Upcoming Crysis game is showing us how much reality-physics a next-generation game can have using only the power of processor alone. Then, what is the future of PhysX cards, a dedicated physics processor ?

Crysis's physics is totally powered by CPU only, no additional PhysX card is utilized but it has more physics-effects than games like Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six Vegas etc with a PhysX card.

PhysX owners and lovers, though very few, argue about the potential power of up-coming Unreal Engine 3 and games powered by it. Others argue why they should go for a PhysX card when games like Crysis can utilize the CPU alone to get better physics effect.

So, to stop this argument, we asked this same question to both Ageia and Crytek.

 

 When asked this question to Ageia Technologies, their response

Dan Forster from Ageia
 

While you are right that Crysis has excellent physics integrated it is still only at a basic level. Crytek the developer have even gone on record saying that once Ageia will have an even wider user base out in the field they will be the first to support us as that would mean they could implement even more physics.

Also if you take a look at the options game developers have these days to develop physics there are basically only  2 left. Do it yourself or use Ageias PhysX SDK.

Whilst to do it yourself is surely an option it is also very expensive and needs long term development and most games developers simply don’t have the budget. This is why our solution is becoming so popular.

 
   
   

Dan Forster


PR & Marketing Director Europe
AGEIA Technologies inc.
 

  When asked the same question to Crytek, their response

 

We do not use a hardware solution, but our own engine, that we programmed. We do not support physics hardware, as it is not distributed enough. If this should change, we will use it. We took a look around, had a chat with the Developers at Ageia and inquired how this could help us. But for us the whole thing does not pay off. It still is a very specific market segment with the physics acceleration per hardware. If this will establish itself, I will be the first shouting for it.

Source

 
   
   
Bernd Diemer from Crytek

Bernd Diemer

Senior Game Designer
Crysis, Crytek.

 
   

Well, We personally think that PhysX is in typical Deadlock situation.

Gamers are waiting for better games that actually utilize the power of PhysX, so they are waiting before the investment. Specially when PhysX actually significantly reduces the amount of Frame Per Second (FPS) even with mid and high end SLI /CrossFire setup.

On the other hand, Game developers are waiting until a significant amount of gamers are 'PhysX ready'.

Newly introduced game, Medal of Honor: Airborne is powered by Unreal Engine 3. As a game, it is quite nice but it still failed to impress in terms of physics reality. Nothing even close to Crysis.

Now all eyes on the big release, Gears of War and other upcoming games based upon Unreal Engine 3. PhysX success depends upon those releases.