Ageia Releases PhysX SDK v2.4 Physics API and Runtime Engine

Ageia Technologies, Inc. has announced availability of the cross-platform Ageia PhysX SDK v2.4, the latest version of its physics API and runtime engine. With the Ageia PhysX SDK v2.4, developers can create physics-based environments and effects for both next-generation gaming platforms and PCs with "PhysX Accelerator" PC add-in boards from ASUS and BFG Technologies featuring the Ageia PhysX processor. Beyond providing physics in games for cross-platform availability, the Ageia PhysX SDK v2.4 includes two physics features - cross-platform cloth and hardware-accelerated joints. Developers can stretch, twist, drape and attach cloth to other rigid-body objects and then have the cloth interact with the environment. In addition, developers can use Ageia's new hardware-accelerated joints to create and accelerate articulated objects and effects. The cross-platform cloth and hardware-accelerated joints are the latest additions to the Ageia PhysX SDK, which also features concurrent hardware accelerated complex rigid bodies, "smart particle fluids", and high fidelity terrain. The tools support tens of thousands of dynamic objects interacting and colliding across entire game levels. The Ageia PhysX SDK v2.4 provides support for modeling and art tools, including plug-ins for Autodesk 3ds Max7 and Alias Maya 7, as well as COLLADA Physics format import/export support. Ageia PhysX technology is also integrated into Softimage/XSI v5.0, available directly from Softimage.