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Epic's Mark Rein: Consoles will define look of PC games
Speaking to CVG, Epic Games vice president Mark Rein has expressed his belief that graphical advancement in PC games will be partially reined in (OOF!) due to the limitations and financial viability of consoles. "Publishers are generally putting their money where the highest return is, and in the past that's been on consoles and I think that's still the case," said Rein. "So if you build the game that's a really super amazing high-end game, how do you make all the money you could make from that game, because it'll be too high end eventually to be on PS3 or Xbox 360."As a result, Rein expects consoles to "pretty much define what the next five years of games look like on the PC" and titles pushing the DirectX 10 envelope to be in the minority. PC versions should, however, benefit from several enhancements a la Gears of War. "That's the value to me of the PC, that the source content we have is still really high resolution, much higher than we can show on a 512MB machine. You can use that content on the PC, you can express it in higher resolutions and higher frame rates and turn on more effects. I think that's what you'll see, PC games where we turn it up higher." Though it sounds like console technology is cramping the PC's style, the Xbox 360 and PS3 (and those who develop for them) are still immersed in the design transition from single processors to parallel architectures. There's a lot more wind to be coaxed from those sails yet.
Eurocom's quad-core D900C Phantom-X laptop gets official
Good news for those waiting in tense anticipation for a confirmation on Eurocom's quad-core lappie: it's for real. Dubbed the D900C Phantom-X, this powerhouse will reportedly pack Intel's "newest line of quad-core processors," up to 750GB of internal HDD space, your choice of NVIDIA GPUs running in single or dual SLI, a Blu-ray optical drive, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, and a slew of ports including USB 2.0, FireWire, DVI, S-Video, a multicard reader, optical and analog audio in / out, and a gigabit Ethernet jack for good measure. 'Course, you'll also find integrated Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11a/b/g, stereo speakers, a built-in microphone, and an optional TV tuner that could certainly make you question the necessity of your desktop. So, you big spender you, go on and get your order in now and let the bragging commence -- if you've got the $2,999 it'll take for the base configuration, that is.[Thanks, Mark B.]
Commodore unveils lineup of US-bound gaming desktops
Unlike some companies we've seen, it appears that Commodore Gaming is actually keeping its word, as the company has just now released the final details on its lineup of flashy US-bound gaming rigs. The Cg, Cgs, Cgx, and Cxx machines progress gradually from least extreme to highly 1337, and all four can be customized to suit your every fantasy. To give you an idea of what's on tap (if you've got the coin), the Cxx packs a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6800 processor, twin 500GB 7,200RPM hard drives in a RAID 0 array, 2GB of Corsair RAM, DVD-RW optical drive, an 850-watt power supply, Creative's Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer sound card, Windows Vista, and dual 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra GPUs to boot. As far as pricing goes, word on the street is that the base system will start out around $1,700, but we'll know for sure when these come stateside in Q3.[Via CNET]
Foxconn offering sub-$100 DirectX 10 cards
For those looking for hot, sweaty DirectX 10 action on a shoestring budget, Foxconn has announced a pair of NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS-based graphics cards that should do the trick. The cards will hit stores in a 128MB or 256MB configuration -- both sporting 450MHz / 800MHz core / memory clock speeds -- on an unspecified date for less than $100. That should be the perfect compliment to a basic Vista setup, or a cheap gaming option if you spent all your money on that fancy case.[Via ExtremeTech]
Diamond stuffs 1GB onto ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT
With leading-edge graphics cards getting more and more dedicated RAM shoved onto their PCBs, it's only surprising that it has taken this long for a 1GB single GPU card to hit the market. Diamond Multimedia has just announced the launch of its Radeon HD 2900 XT 1GB, which packs a full gigabyte of GDDR4 memory, second-generation unified shader architecture, 512-bit memory interface, integrated CrossFire scalability, and built-in HDMI support. Moreover, it also includes ATI's Avivo display technology, dual-link DVI output, HDCP compliance, and DirectX 10 support. No word just yet on what kind of premium you'll be expected to pay for this momentary claim of superiority, but we'd wait for the benchmarks to see if it's even worth the extra coin.
