More on NVIDIA's Involvement In X Box

ManWithNoName writes "In the Private Eye, there's an interesting look at NVIDIA's involvement (which was officially announced today) in the X-Box, with their APU and iGPU and how these technologies could have the potential to be used for other products other than Xbox. There's also a very satirical "General Industry Interview" (involving Sony, Sega, 3dfx, NVIDIA, ATI etc...)with everyone involved in the industry that either is inside the Xbox or has tried to get into it over the pasty year. On a more serious note, the authors talk about a conspiracy that Microsoft's Xbox will punch the PC industry in the nuts with the whole Delay to DX8 causing NVIDIA, 3dfx and ATI to delay the releases of their next generation 3D chips, which are dependant upon the unreleased API."

Comments

Re:Can someone fill me in?

[bssea]

I just went to an X-box presentation last Wednesday where that exact question was asked.

Their answer, in short, was that they are Microsoft. They make DirectX, therefore it makes since for them to push DirectX. The Dev guy also stated that if anyone wishes to make an OpenGL subsystem for the Xbox, they are welcome to, but it won't be supported by Microsoft.

One of their exact quotes was:
"Why put our eggs in 2 baskets that are half-assed, when we can put them all in one and it be kickass." This was from the Multimedia Head of the Xbox Dev Team.

Also, they stated that it will not BSOD.. they can't afford that. That quickly got questions like: "Then what color is it?". heh, quite funny.. you had to be there I guess.

But, overall, the presentation really didn't impress me... too much "This is what 10% of the theorectical power of the Xbox will be able to do" crap.

Well.. that's my bit for now.

Been there, done that, told not to, still will?

[ackthpt]

On a more serious note, the authors talk about a conspiracy that Microsoft's Xbox will punch the PC industry in the nuts with the whole Delay to DX8 causing NVIDIA, 3dfx and ATI to delay the releases of their next generation 3D chips, which are dependant upon the unreleased API.

This would certainly not endear them to the DoJ, let alone lend credibility to their comical denial of monopolistic behavior. I keep expecting M$ to learn and shape up, but it's like there's pattern of behavior... Too bad Bill's not in California, we could possibly get him on the 3 strikes and cool him off in the pokey ;-)

Interesting side note (considering for a second the capacity at the XBox to do other than play games) The Register concerning the ditching of M$ ActiveTV by AT&T


It's all true! ±5%

DirectX and new feeatures

[EvlG]

DirectX is winning lots of developers because MS actually implements new features and concepts ina standardized way in the API. All you get with GL is a bunch of vendor-supplied extensions. The paradigm for development hasn't changed at all for GL, whereas DX has moved along with the times.

That said, I think GL has a superior implementation. It's just a shame that GL is withering away in the face of new feature developments, losing to the MS machine.

What ever happened to the new 3D API, called Farenheit, that was to be co-developed by MS and SGI? I remember it was announced not long after the GL vs. DX wars went into full swing, about 3 years ago. Where did that go?

you answered your own question...

[slothbait]

> It's already here AND it's cross-platform.

Which is *exactly* why Microsoft won't use it. "Cross Platform" gives them nightmares. MS's mission is to lock consumers into *their* products, *their* systems, and *their* way of doing things. That way consumers are forced to keep buying MS, no matter what sh*t the company puts out.

Cross Platform means easy migration, which is wonderful for consumers, and horrible for Microsoft. If you could easily pick up shop and take your business elsewhere, MS would be forced to provide a decent product to win your business. Unfortunately, we don't live in that world. I keep hoping that consumers will wake up and realize that MS's actions are not in their best interest, but that's probably asking too much.

I can dream, can't I?

--Lenny

Re:Wouldn't it be cool...

[evilned]

In further news today, Aureal was bought by Creative Labs, so the old a3d tech (great 3d sound in windows, but linux drivers that were about as good as two tons of cow manure) is owned by them. Judging by creatives past record of innovation on the sound front (they sold the same card with no features added for three years straight) I wouldnt hold my breath on them innovating any until another upstart Aureal type company pops up. Even then you have only have the time between the sound card shipping till creative sicks their lawyers on them.