Ageia Signs GungHo For Physics Middleware

Middleware hardware and software creator Ageia Technologies, Inc. has announced that GungHo Online Entertainment will be using Ageia's PhysX technologies for future games. Upcoming GungHo titles that will use the physics simulation capabilities of Ageia NovodeX physics software include Rondo Projects. GungHo, operator of the largest online game community in Japan and the distributor of Gravity's popular Ragnarok Online PC MMO in Japan, will use Ageia technology as a cost-saving alternative to motion-capture and 3D animation, according to the company. Seiichi Hori, CTO of GungHo, said that "Ageia’s PhysX technologies allow us to replace simple iterations of pre-defined movements and reactions created with animation with physically-enabled moving, interactive worlds." Ageia has recently announced PlayStation 3 support for its physics middleware, notable middleware licensing deals with companies including Ubisoft, Cryptic Studios and Shiny Entertainment, and plans a release of its PhysX PPU physics hardware chip for PC by the end of 2005.