoles will use NVIDIA hardware with hardware support for PhysX.

The PhysX NVIDIA is releasing runs on the CPUs of said system. It isn't hardware accelerated.

 

[DrPepper]

This looks like a bargaining rights move. Who does actually think the Wii has the extra power to run any complicated physical calculations.

I don't see how it couldn't

Kinda silly move unless they're trying to leverage a nVidia GPU for the next iteration of Wii GPU's. Proof of concept that it'll run with ATI gear, betting it'll lead to someone engineering this for the 360, and eventually something for PC's running ATI.

Well nvidia allowed physx to work with ati hardware. ATI didn't allow them.

Doesn't PhysX require hardware support? What hardware in the Wii supports PhysX?

It will work on either the cpu or gpu. Physx will work on ati hardware or like in the ps3 can run on the cell cpu.

 

[KainXS]

PhysX is supported on the Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3, the only difference is the Playstation 3 has native support and is now free for developers to aquire, with the Wii or Xbox 360 developers have to pay to use PhysX.

Basically the Xbox 360 and Wii emulate PhysX but the Playstation 3 will not, theres a difference even though all 3 consoles will run it on their CPU's.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

PhysX isn't hardware accelerated on the PS3. There was a lengthy discussion over that in another news thread. The PS3 uses a 7800- or 7900-based GPU that is incapable of running GPGPU code. It runs as software on the IBM processors of all three consoles.

 

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

in other news i added a flashing light to my bed

 

[Valdez]

I doubt the 360 will get it, as it has an ATI GPU

It is going to run on the consoles' cpu, not on the gpu, we have already discussed in the ps3 physx topic!

Anyway it is available on x360 too, according to nvidia's homepage.

This is where NVIDIA® PhysX™ Technology and GeForce® processors come in. NVIDIA PhysX is a powerful physics engine which enables real-time physics in leading edge PC and console games. PhysX software is widely adopted by over 150 games, is used by more than 10,000 registered users and is supported on Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and PC.

 

[KainXS]

As I already said, the 360 already supports PhysX but microsoft must pay licencing fees just like sony did, but it seems sony is paying for developers applications which cost 50,000 dollars which is why they say its free for developers, but im sure they already have

The wii didn't support physx up till now I think

 

[DrPepper]

PhysX isn't hardware accelerated on the PS3. There was a lengthy discussion over that in another news thread. The PS3 uses a 7800- or 7900-based GPU that is incapable of running GPGPU code. It runs as software on the IBM processors of all three consoles.

Actually the G70's can run gpgpu code if there was software available. Although thats not to say the ps3 does. The X1xxx series can run gpu code as well and f@h gpu client originated on it.

 

[Millenia]

in other news i added a flashing light to my bed

Are you sure your hardware can handle it? I wouldn't use it if I were you, it may hinder your 'performance'

 

[Imsochobo]

ATi cards supports it

Ati supports it, nvidia supports it, its either to get a cuddle cuddle relationship with the japanese.( Where ATI dominate, my brother was there, and he had issues finding nvidia cards.)
and they will get console hardware deals(higher posibility) not that nvidia gpu's are any better.

Or, to get physx to be the new standard, like all of you guys have said.

This is a proof that physx isnt graphics card have to support, they just all do.(2007 and newer.)

 

[1Kurgan1]

Well nvidia allowed physx to work with ati hardware. ATI didn't allow them.

Havok? That runs on anything if I am not mistaken.

 

[eidairaman1]

ATI runs both XB and Nintendo Graphics, I guess NV is folding and allowing them SDK support, unless if AMD folded. Which i think would be better for everyone, it would allow for a Universal API to be Developed.

 

[Steevo]

The "universal" API will be DX11 and no doubt part of the new Xbox