Games utilizing the Unreal Engine 3 like Epic Games' UT3 had PhysX support since 2007 but it relied heavily on a PhysX hardware acceleration on the PC. Would a software-based PhysX API and engine take this idea further with the consoles?

CORP TALK: Looks like NVIDIA’s been keeping busy of late. The graphics company has announced the signing of a tools and middleware license agreement with Sony (for the PS3) and Nintendo (for the Wii console).

This roughly means that developers for the PS3 and Wii can now use the NVIDIA PhysX technology software development kit (SDK) to author and preview physics effects in real time while developing games for the platforms. The kit consists of an application programming interface (API) software, with robust physics engine, designed to give developers, animators, level designers and artists greater control over character and object physical interactions.

The scalable nature of the physics engine also means that games will look more realistic, more interactive, persistent (constantly evolving) and natural.  What’s even more interesting is NVIDIA’s aggressive move into the software development side of the console gaming sphere, after battling it out on the desktop and notebook front, regardless (for now at least) of whether the hardware comes with an NVIDIA-based chipset or not.

For a list of PhysX-supported games (for PC/Mac and console) to date, check it out here. One thing’s for sure, hopefully, we’ll see more realistic Sixaxis- or Wii motion-controlled games on the PS3 and Wii respectively. (Editor opinions: 1)

Vijay Anand, Editor, HardwareZone.com

Vijay (HardwareZone.com): There are only two major names for game physics engines - PhysX and Havok. While Havok is free for PC game developers, that price isn’t applicable to integrate it with the game nor is it available free for console game developers.

PhysX charges a licensing fee, but it has extensive support from the team behind it to help optimize physics effects for the required games and integrate the PhysX engine into the game. To the game developers, NVIDIA’s extensive support and commitment is their value propostion to delivering a great game despite the cost involved over Havok.

We do wonder if this tie-up with the Wii for PhysX-enabled games could signal the use of an NVIDIA GPU or platform for the next generation Wii. It’s too early to tell, but there could be a small chance with this PhysX development.