NVIDIA licenses PhysX technology for Sony's PlayStation 3

After being on the tip of gamers' tongues last summer, NVIDIA's PhysX technology has cooled a bit in terms of sheer popularity. That said, we've no doubt that the buzz will be back in force after this one clears the airwaves. NVIDIA has just announced that it has nailed down a tools and middleware license agreement for Sony's PlayStation 3, effectively bringing the aforesaid physics tech to what's arguably the most potent game console on the market today. As a result of the deal, a PhysX software development kit (SDK) is now available to registered PS3 developers as a free download for use on the SCEI Developer Network. What exactly this means for future PS3 games remains to be seen, but one's things for sure: it's only up from here.

[Gadget freak @ Mar 17th 2009 3:29PM]

Maybe finally the ps3 becomes worth its price (compared to xbox 360) although you get a "ok" blu-ray player with it.. (to ps3 fanboys: not saying ps3 sucks)

[MikeC @ Mar 17th 2009 3:32PM]

OK blu-ray? Where have you been?? Almost every review says that the PS3's BR smacks almost every standalone player, and it can be updated to handle new profiles as they come out (ala BR 2.0).

[a ham sandwich @ Mar 17th 2009 3:33PM]

"Maybe finally the ps3 becomes worth its price"

yeah, no.

[RoboDan @ Mar 17th 2009 3:42PM]

Aren't current PS3 owners going to be pissed that they can't play the newest games?

I would be.

Put it in the PS4 and be done with it

P.S. please release the PS4 by Christmas, thanks
P.P.S. - no blu-ray either, just direct links to TPB HD ;)

[bandigolo @ Mar 17th 2009 3:42PM]

MikeC, check the dates on those reviews. Since 2009 rolled around, most $250+ standalones are now as good if not better than PS3 for BD playback and other features.

[dan2600 @ Mar 17th 2009 3:58PM]

ROBODAN:

the ps3 already has a Nvidia GPU...this is just a soft-upgrade that will allow it to run the phsy-x API...i think

[BladeSling @ Mar 17th 2009 4:00PM]

An okay blu-ray player?
What blu-ray players are better?

Anways, xbox+4 wireless controllers and a damn live membership has cost me over $500, the ps3 cost me just under $600 with 4 wireless controllers.. I didn't get the fancy version of either system, they were both new.. The playstation was on sale at wally world for $300 :-D I'ma bargain shopper.

I

[TentosToys @ Mar 17th 2009 4:03PM]

@ Bandigolo

I got the wally world discount too almost a year ago. Since I wanted a blu-ray player anyway, I figured I got a sweet gaming device as well for just $50 extra - not too shabby

[Shin @ Mar 17th 2009 4:04PM]

You ignorant fanboy.

Playstation 3 has proved to be a better console since 2008 Q2 when amazing games started to launch. Let's see now.

PS3 : Free Online, with faster download speeds and average online player is 18~24 (according to Nielsen)
X360 : Online gaming is with a fee, Netflix isn't supported in Europe, Japan and the rest of Asia and average player on Live is 13~17.

PS3 : Allows you to play most movie formats, Blu-ray disks, install Linux and supports 7.1 sound setup.
X360 : Allows you to play some movie formats, no HD-material because HD-DVD died and only supports 5.1 sound.

PS3 : Failure rate is 0.02% on the launch models and even less on the newer 80/160 models.
X360 : Failure rate is up to 33% on the older models with no HDMI port and around 9% with the newest Jasper motherboards.

PS3 : Has games like : Uncharted, Metal Gear Solid 4, WarHawk, Flower, GT 5 Prologue, Heavenly Sword, MotorStorms, LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, Ratchet and Clanks, Wipeout HD, Yakuza 3, Ninja Gaiden Sigma.

X360 : Has games like : Halo 3, Gears of War 2, Fable 2, Banjo Kazooie, Dead or Alives, Crackdown.


These games mentioned on consoles were all exclusive and I listed only playable titles, not some crap like Forza 2 (X360) or Lair (PS3).

PS3 : To be released : inFamous, Heavy Rain, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, God of War 3, GT 5, White Knight Chornicles, Uncharted 2.
X360 : To be released : Mass Effect 2, Alan Wake, Halo ODST.



As you can see the Xbox360 is absolutely pathetic compared to the PS3. Too bad there are still so many Xbawks trolls living in 2007 and believe there are not much games avalible on PS3 even though the current library with multiplatformers is over 440 titles.

