Physics to die for: Ageia turns up the heat!

by Adams Briscoe { Mar 30th 2006 at 5:00PM }

Ageia knows a thing or two about physics. Since 2002, they've been doing things with it that would make your head spin. Thanks to the PhysX engine, PS3 owners can look upon this drool-inducing video with high expectations, because these very goods will be coming to us in November. The trailer you can download is for CellFactor, which is a PC game powered by the same physics engine that the PlayStation 3 will be taking advantage of.

It really is amazing. Not just in terms of what you'd expect from a normal engine (because this is anything but normal), but the gameplay itself utilizes it like no other. Just take a look at those gravity grenades! Ragdoll physics and vehicular manipulation are, of course, represented in astonishing quality. Check it out: the download weighs in at about 150 MB.

PS3 fans have another reason to hold off on getting a life just yet.

[Via QJ.net]

Tags: ps3, playstation, sony, physics, ageia, Ps3,Playstation,Sony,Physics,Ageia

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kurt Zenisek @ Mar 30th 2006 6:05PM

Really... can you get any better physics than what Ageia is showing us? It's great to see stuff like this showing the potential of this technology.

Microdot @ Mar 30th 2006 6:29PM

SERIOUSLY impressive.

John @ Mar 30th 2006 6:44PM

I wonder how much space the coding for the engine takes up.

Cary @ Mar 30th 2006 7:23PM

Well, if its sloppy coding, it will be big. If its concise coding, it will be small.

Filesize != Quality Code

Crazyglues @ Mar 30th 2006 7:51PM

First let me say you should grab this from Gametrailers.com in the windows media format if you want to save it, because for one it weighs in at 49mb instead of 152 and it looks better if you ask me. Not that you did but if you did.

Anyway just click on the trailer and a window will open up and off to the right it says save media, pick format and your done. Easy as cutting slice bread.

This is probably the best example of why PS3 is set to win the war in gaming. Just because of things like this. I believe PS3's real power is in the cell processor and how it can handle so much.
That may just turn out to be the difference in how the war is won.

I love the rag doll physics and all the madness happening all at the same time in this game. It shows what�s next to become the norm as we reach a new level of gaming. To me only high-end PC�s and PS3 will be able to handle this type of gaming, and sure you might be able to get it to work on X360 but I don�t think it will be easy, or anywhere near as smooth as it would run on PS3.

I just can't wait, 2006 is about to be one hell of a year, and 2007 isn't looking bad either.

Brian @ Mar 30th 2006 8:31PM

You all realize this is an Xbox360 game right? I think someone got confused.

adamsb @ Mar 30th 2006 8:52PM

This vid is from the PC game, -- it's the physics you want to pay attention to here ;)

Mario @ Mar 30th 2006 9:14PM

well here it is.. the next generation. for me all that games need to be to be "next gen" is physics, lighting, textures... and emotion.... but really, physics is what matters most to me... give me some form of gameplay that was impossible on xbox.. and thats next gen..

isn't this engine included in the Software Development Kits? ? ? ? ? ... wow, if all exclusive games used the engine... :| holy crap.

Willie @ Mar 30th 2006 9:48PM

This will really help the next gen distinguish itself from the previous gen. Will every ps3 game developer have access to this engine? I sure hope so!

r2dr @ Mar 30th 2006 10:04PM

Brian, it is not an Xbox 360 game at all this is a PC game using the same Physics engine the PS3 will be taking advantage of.

LINES @ Mar 30th 2006 11:19PM

WOW! This is unreal. Thank you Sony...

I cannot wait. COME ON NOVEMBER!

Brian @ Mar 30th 2006 11:50PM

http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/cellfactor/index.html

There are two versions, PC and XBOX360. Based on the video, I would say it's being controlled by a game pad and therefore is the xbox360 version.

Irwin @ Mar 31st 2006 12:09AM

PS3 fans can wait all they want.
This is a 360 and PC game...sory, you are making too many people things to talk bout that arn't true

Irwin @ Mar 31st 2006 12:12AM

"well here it is.. the next generation. for me all that games need to be to be "next gen" is physics, lighting, textures... and emotion.... but really, physics is what matters most to me... give me some form of gameplay that was impossible on xbox.. and thats next gen..

isn't this engine included in the Software Development Kits? ? ? ? ? ... wow, if all exclusive games used the engine... :| holy crap."
-Mario

Well dude, it's here for the 360, NOT the PS3. Stop criticizing the 360, you have no clue what it is capable of.

Fan @ Mar 31st 2006 6:36AM

If youre so happy with youre 360 go post about it in the 360 forums.

Brian @ Mar 31st 2006 7:11AM

Apparently everyone here is pretty excited about 360 as well, otherwise they wouldn't be gushing over this 360 game. Ready for some more irony? The new Ghost Recon also supports this physics api. Bring out the links! http://physx.ageia.com/titles.html
This post is full of misleading information or was poorly researched. This API is currently available for PC and 360 and when the PS3 launches, it will naturally be there too. If you want to affirm of your faith in Sony, at least look to a game that's actually FOR the PS3. Unreal Engine 3 will use it, so there you go.

Fan @ Mar 31st 2006 10:12AM

I hope they use this engine to its full extent in killzone. Those explotions look sweet.