Today's most comparative game videos: Crysis DirectX
If you can geek out to API advancements, we salute you. Today's video picks compare DirectX 9 and the messiah DirectX 10 with Crysis footage. Yes, we can actually see a difference in the clips, and GameTrailers provides big, non-embedable HD files on its site.Will Crysis be the best-looking game ever, and will it require a DX10 system -- and, of course, Vista -- to earn that title? We've seen "best-looking game ever" mugs at a mall kiosk and will set one aside for the game's release later this year. (Don't let us down, Crysis. We could end up taunting you by giving it to the Wii.)See the videos after the break.
A-Power's AP-Halo gaming PC dons Halo 2 outfit, beastly innards
With Dell's XPS 720 getting ready for showtime, it's quite possible that a few of you out there are eying a slightly different kind of animal, and for the Halo faithful, look no further than A-Power. The AP-Halo machine sports a fully customized Halo 2 chassis to go along with the game's PC counterpart, but it manages to look fairly good on the inside as well. Beneath the metal you'll find an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor, up to 640GB of SATA II hard drive space, Asus' P5K Deluxe motherboard, a Samsung dual-layer DVD burner, Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer sound card, gigabit Ethernet, a 768MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX handling the DX10 duties, a 700-watt power supply, and to cap things off, it also comes bundled with Microsoft's own Reclusa keyboard and Habu mouse. Of course, it'll come pre-loaded with Vista Ultimate and Halo 2, and deep-pocketed gamers can add on an Xbox 360 PC controller if they choose. The Halo 2-themed system is slated to launch on May 22nd, and while the base price sits at CAD$1,659 ($1,505) sans a monitor, those hardware upgrades will send that figure quite a ways north.
Lost Planet PC demo available on 15 May
Those eager to traipse through an unforgiving climate and annihilate despicable alien creatures without the aid of an Xbox 360 won't have to wait much longer. A PC demo of Capcom's Lost Planet is set to materialize online next week, May 15th, and finally give those DirectX 10 cards something to do. Indeed, they'll be expected to utilize "the advanced features of Shader model 4.0" in order to render those frigid landscapes and enormous plot holes. Older hardware isn't quite given the cold shoulder, however, as Lost Planet also supports Windows XP and DirectX 9. If monsters and mechs do it for you, find it on store shelves this June, priced at a totally last-gen $39.95.%Gallery-2562%
NVIDIA's DX10-capable 8M laptop GPUs get official
NVIDIA's been parading its DirectX 10 desktop GPUs around for some time now, and while we've seen lappies in the pipeline that tout the DX10 niceties, the firm is getting all formal on us with the release of the 8M series of laptop graphics cards. Hailed as the "world's first mobile GPU to support DirectX 10 and fully accelerate decoding of H.264 full HD movies," the 8M series will initially consist of the GeForce 8600M and 8400M. NVIDIA claims that these chips will provide "up to twice the performance of previous generation GPUs," and also boasts about the PureVideo HD processing engine and PowerMizer technology that purportedly conserves battery life when you're not engaged in a ruthless deathmatch. Unsurprisingly, the chips have already been made available to laptop manufacturers, so watch for these suckas in forthcoming "HP, Toshiba, Acer, Samsung, and Asus offerings."
Hail to the king: NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 Ultra
Not content with ATI resting atop the DirectX 10 throne when their compliant cards come out this month, NVIDIA is showing off the new speed king, trumping their very own GeForce 8800 GTX, the current speed king. Behold: the GeForce 8800 Ultra! Rocking 768MB of video memory, and performing between 10 to 15% faster (on average) than the 8800 GTX, we don't even want to know what one of these overclocked beasts is going to cost when they hit retailers worldwide by May 15th. Oh, $829 and higher? And they're SLI compatible? Well, if Lost Planet at 2560X1600 is that important to you, we won't stand in your way.[Update: The reviews have not been kind. Anandtech says, "The NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra is an utter waste of money," while HardOCP says, "there [is] absolutely no reason to buy an 8800 Ultra over an 8800 GTX at this time." Ouch! Thanks for the links, guys.]
