3D Graphics Grand Prix

DirectX 8 Kicks Games Into Gear

A billowing flag, a ripple on the water, a reflection in glass. These visual effects may seem like minuscule details, but they mark a milestone in computer game graphics. Previously, game developers couldn't create games that rendered these effects realistically. However, new capabilities in Microsoft's DirectX 8.0 technology promise to change forever the way computer games look.

DirectX is a software component of Windows that allows multimedia developers to support a wide range of computer hardware (such as your graphics board or sound card) by adhering to a single standard. With DirectX installed, those applications don't need to know what hardware you're using--as long as both software and hardware are DirectX-compatible. The latest version of DirectX offers game makers unprecedented freedom to create sophisticated scenes and effects, which in turn should lead to richer, more realistic games.

Games Get Real With DirectX 8

Keith Galocy, developer relations manager for 3dfx, believes that DirectX 8 will aid developers tremendously. "The programming flexibility offered by new hardware and DirectX 8 will afford much more creativity in 3D engine design and artwork," he says. "This will let game creators mold their visuals after the mood or theme they're trying to create."

Game developers can take advantage of new features to create sophisticated scenes and effects for more realism. In particular, DirectX 8 supports programmable vertex and pixel shaders--features that provide greater control over morphing, lighting, and such reflections and geometric effects as ripples on water. Other features like 3D volume textures allow developers to create more-realistic smoke, clouds, fire, and holograms. With key-frame interpolation (see "Gamer's Glossary"), or "tweening," animated characters will be able to move more smoothly and naturally.

A couple of DirectX elements are already available. Microsoft released DirectX 8 in early November, and ATI says its Radeon graphics cards, released last July, offer partial hardware support. However, ATI's driver--required to enable these features--was still in the final stages of testing at press time. Representatives of 3dfx, Matrox, and NVidia indicate that their future products will also offer hardware support for DirectX 8. NVidia says its next-generation chip set is slated to appear in the first half of this year.

The first DirectX 8-enabled game is MechWarrior 4: Vengeance. Not surprisingly, it's from Microsoft. Other vendors will soon follow.