[Gadget freak @ Mar 17th 2009 4:10PM]

Hahahahaha... I can't believe people totally go mental about this stuff...

In my opinion (and experience) the ps3 is very noisy when it plays dvd or blu-ray...

btw. I have a ps3 of my own... and i think that the online part is not even close to compare to the xbox 360.. the graphics rarely deferentiate enough to say the ps3 is better, however it might finally make a difference with the PhysX tech. (eks: Mirror's edge on pc with full graphics and PhysX rocks)

I won't say that it's a bad console... but i prefer the xbox...

[comments4cheap @ Mar 17th 2009 4:12PM]

@BladeSling

Your point is?????

[Platinum_Skeet @ Mar 17th 2009 4:22PM]

Shin...

How can you call someone a fanboy when you're one yourself?

Get you facts straight before you rant to Xbox360 and PS3 can both stream 1080p...


I own both and both consoles are great! Can't we all just get along....

[BlurMagic @ Mar 17th 2009 4:32PM]

"As you can see the Xbox360 is absolutely pathetic compared to the PS3. Too bad there are still so many Xbawks trolls living in 2007 and believe there are not much games avalible on PS3 even though the current library with multiplatformers is over 440 titles."

440 titles. No sales.

Playstation 3 highest selling games:

MotorStorm (3.31 million)
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (3 million)
Grand Theft Auto IV (2.659 million)
Resistance: Fall of Man (2.5 million)
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (2.226 million)
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2 million)
Heavenly Sword (1 million)
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (1 million)
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (1 million)



Xbox 360 highest selling games
Halo 3 (8.1 million)
Gears of War (5 million)
Grand Theft Auto IV (4.074 million)
Gears of War 2 (4 million)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (3.772 million)
Call of Duty: World at War (3.35 million)
Forza Motorsport 2 (2.674 million)
Fable 2 (2.6 million)
Assassin's Creed (2.285 million)
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (2.08 million)
Guitar Hero II (2 million)


For being "pathetic" the Xbox seems to have absolutely beat the living shit out of the Playstation 3 when it comes to title sales. Now, while this is not to say that the PS3 has it's fair share of great games, it is to say you are an idiot for trying to compare games. The Xbox has very clearly sold WAY more titles then the PS3, thus stating is dominance as the preferred system for most gamers.

[Aguiluz @ Mar 17th 2009 4:35PM]

XB360:
Halo 3: Max 16 Players
Gears of War: Max 8 Players
Gears of War 2: Max 10 Players


PS3:
Warhawk: Max 32 Players
Resistance: Max 40 Players
Resistance 2: Max 60 Players (!)

[comments4cheap @ Mar 17th 2009 4:39PM]

@Platinum_Skeet

No.

[bioadam @ Mar 17th 2009 4:49PM]

This generation of consoles is like the last generation in reverse; Playstation 3 has the better hardware, the Xbox 360 beats it because it came out first, and Nintendo has the best selling console on the market. That the Playstation 3 will have a PhysX update probably won't change it's second fiddle status.

[comments4cheap @ Mar 17th 2009 4:49PM]

@BlurMagic

More games sold does not mean more games for the console.
And my friend work at a store where used items can be sold and besides C.O.D, those games are currently sitting on the self. But none of the games you mention for the ps3 are sold back, not even the worthless Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.

[hemmy @ Mar 17th 2009 4:50PM]

@Blurmagic:

"Metal Gear Solid 4 has sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide, as of the end of 2008."

I suppose we can take the rest of your figures with a grain of salt too.

[Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ Mar 17th 2009 4:51PM]

Wow, blumagic, that's for pointing that out. Cuz we all know the game that sells the most copies is CLEARLY the better game. So, Call of Duty: World at War is obviously a better game than MGS4.

Thanks, dude. You just saved me from making an unwise purchase!

[Shin @ Mar 18th 2009 8:25AM]

Platinum_Skeet - I didn't talk about resolutions - I was talking about movie formats. Like, it's impossible to stream .mkv files with Xbox.



BlurMagic - and any specific reason you read MULTIPLATFORM number for X360 only? :)
To date PS3 has sold 210 million games, 22.1 million consoles, and that is a job well done for Sony.

Xbox360 has sold more games of course, maybe it's because it has been out for a year longer and it's selling 2-1 in USA with PS3.

In Japan and Europe the Sony dominates over Microsoft, but the gaming market isn't as big as in the US.