ATI's DirectX 10 card benched, bests NVIDIA's 8800
Just like the console wars, the graphics card wars can get really ugly, really fast ... and they're all about fast. NVIDIA's been trumpeting their GeForce 8800 (and now the more affordable 8-series cards as well) as the only DirectX 10 cards available. While true, without any DirectX 10 games to exploit those new features, it's a particularly hollow victory. DailyTech has gotten their delicate hands on a real life Radeon HD 2900 XT which they (of course) put in a head to head race to the death with NVIDIA's 640MB GeForce 8800 GTS. The blood-thirsty crowd screamed as the the newcomer proceeded to beat down the reigning champ -- the Radeon scored more eff-pee-esses in every single test they threw at it, including games like Call of Duty 2, Company of Heroes, F.E.A.R., Half Life 2: Episode 1, and Oblivion.AMD is scheduled to release their DirectX 10 cards in mid-May in a range of models for every budget (except you, college students!). The ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT, tested here, has a suggested retailer price of $449.[Via Engadget]
ATI's Radeon HD 2900 XT benchmarked, trumps NVIDIA's GeForce 8800 GTS
Although preliminary testing proved that ATI's R600 architecture wasn't messing around, DailyTech added another layer of proof to the pudding as it benchmarked a bonafide Radeon HD 2900 XT against NVIDIA's 640MB GeForce 8800 GTS. The DirectX 10-capable card is a notch above the HD 2600 XT that was snapped in the wild, and the tested unit featured 320 stream processors, 512MB of GDDR3 RAM, a dual-slot "blower-type heat sink," dual dual-link DVI ports, and a serious desire to crank out impressive FPS numbers. While the marks weren't the end-all answer to the ATI vs. NVIDIA question, the Radeon managed to best its opponent in every single trial, including Call of Duty 2, Company of Heroes, F.E.A.R., Oblivion, 3DMark06, Maya 02, Cadalyst C2006, and a few more for good measure. Of course, we're sure NVIDIA will be hitting back with something of its own, but feel free to hit the read link if you take pleasure in graphical beat downs with ATI escaping victorious.[Thanks, Mathieu]
Zepto's Znote 6625WD does DX10, HSDPA, and HD DVD
Considering that Zepto isn't exactly "the name" in full-blown gaming laptops, we certainly hope this one won't turn out like ones prior, but the Znote 6625WD purportedly packs a plethora of lavish innards if it proves legitimate. The 15.4-inch machine is based around Intel's Santa Rosa, er, Centrino Pro platform, and sports a WSXGA resolution, Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 2.0, NVIDIA's 512MB GeForce Go 8600 graphics card, DirectX 10 support, an optional HD DVD writer, 802.11a/b/g/n, HSDPA compatibility, and to top things off, an HDMI output. The company will supposedly be taking customized orders in May to satisfy your wildest dreams, and while the bottom-end of the bunch could land at around "$1,100 to $1,200," we imagine that some of the aforementioned luxuries will ratchet that right on up.[Via Laptopical]
Nvidia's affordable DirectX 10 cards benchmarked
If you find the lack of DirectX 10 compliant games disturbing, you probably won't be interested in ExtremeTech's review of the just released, more affordable variant of the GeForce 8800, the 8600 GT and GTS. The cards -- which range from $150-170 for the EVGA GeForce 8600 GT and $200-230 for the XFX GeForce 8600 GTS -- may have that all important DirectX 10 qualifier, but without any DirectX 10 software to test them on, the crew at ExtremeTech are unsure of how to evaluate them. They write, "Unfortunately, we don't know if these new mid-range graphics wonders are going to be "enough" for true DX10 content. Simply put, there are no real DX10 games for us to try out." Nvidia's got a full lineup of DirectX 10 cards but no software to test them on; seems like a hollow victory to us.
