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Setting
Standards In 3D
Graphics
THE
Technology Summit Report! - July 30, 1999
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Soft
Shadows and Reflections
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Let's face it,
the shadows that are drawn in today's games via today's hardware,
are a little lame. Nowhere in nature does any object cast a shadow
that is perfectly symmetrical, sharp or even squared off and boxy.
Today's PC 3D Graphics Cards draw a very unnatural shadow and
similarly unnatural reflections. Reflections and shadows bend
slightly and warp depending on where the source lighting is coming
from, in the event of a shadow or what the angle of the object
versus what is casting a reflection of it, in the event of a
reflection. This effect is currently achievable with today's
technology. However, shadows and reflections also have much softer
lines to them and diffuse significantly as they are drawn further
and further away from the object. Take a look here to see what 3dfx
means by Soft Shadows and Soft Reflections.
click
images
*
Image Copyright The Association For Computing Machinery
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A
note on APIs and
support of new features
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we mentioned earlier, Full Scene Spatial Anti-Aliasing will be
available via any of the three current standard APIs, Glide, D3D and
OpenGL. The new Cinematic Features however, will be initially
supported in Glide. D3D and OpenGL will be worked on extensively and
3dfx is will be heavily involved in an effort to make these effects
an integral part of the other suites. Just as in the days of
Voodoo1, first 3dfx's Hardware and Glide Software will breath new
life into 3D PC Graphics and then a standard will be set for others
to follow! |
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Wrap
it up and roll the credits!
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Well,
needless to say, 3dfx is poised to bring a another break-through technology
to the market with their next generation chipset. Both Bob and I
were truly amazed at how this company continues to lead in a market
while most others follow. Now you too know what the future holds for
3D Gaming and 3D Graphics Technology. It is a very bright future
thanks in part to some very bright minds at 3dfx.
Once again, we would like to thank the good people of 3dfx for
inviting us to learn about their exciting new products. This
next generation technology is slated to be released in the Fall of
1999! WE CAN HARDLY WAIT!
-Dave
& -Bob
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And
now we bring you... "Bloopers"!
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click
'em
Uh,
little fog on take-off Bob??? Oh SURE don't worry, the Pilot could
still see! Oh and what a wreckin' crew this is... Mazi B. from
V3.net on the left end, Jeremy from AGN3D in the middle, and
Bobbie-Boy Gagnon from the Ol' H.H. - #2 in from the right!
Bob
took this shot just to prove they let him in the conference room.
Then Scott Sellers is sleepwalking again! The last one in this row
is Scott getting ready to bounce an obnoxious heckler!
Brian
Burke does the "I dream of Genie" dance and then gets
caught holding up the table! Time to get some rest Bri! No more Mono
relapses pal! :-)
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