As long as they let me hook up my bt keyboard & mouse and play it on my 46" set ill be a happy camper.

reklesgemini @ Mar 31st 2006 10:30AM

Irwin, Brian. We're not bashing the 360 here. Just pointing out what the system's physics is capable of. Yea the 360 is capable of the same thing, crap I'd hope so. By you saying "the 360 can too" won't change our minds and convince us to get one.
What makes this news exciting to us is that the physics will be utilized in our triple A exclusive titles.
Bring on the ragdoll physics I say!

Kendal @ Mar 31st 2006 1:45PM

Wow that looks amazing! I don't care what system that is on. PC, PS3, 360. The game just looks amazing!

Quit complaining about which system is better, as long as we get quality games, what does it matter?

Irwin @ Mar 31st 2006 5:21PM

I was not bringing down the PS3 anyway and telling you to go buy a 360. All I said was that the game in the video is a game for the 360 and PC.

I'll say it again, people still think it's for the PS3.
The game is for the 360 and PC. If anyone has a link to where it says that this game is being released for the ps3 please do tell as I prepare myself to feel stupid.

Fan @ Mar 31st 2006 8:46PM

@ Irwin

Nowhere does it say that this game is for the PS3. The article is about the physX physics engine. The game movie was only shown as a demonstration of what the engine can do. Read the damn aritcle and quit bitching.

Brian @ Mar 31st 2006 10:22PM

When did anyone say anything about PS3 being bad? Someone's projecting their doubts on me. My point is to those who are taking this as some exclusive PS3 feature. Crazyglues, LINES and a few other's comments are what my comments are in response to. Look over my them again and you will find I have said nothing negative about ps3 and nothing positive about X360. Fan, I don't have a X360 even, just a PS2, Xbox and Gamcube and some old consoles. My point is that console wars are stupid, but if you insist on participating, at least point your guns in the right direction.

Brian @ Mar 31st 2006 10:33PM

I read the article.

"...PS3 owners..."
Anyone? No?

"...physics engine that the PlayStation 3 will be taking advantage of."
Rewrite: every next gen console CAN take advantage of.

"PS3 fans have another reason to hold off on getting a life just yet."
Translation: Not buy a 360 and wait for PS3.

The post is about the PhysX API as it relates to PS3, on a site called PS3 fanboy. Yet you want me to believe it's just some objective post about PhysX? Sure.

Fan @ Apr 1st 2006 7:33AM

Your picking appart a blog article because its written from a PS3 viewpoint. Guess what? This is PS3 site. Why do you even care?

Also there is not alot of PS3 new out right now so im happy to read about what kind of middleware PS3 devs will have access to.

Yes your right its not a PS3 exclusive but the article didnt say that either. No need to jump up and down and throw a fit because a few people misunderstood.

w00gy @ Apr 1st 2006 4:23PM

It's not about the game it's about the PhysX engine. The PhysX engine is included in the PS3's dev kit. PC and 360 developers can still license the PhysX engine from Ageia but having it included in the Dev Kit makes it easier and more accesible to PS3 developers. Not to mention the engine included in the PS3 dev kit is already optimised for the Cell processor. This means that there will probably be more PS3 games that will use Ageia PhysX than PC or 360.

djphatjive @ Apr 3rd 2006 1:22AM

Wow, cool graphics. But I have to point something out. How does moving around a bunch of cans and holding a car in the air really prove the power of a system? I don't know about you, but Kameo has a crap load of charactures on the screen at one time. Now that is processor power. And thats all we have to judge on. There are no real games for nintendo or PS3 that have seen the light of day yet. So who knows what they will be.

Yes this is a PS3 BLOG, but there is really no information anywhere to even compare ps3 games to anything because no one has seen them, so of course people are going to compare them to the 360. Thats the milestone that everyone is shooting for.

the truth @ Apr 3rd 2006 8:05PM

just give up brian they realized their fatal mistake too late and now theyre playing stupid

I was on the floor rolling when brian kept proving his point that it was a 360 (and pc) exclusive and all they could do was try to change the subject

.....somebody give that man a star

the truth @ Apr 3rd 2006 8:07PM

pathetic

Hamilton @ Apr 4th 2006 12:57AM

HAHAHA !!!

Behold the XBOX 360 in all its glory oh well maybe you guys will get the port.

360 > 3

kizza kutaragi @ Apr 4th 2006 2:51AM

I love how these 360 fanbitches come on here to shoot down PS3 fans by saying they have not seen or played any games. Yet we have seen about as much unplayable footage on this as pS3. I say to you 360 fanbitch retards, this is not a playable game yet, so it means shite really. At the moment this game is a credible on 360 as Killzone 2 is on PS3.

Contribute positively or piss off & actually play your 360 or post in xbox bloggs. Who wnats to read fanbitches negative, sony bashing comments. ya retards.

Brian @ Apr 5th 2006 6:23PM

A site called PS3fanboy is an open invitation to start flame wars, let's be honest. The same goes for xbox360fanboy. So let's drop the go_away_360_fanboy routine. Second, w00gy knows how to do this debate thing. w00gy actually brings relevant and compeling information to the discussion. My only response is that the blog post should have better articulated what w00gy said.