It's official: Lost Planet finds PC gamers
Capcom signaled its self-described return to more frequent PC releases by officially announcing a PC version of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition for June. The Windows XP and Vista game will support DirectX 10 for gamers with those shiny video cards, but DirectX 9 players are also invited into the snowy world.The PC version will run at resolutions up to 2,560x1600, making the console war's "True HD" sound like a tired marketing slogan. (Oh wait, it already did.) While the graphic effects beyond resolution will also be improved, little else is certain to change.Capcom told us at its Gamer's Day event that the PC game may include new multiplayer maps and even increase its 16-player online cap, but both updates are still pending. However, multiplayer matches between Xbox 360 gamers and PC players will not be supported.%Gallery-2562%
DX10 on the cheap: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 and 8500
Despite what John Romero thinks, the PC gaming world has a long ways to go before it can match a dedicated gaming console on a dollar per graphical gewgaw basis. Thankfully, in just one week, dedicated (and subsequently cash poor) PC gamers will be able to upgrade their boxen to Microsoft's double digit DirectX 10 for a lot less loot with the introduction of the GeForce 8600 GTS, 8600 GT and 8500 GT cards. The cards, retailing at $199-$229, $149-$159, and $89-$129 respectively, help bring DX10 home for a lot less than the current (and only) DX10 card, the princely GeForce 8800. Any Vista early adopters upgrading their cards? [Via Engadget]
Samsung prepping high-end M60 gaming notebook
Looks like Samsung's got another sexy laptop on display at CeBIT to go with the R70, R20, and Q45 that we saw earlier in the show, and this one is aimed squarely at gamers on the go. The company's M-series has always incorporated high-end features -- various iterations of the M55 were among the first on the market with Blu-ray and HD DVD drives -- and the upcoming M60 is no different, sporting top of the line Core 2 Duo processors, Santa Rosa chipsets, BD drives, and most importantly, DirectX 10-compatible NVIDIA cards with 512MB of video RAM. Notebook Review tells us to expect these sometime in May or June, for an as-yet-to-be-determined price.
Intel's Crestline integrated graphics to run DirectX 10
It's an utterly inevitable upgrade to Intel's ubiquitous integrated graphics mobile chipsets, but we're still pleased to hear that it's coming sooner rather than later. TG Daily has learned that Intel's upcoming GM965 Crestline chipset, the core of the "Santa Rosa" platform, is indeed DirectX 10 compatible. It was already a bit of a surprise that some integrated graphics chips could handle Vista's Aero, but DirectX 10 implies a level of performance that should considerably exceed what we've seen in integrated laptop graphics previously. Naturally, we're not expecting much in the way of Crysis-level accomplishments (pictured), but that game is only the most visible of what are sure to be many more DirectX 10 games and apps in the future. The most recent word is that the chipset should be making its debut in May, with four FSB800 processors in tow: the 1.8GHz T7100, 2.0GHz T7300, 2.2GHz T7500 and 2.4GHz T7600. A couple of low-voltage versions should show up soon after that.
Today's leafiest game video: Crysis footage [update 1]
We're interested in upcoming shooter Crysis based on our time playing, but we're not yet sold on the graphic hype the game has been gathering. Today's video pick from GameTrailers shows off footage from the game the game engine, mostly highlighting plants and their shadows. We held on to our skeptic streak through the video, but the movement of the plants and the intricate shadows chipped away at our cynical shells; the engine looks good. But we'll have to wait for the Crysis release to decide how much praise -- and hype -- the game warrants.See the lovely leaves after the break.[Update 1: Thanks to the commentors who pointed out that the video is a tech demo and not directly from the game.]
Nvidia launches cheap(er) DirectX 10 cards
Unless you live the sort of life where you receive money for nothin' and your chicks for free, you'll undoubtedly consider a fancy DirectX 10 card as a straight plunge into financial dire straits. "Not so," says Nvidia, pointing to the launch of the 320MB GeForce 8800 GTS, a mildly nerfed but more reasonably priced entry into their DirectX 10 graphics card lineup. It's up to you to decide just how reasonable the $300 asking price is, but it's certainly a far cry from the Crysis-killing, $600 GTX models. Besides sporting considerably less RAM when compared to the 768MB found in the GTX, the 320MB 8800's G80 core runs 75MHz slower at 500Mhz. Still, the card's performance should be more than adequate to handle the likes of Crysis and the tight budget of those working in less lucrative industries (microwave oven installers, for instance). [Via Engadget]