[BananaBoat @ Mar 17th 2009 4:54PM]

I love crazy fanboys that call other fanboys crazy fanboys.


You know who you are.


Logically speaking, this will probably mean that PhysX will be heavily used on the next big Sony developed PS3 exclusive (SOTC sequel? Oh please...please make that happen...). Why not on any other games you might ask? Well, if you really want to take advantage of PhysX, you've got to create your game for PhysX. If you don't, your implementation is going to be limited to "Oooh! Look at those cloth physics!" or "Oooh! Look at those hair physics!". PhysX can potentially offer the long awaited gameplay possibilities involved with TRULY destructible environments. Right now though? Ask around, and you'll find that there are only a handful of people actually using PhysX, with the one or two maps that actually use it right now (on Unreal Tournament 3).

As a Playstation 3 owner, this isn't even almost a cool announcement. This many years in, I am hard pressed to believe that we will see more than MAYBE one or two full games (they'd have to be exclusives) that really take advantage of PhysX on the PS3. Other than that, you can bet on the UT3 PhysX maps coming to the PS3. I don't foresee a bigger implementation than that this gen.

I love the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player, and as a gaming platform. This is the LAST feature anyone (especially fanboys) should be touting as proof that the PS3 isn't a flop (which seems to be what they are desperately trying to refute. Why? I have no idea, since it's already a success).

If you need to BS about the amount of "good" (by some otherworldly..."I haven't played these games, but they suck" logic) exclusives on one console compared to another in order to make yourself feel better about your purchase....you might as well not say anything at all. (I'm not talking to anyone in particular. Just fanboys in general.)

[Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ Mar 17th 2009 4:55PM]

Oooooh! And Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is better than Uncharted! I've gotta rush out and pick that one up.

[BlurMagic @ Mar 17th 2009 4:56PM]

Yeah... What was i thinking... So what you guys are saying is, even though the Xbox 360 is trumping the PS3 in game sales, the Xbox still sucks and it's games are crappy, because of what? It's selling more copies? What a novel idea. Crappy games = More sales. I think that was Microsofts business plan... Maybe PS3 should start making crappy games and they could catch up to the 360 dominance in games sold...

[Troy Powers (PSN: TroyPowers) @ Mar 17th 2009 5:10PM]

Who said Xbox sucks? I didn't say Xbox sucks. Did you say Xbox sucks?

I wouldn't know. I've got a PS3. It's pretty cool. It's got this game called Killzone 2 that I really like a lot.

But, no, sales numbers tell the whole tale. The 360 has sold more consoles than the PS3, so it's the better system. And the Wii is twice as good as either. I've definitely gotta learn to make more informed decisions in the future and start basing my opinion of games and consoles on how many OTHER people like (and buy) them instead of basing my opinions on how much enjoyment I get out of them personally.

Lesson learned. :)

[Alan Strangis @ Mar 17th 2009 5:11PM]

Console fanbois flame wars in full effect. :/

Pick the console(s) you like, and use them. It's like trying to convince a Pepsi drinker that Coke is better or vice versa. Posting sales numbers, max players per game etc isn't going to convince anyone.

[hemmy @ Mar 17th 2009 5:18PM]

did school let out early today?

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 18th 2009 6:49AM]

BF2 PC: 128 players.

Game over.

[metnPLs @ Mar 17th 2009 3:30PM]

nice!!!
but will the PhysX SDK support copypasta?
:-))

[Rizzo @ Mar 17th 2009 3:33PM]

No, but it does happen to support copylasagna!

[chickenator @ Mar 17th 2009 3:38PM]

boy this is getting old.

[Oli D @ Mar 17th 2009 3:38PM]

@ Rizzo, lasagne is a pasta dish.

Please amend your joke in accordance.
(/sarc)

[Tito @ Mar 17th 2009 3:59PM]

@Oli D : Lasagna is a pasta dish, but not all pasta dish are lasagna... ;)

[Rizzo @ Mar 17th 2009 3:59PM]

No, but it does happen to support copypotatoes!

[Oli D @ Mar 17th 2009 4:43PM]

@Rizzo, thank you for your compliance with this matter.

[GodCentMe @ Mar 17th 2009 6:01PM]

@ Rizzo,
I think you better stop being a copycat of yourself o_O

[MadMike @ Mar 17th 2009 3:30PM]

but no price cut! Not that it matters, I already own a PS3.

[kevinm @ Mar 17th 2009 3:32PM]

So the PS3 has hidden abilities, I hope see better explosions in the near future.

