Popular New MMORPG to Increase Number and Intensity of Physics-Based Environments and Effects
March 21, 2006
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Author: AGEIA Technologies
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - March 21, 2006 - AGEIATM Technologies, Inc., the pioneer in hardware-accelerated physics for games, today announced that City of VillainsTM developer Cryptic Studios plans to supercharge the game's powers and effects for players whose PCs are equipped with Physics Accelerator add-in boards powered by the AGEIA PhysXTM processor. The standalone sequel to the hugely popular City of Heroes from NCsoft, City of Villains was an immediate hit among MMORPG fans and critics alike with its intense interactivity and exceptional particle systems.
While all City of Villains players benefit from the game's software physics created by the AGEIA PhysX SDK, players with PhysX Accelerator cards will experience some 10 times the number of particles displayed in physics-based events, resulting in an even more immersive experience. For example:
Mayhem Missions, which are set in a destructible environment, have destroyed objects taking greater advantage of the physics effects, such as a newspaper vending machine which, when blown up, shreds thousands of particles of paper around it.
Physics particles can be affected by external forces. For example, the shredded bits from the newspaper machine linger in the air only to be blown away by other explosions.
World geometry will be retrofitted with reactive physics effects, such as leaves being dropped from trees when a Power Blast is cast nearby.
"City of Villains players with PhysX-based Physics Accelerator add-in boards in their PCs will be blown away by the added realism and immersiveness of the game," said Michael Lewis, CEO of Cryptic Studios. "While the ability to succeed in the game will be unaffected, the overall user experience will be greatly enhanced through support for the AGEIA PhysX processor."
"The team at Cryptic Studios is among the most talented in the business, and it's exciting to see them apply their wizardry using AGEIA PhysX technology," said Kathy Schoback, vice president of content acquisition at AGEIA. "City of Villains is already a one-of-a-kind game experience, but the action acceleration of the AGEIA PhysX processor will take it to an entirely new level."
About NCsoft
NCsoft North America is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is part of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. The company launched two massively multiplayer titles on the same day last year, Lineage II and City of Heroes, and in April of 2005 the hit game Guild Wars. In the coming months, NCsoft is poised to launch two more massively multiplayer titles: City of Villains and Auto AssaultTM. More information about NCsoft can be found at http://www.PlayNC.com.
About Cryptic Studios
Cryptic StudiosTM, Inc., located in Los Gatos, California, was established in July of 2000 and is an independent developer of massively multiplayer online games for the PC and next generation consoles. Its first game, City of Heroes, launched in April 2004. The game takes place in a virtual world where thousands of people play simultaneously, take on the role of super-powered heroes, fight villains and help create a dynamic story in a visually-stunning, 3-D graphical world.
About AGEIA
AGEIATM Technologies, Inc., is the pioneer of hardware-accelerated physics for PC games and has developed the world's first dedicated physics processor, the AGEIA PhysX processor. The AGEIA PhysX processor powers massive and pervasive real-time interactive worlds that for the first time obey the laws of classical physics. AGEIA provides a world-class cross platform software development kit to simplify advanced physics programming for the PhysX processor, as well next-generation gaming consoles. AGEIA is changing the face of gaming by working with more than sixty leading developers and publishers to deliver the next generation of physically immersive entertainment. The company, headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is privately-held. For more information visit http://www.ageia.com.
*AGEIA and PhysX are trademarks of AGEIA Technologies, Inc. City of Villains and all associated City of Villains logos and designs are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cryptic Studios, Inc. and NCsoft Corporation. All other products are trademarks of their respective companies.
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