The AGEIA-Havok Debate

Physics in consoles

Havok: AGEIA is NOT used in any way in any GRAW sku other than the PC.

AGEIA: This is not true and we’re not sure why anyone would think this. PhysX is used in GRAW on Xbox360.

Even players of the Xbox360 game know that AGEIA PhysX is a driving force…

Note the sample forum user thread below from hardforum.com

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1051457

QUESTION POSED ON FIRINGSQUAD.COM

“What interested me the most was that the engine used for the console ports actually uses Havok.

Which comes down to another question. Which is better at handling software physics? Havok or Ageia?”

RESPONSE ON HARDFORUM.COM

“Funny that - because I finished GRAW 360 a few days ago and the credits only have the AGEIA logo in them. No Havok to be seen...

Good question about which is better in software mode - Haven't seen anything on that yet. Might be difficult to put two different games that use the two head to head though. Maybe an SDK Iron cage? (they both have demonstration modes)

Looked it up some more but can't find anything other than vague hints at "unparalleled physics system". Marketing bumf

This looks like the start of the next "OMGNOESYOUCANTCLAIMTHAT" war a la Nv/ATi.

Who'd have thought Havok, which stands to lose the most from widespread physics adoption, would try to paint AGEIA black...

"Our own in-house testing has confirmed that GPU's aren't even being fully utilized"

Sound like a plug for HavokFX, anyone?”

AGEIA: It will be common to see PhysX-enabled titles continue to span PC and console platforms in the future. Developers appreciate that fact that PhysX is naturally cross-platform and easy to port between PC and console (i.e. Xbox360, Playstation 3). They also don’t mind that AGEIA provides the SDK and support for free. Havok charges 100’s of thousands of dollars for this. For these reasons, its understandable why over 60 developers and publishers are working to deliver over 100 games built for the PhysX processor.