[Ben Moore @ Mar 17th 2009 6:32PM]

Wow! This is great. I assume it will make PS3 games potentially be capable of beating 360 graphics.

It may still be too late for me. If it takes 18+ months to get any sizable advantage in releases from this, that's halfway or more into the lifecycle of the console. While I DO need a Blu-Ray players, I DON'T need another pile of games. However, better looking titles on the PS3 would certainly be a strong consideration for me as a gamer to finally plunk down the duckets to finally get a PS3.

Of course, having the PS3 stuck at the $400+ mark is the biggest reason that I have stayed in consideration mode on the PS3 for the last 3 years. Even at $250, you spend $400 before you get done with tax and titles and extra controllers, etc. At a $400 price point, it's more like $550 in real life dollars.

[Bobwillis @ Mar 17th 2009 6:47PM]

^ Don't worry about that one bit. You've got like seven more years on that 10 year PS3 lifetime. ^.~

[trooper11 @ Mar 17th 2009 3:35PM]

This sounds like a great idea, but isnt the PS3's strength in the cell processor and not the gpu? I though the whole point was for devs to leverage the cell processor for the heavy physics lifting and leave the gpu to graphics, etc. Itll be interesting to see how devs can make use of this or if itll largely go unused considering the power of the cell processor.

[Morphix @ Mar 17th 2009 4:15PM]

Well, considering the original PhysX system was a standalone card, i can see them maybe allocating parts of the cell processor for the PhysX, therefore reducing even more strain on the system as a whole.

[deanb @ Mar 17th 2009 5:19PM]

Physx was it's own card and in it's current incarnation is more a GPGPU solution.
As the Cell is designed as something inbetween GPU n CPU I'm gonna go on a limb n say Nvidia will have ported the API to cork on the Cell.
Also Physx will only work on 8-series and above and the RSX is designed around a 7800, though the 8-series support may also be to do with DX10 cards work(which the PS3 doesn't support)

[compuguy1088 @ Mar 18th 2009 12:04PM]

What I don't get is why the graphics card supports physx....I recall that the PS3's graphics chip was based on NVIDIA's previous generation of graphics cards (7800 series). I thought the previous generation did not support CUDA and Physx.

[iamnotafish @ Mar 17th 2009 3:36PM]

This is great for the Ps3, but lets wait and see what games actually use it. Aside from Ps3 exclusives, I don't know which other games would try to include that feature, given that the 360 doesn't have support for it, and so it would be more work for them to include it.

[deanb @ Mar 17th 2009 7:02PM]

Mirrors Edge used Physx for PC despite neither 360 or PS3 supporting Physx at the time.(or even ATi cards)
The PS3 having access to Physx gives dev's a few options between Havok n Unreal etc., and may make it easier to port games from PC that use the Physx API.

[Elora HRanma @ Mar 18th 2009 9:50AM]

Both consoles support PhysX, Havok and whatever. That's just software that runs on the processor like any other thing. What Nvidia has done is give the PhysX SDK for free to PS3 programmers, so they don't have to pay huge amounts of money, as they had to, before. What this changes is that now Nvidia has a powerful stand on two platforms (PC, PS3) with potential hardware optimizations currently and in the future (Nvidia owners of 8000 or superior cards, future implementation of PhysX taking full advantage of the Cell).
Sony wins too, creating a de facto physics programming standard on their console, thus reducing costs for developers, making the console easier to code for and, as a result, increasing its appeal to developers.

[Elliot @ Mar 17th 2009 3:39PM]

Give it copy and paste and I'm sold!

But seriously, perhaps this will be using the cell processor instead of the gpu.

[EGOvoruhk @ Mar 17th 2009 3:39PM]

This means nothing really. The PS3's graphics are based on GeForce 7 series architecture, so this isn't going to be hardware powered physics like you see on the PC (With 8/9/200 series and CUDA). It's going to be more like the Havok Physics engine, which has been around for years

[Beastage @ Mar 17th 2009 3:43PM]

Yea that is why I think, rather prefer Havok it is proven technology without hardware specific acceleration, software physx is horrible.

[kavu44 @ Mar 17th 2009 3:49PM]

the graphics chip in the xbox360 is more powerful than the one in the ps3.
games will never utilize the full computational capacity of the cell processor,
and tying blu ray to the ps3 was a mistake as it forced the price of the console to stay high

expect this to be the next thing sony trys using as a selling point