NVIDIA Losses & Gains, iZ3D Developments, Microsoft News

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Category: News

Published on Thursday, 03 July 2008 19:00

Written by Neil Schneider

First, it was a bitter sweet day for NVIDIA yesterday. In this article written by Tom’s Hardware, NVIDIA’s stock plunged (yes PLUNGED) by 21.94% or $3.95 to $14.08 a share on news that some of their notebook GPUs are failing because of "thermal issues". This is the biggest drop NVIDIA has experienced in the last four years.

These chip failures will cause NVIDIA to absorb a $150 to $200 million charge this quarter to cover warranty repair and return replacement. To add insult to injury, NVIDIA sales are a bit lower than analysts’ expectations this quarter.

However, also reported by Tom’s Hardware, is NVIDIA is expected to release DirectX 10.1 GPU support by first quarter 2009 for notebooks and potentially fourth quarter 2008 for desktops. Looks like the GPU market is going through some interesting times!

Now, enough with the boring stuff! Reliable sources have informed us that the next version of the iZ3D LLC drivers will not be coming out for at least another month to a month and a half. The reason is iZ3D has established new business relationships with multiple "large sized" industry players who need the drivers "modified" for their purposes. According to our sources, this deal will change the stereoscopic 3D gaming landscape as we know it.

Depending on progress, it is possible that an announcement will be made at this year’s SIGGRAPH in Los Angeles.

One more thing! Chris Satchel, General Manager for XNA shared a few words about stereoscopic 3D gaming at Gameindustry.biz. Read our response HERE.

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MTBS S-3D Hardware Guide RC2, Windows XP Retiring

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Category: News

Published on Sunday, 29 June 2008 19:00

Written by Neil Schneider

Couple of news points to end the month.

First, with the assistance of member feedback and ideas, we have published Release Candidate II of the MTBS Stereoscopic 3D Hardware Guide. Important updates include:

1. A sharper introduction.
2. Corrections for dual output projectors.
3. A much more detailed CRT monitor section
4. A more precise description of the CRT monitor availability.

Second, as Bill Gates semi-retires to his full time work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Windows XP is retiring with him. Today is the last day the operating system will be available for sale, and moving forward, manufacturers like Dell and HP are only able to market existing inventory with the XP operating system already installed. Extended support for Windows XP will continue until April 2014, but mainstream support ends in April, 2009.

Fortunately for the stereoscopic 3D gaming industry, we now have S-3D driver support for both XP and Vista through iZ3D LLC, and NVIDIA is offering Vista stereoscopic 3D support through their licensed software solution. There are additional players too! Combined with modern stereoscopic 3D drivers, MTBS has not found a very significant performance difference between the XP and Vista operating systems - perhaps the timing worked out?

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MTBS S-3D Hardware Guide RC1, Historical Game Exhibit!

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Category: News

Published on Friday, 27 June 2008 19:00

Written by Neil Schneider

Two important stories to report today. First, MTBS is proud to put out Release Candidate I of the MTBS Stereoscopic 3D Hardware Guide. If you are shopping for your first true 3D experience, this guide is a MUST READ. It covers nearly all the available stereoscopic 3D hardware in the cinema and consumer space, and by the time you have finished reading it, you will have a clear grasp of the technologies on the market including their benefits and challenges. A similar stereoscopic 3D software guide is also in the works.

Second, the other evening I had the privilege of being invited to the opening of EVOLUTION: 30 Years of Computer Games, a special museum exhibit put on by Games For Windows and the Personal Computer Museum.


Neil Schneider (Left) and Syd Bolton, Curator of the Personal Computer Museum
at: EVOLUTION: 30 Years of Computer Games Exhibit in Toronto

While I can’t take credit for being involved with ALL thirty years of computer video games, I’m an easy mark for having been around for most of them. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think my first computer, a Commodore Vic-20, would be treated as a museum piece. I admit it was still a lot of fun to play classics like Ms. Pacman, Choplifter, and now infamous King’s Quest I by still around and kicking Sierra.


Neil Schneider Playfully Interviewed (ambushed and aged) by MuchMusic at
EVOLUTION: 30 Years of Computer Games Exhibit in Toronto

To add insult to injury, one of the high (and low!) points of my evening was being interviewed by Tim Deegan, MuchMusic’s youngest VJ. Ambushed while playing Ms. Pacman, I was easy cannon fodder for playful age over beauty remarks. You’re only as young as your FIRST video game!


Neil Schneider and the Commodore Vic-20 - HIS FIRST COMPUTER
at: EVOLUTION: 30 Years of Computer Games Exhibit in Toronto


Neil Schneider (Left) and Ryan Bidan, Product Manager Microsoft Games for Windows
at: EVOLUTION: 30 Years of Computer Games Exhibit in Toronto

The exhibit is still open to the public today from 12:00PM to 5:00PM EST at:

InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre
9 Ossington Avenue,
Toronto, Ontario
Canada

I’m certain all attendees will enjoy it. Furthermore, visitors can enjoy a much fuller experience by visiting the Personal Computer Museum in Brantford, Ontario (Canada) which is next scheduled to be open to the public on July 19th, 2008.

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