Middleware Poll : V

» Sat May 28, 2011 12:19 am

http://www.umbrasoftware.com/index.php?page=umbra-occlusion-booster:

Umbra Occlusion Booster?

Umbra Occlusion Booster? is a cross-platform rendering optimization library for Xbox360, PS3 and PC games. The purpose of Umbra Occlusion Booster? is to increase the game's frame rate by determining the set of visible objects on every frame. Performance is gained on both CPU and GPU when only visible objects are rendered.

http://www.speedtree.com/:

SpeedTree is a powerful toolkit used to create 3D vegetation for games, films, and animations.

http://www.havok.com/index.php?page=havok-physics:

Havok Physics is the proven leader in real-time collision detection and physical simulation solutions. Havok Physics offers the fastest, most robust simulation technology available, which is why it has become the gold standard within the games industry. Havok Physics has been chosen by leading game developers in over 200 launched titles and many more in development.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_new.html:

NVIDIA? PhysX? is a powerful physics engine enabling real-time physics in leading edge PC games. PhysX software is widely adopted by over 150 games and is used by more than 10,000 developers. PhysX is optimized for hardware acceleration by massively parallel processors. GeForce GPUs with PhysX provide an exponential increase in physics processing power taking gaming physics to the next level.

http://www.naturalmotion.com/euphoria:

Euphoria represents a step change towards creating truly believable characters, worlds and games. Instead of playing back canned animation, Euphoria uses the CPU to generate motion on the fly – by simulating the character’s motor nervous system, body and muscles.

With Euphoria, games are truly live. Anything can happen.

Euphoria is optimised to run on Playstation? 3, Xbox 360? and PC, and is powering some of the biggest blockbuster games of all time: Grand Theft Auto 4, Red Dead Redemption, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

http://lightsprint.com/:

Lightsprint is a world leader in realistic realtime lighting middleware.

Lightsprint SDK is a multiplatform middleware for C++ developers:

-Realtime global illumination offers the most realistic realtime lighting with freely moving lights
-Global illumination precalculation builds lightmaps and more in scenes with static lights

http://www.fmod.org/:

The FMOD Ex Programmer's API and Designer are a world-leading library and toolkit for the creation and playback of interactive audio. FMOD products are widely used in the games industry and have gained a strong reputation for its ease of use, powerful software-mixed architecture and comprehensive cross-platform support.

FMOD supports more hardware platforms than any other audio system - including the latest 'next gen' consoles. Consider the cost savings of not having to change code across any platform - Save months of development time. FMOD is actively developed, with regular releases of new features.

Other (Please specify):

There are lots of other middlewares out there. http://www.havok.com/index.php?page=products to check out Havok's other middlewares like: Havok AI, Havok Animation, Havok Behavior etc etc...

» Sat May 28, 2011 9:38 am

Other:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLZU-JC6Hqc

» Fri May 27, 2011 11:46 pm

Hopefully they stick to Havok Physics and introduce some http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCaGb40Bz58&feature=related.

» Sat May 28, 2011 5:38 am

I really hope they don't choose to use any component specific physics, like Nvidia PhysX, because it prevents people that don't have Nvidia hardware from fully experiencing the game. Mafia 2 is an example.

» Sat May 28, 2011 3:47 am

I really hope they don't choose to use any component specific physics, like Nvidia PhysX, because it prevents people that don't have Nvidia hardware from fully experiencing the game. Mafia 2 is an example.

I agree. Physics on the CPU is more widespread and i don't wan't to buy a GT240 or GT 430 for PhysX. I'm out of Pci-Express slots because of my Crossfire 6870 setup. So i'll go with Havok Physics.

» Fri May 27, 2011 7:47 pm

Lightsprint and SpeedTree gets my votes, both of them look amazing.

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:12 am

http://www.geomerics.com/

Enlighten is the only genuine real-time radiosity lighting product for cross-platform game development. Enlighten means freedom to create interactive worlds with fully dynamic lighting.

Enlighten redefines how lighting is handled and is driving a new generation of games that truly rival film for their control of mood and atmosphere.

» Sat May 28, 2011 9:15 am

The game is already far along in development. Isn't it a little late to vote on middleware?

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:49 am

Other:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLZU-JC6Hqc

http://www.geomerics.com/

Enlighten is the only genuine real-time radiosity lighting product for cross-platform game development. Enlighten means freedom to create interactive worlds with fully dynamic lighting.

Enlighten redefines how lighting is handled and is driving a new generation of games that truly rival film for their control of mood and atmosphere.

Wow, this looks gorgeous. The guy in the video mentioned that a lot of big games for 2011 are using this tech. Fingers crossed!

» Sat May 28, 2011 8:30 am

The game is already far along in development. Isn't it a little late to vote on middleware?

We don't know whether they have used these or not. We're not asking them to choose now, we're saying what we hope they've used.

Personally, I hope for Umbra and Lightsprint.

» Sat May 28, 2011 1:31 am

Wow, this looks gorgeous. The guy in the video mentioned that a lot of big games for 2011 are using this tech. Fingers crossed!

It basically does the same thing Lightsprint do. I hope Skyrim implements either of these or any other middleware of realtime global illumination.

» Sat May 28, 2011 6:05 am

The game is already far along in development. Isn't it a little late to vote on middleware?

Since theres about a year left, they have all the time to implement many of the mentioned middleware solutions... or do you think they have already finished the game, shaders, lighting and animations included? Plus, the topic is mainly about the middleware solutions themselves, not a direct request for Bethesda to implement some of them.

» Fri May 27, 2011 10:45 pm

BUMP. Needs moar votes.

» Fri May 27, 2011 9:47 pm

Umbra, the new Speedtree version and an improved Havok engine. Physx is a beast but it fries any card that isn't Nvidia's EVGA.

» Fri May 27, 2011 8:24 pm

No don't use havok! It is frame based

» Fri May 27, 2011 8:08 pm

Where's my option for DMM?

» Sat May 28, 2011 6:55 am

I still wish they could have worked with Valve to use an updated version of Source. It would have made modding much easier. At least for me.

» Fri May 27, 2011 8:58 pm

You guys check this out. I think having this in SKYRIM would be totally SICK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HauN98naZ9U

Don't you think we've had enough of ragdoll Physics used on bodies in Oblivion? Leave a corpse near a door, close it and watch the corpse's break dance performance!