Updated 1.1 Beta 3 version of PhysXLab, authoring tool for APEX Destruction module, is now available.

PhysXLab 1.1 is compatible with APEX 1.1 release.

• New Features
  • Ability to export “Do Not Fracture” chunks as a single ApexRenderMesh.
  • Mesh texture visualization while in cutout mode.
  • Option to make the playground mesh transparent, so that the bomb widget may be manipulated more easily.
  • PhysXLab project file icon association.
  • Tutorial links in documentation.
  • Instanced chunk highlight options available together.
  • Updated release notes.
  • US7706: Visualization to distinguish non-instanced and instanced (but with 0 offset) chunks.

• Bug-fixes
  • Removed non-functioning group fracture menu.
  • Fixed DE4674: Asset is jumping in place after damage is applied.
  • Fixed defect with behavior of asset setting flags, depth All has correct effect.
  • Fixed DE1161: Saved destruction preset not loading correctly.

PhysXLab 1.1 Beta 3 can be downloaded through PhysX Registered Developer Program.

If you are experiencing trouble with registration, please refer to our new guide.

In pair with 2.72 plug-in, NVIDIA has presented new 2.85.0427 version of PhysX plug-in for 3ds Max 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010, both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

2.85 plug-in is roughly equivalent to MassFX 2013 in terms of features, except that it provides APEX Clothing support instead on mCloth simulation engine.

• General
  • General: Support for APEX 1.2 (however, PhysX 3 cloth is not yet functional)
  • General: Support for PhysX SDK 3.2 engine.
• Rigid Body
  • New convex decomposition algorithm for approximating non-convex meshes.
  • Controls to assist in more control over the contact shell (aka skinWidth, aka collisionOverlap) to allow and favor the shell to be outside of the shape so that at maximum overlap objects do not penetrate.
  • Resizable contact buffer for PhysX 3 engine.
• Constraints
  • New targeting sub-object modifier to help with singularity conditions.
  • New targeting sub-object modifier to set the twist starting location.
  • Improved workflow around parameters which are tied together and may be enable/disabled.
• Ragdolls
  • Now provides pre-configured constraint limits on biped.
  • Now maintains constraint position at bone pivot point (reset on simulation start if moved but maintains orientation).
  • Regeneration groups manager.
  • Mass redistribution.
  • Basic CAT support (Not to the same level at biped yet).
• APEX Clothing
  • Latch To Nearest system now only support 30 instead of 32 channels.

PhysX plug-in version 2.85 for 3ds Max is available through PhysX Registered Developer Program.

If you are experiencing trouble with registration, please refer to our new guide.

NVIDIA has resleased updated PhysX plug-ins of 2.7 branch – 2.72.0421 for 3ds Max (2012 - 2009) and 2.72.0511 for Maya (2013 – 2009).

Please Note: 3ds Max 2013 is supported only by 2.85 PhysX plug-in, due to significant compatibility changes in 3ds Max SDK.

• APEX 1.1 update for LOD fixes.
• APEX Clothing now exporting collision shapes once per asset instead of once per LOD.
• APEX Clothing fix physical mesh visualization bug.
• APEX Clothing Latch To Nearest system now only support 30 instead of 32 channels.
• Fix crash when attempt to generate composite mesh on problematic geometry.
• Removed friction max clamp on rigid body.
• Fix RayFire bug – some convex fails to simulate.
• Pop-up previewer fixes for textures usage crashes.

• Support for Maya 2013.
• Support for Viewport 2.0.
• Fix WinXP compatible.
• APEX Clothing Latch To Nearest system now only support 30 instead of 32 channels. (one is used to represent unpainted and the other is reserved).
• Add solver simulation scaling support to allow simulation to occur (and export) in current or scales units rather than forcing to centimeters.
• Improve shape’s mass/density update functions.
• Re-enable acceleration joints for new files (more stable than force joints).
• PhysX tab should not gain focus when added.
• Fix PhysX3 Contact Layer support.
• Fix popup viewer crash for clothing.
• Fix PhysX 3x debug visualizer.
• Fix some OpenGL rendering errors.
• Fix script backward compat issues using -orderedSelection.
• Fix minor GUI error message cause by pop-up such as switching PhysX solver versions modes.
• Fix ragdoll load .rag issues when the target bone has multiple children.
• Fix ragdoll regeneration creating constraints without removing old ones.
• Fix APEX Clothing import of legacy CTW files flipping latch to nearest data.

PhysX plug-ins version 2.72 for 3ds Max and Maya are available for download through PhysX Registered Developer Program.

If you are experiencing trouble with registration, please refer to our new guide.

NVIDIA is about to meet the wishes of developer community with more friendly way to take advantage of PhysX SDK and APEX Tools – Registered Developer Program.

In comparison to previous account registration process, Developer Program features automated account approval (matter of minutes, not days) and simplified downloads structure (easier to find demanded files).

Attention ! Registered Developer Program only provides access to free binary versions of PhysX SDK, APEX DCC Tools (PhysXLab, PhysX plug-ins) and APEX SDK.

Source versions will still be available through PhysX Developer Support website only, as well as paid support.

IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED AT NVIDIA DEVELOPER ZONE

Step 1. Go to NVIDIA Developer Zone and click “New Account” (upper right corner)

Step 2. Fill-in account information, than press “Create new account” button

Step 3. Instructions and password will be sent to your e-mail. Complete the registration

IF/WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE DEVELOPER ZONE ACCOUNT

Step 1. While logged-in, click “My Account” (upper right corner)

Step 2. Complete Basic Registered Developer Profile

You will be required to provide your Last and First name, information about your company and your location.

Step 3. Now you can apply to APEX/PhysX Registered Developer Program (PhysX RDP)

Step 4. Fill-in provided questionary

Please note that you will be required to agree to the terms and conditions specified in the PhysX/APEX EULA. Read it carefully.

Step 5. Wait until you Developer Program status will change from “Submitted” to “Approved” (may take up to 30 minutes – you will be also notified via e-mail upon completion).

You can access PhysX RDP website by clicking program’s title or direct link

Step 6. Now you can download latest binary PhysX SDKs, APEX SDK and DCC tools.

Subsequently, while logged, you access PhysX RDP via “My Account” panel, or through “Registered Developers Website” link on devzone main page, or via direct link.

If you have trouble with new account registration or existing account you can send your problem description to support@physxinfo.com (with subject – “PhysX RDP”) – we’ll try to provide a shortcut to PhysX dev. team.

Autodesk and NVIDIA continue their effort to create the universal physics simulation system for 3ds Max package – it is known as MassFX.

What has changed in new MassFX version, that comes with 3ds Max 2013, in comparison to the first release? We have tried to answer this question in our review.

One of the main new features of MassFX 2013 is the addition of mCloth – cloth simulation module, which was co-developed with Autodesk. Despite the rumors, mCloth uses PhysX 2.8.4 cloth solver for underlying physical calculations.

In comparison to APEX Clothing tools in PhysX plug-ins, mCloth is clearly oriented on VFX area: “one click” set up (no need to skin the mesh and apply movement constraints, as for APEX), full collisions with MassFX rigid bodies with two-way interaction, vertex group operations (like pin or attach to object), support for dynamic and kinematic cloth, ability to bake the simulation in keyframes.

Desired cloth behavior can be archived by tuning fabric settings, like density or damping, which can be saved and loaded as presets.

Additional parameters include rigid body collision responce and solver precision settings.

mCloth objects support per-vertex tearing.

Interesting option is ability to visualize material tension within given treshold.

Another feature is so-called “ballon behavior” – closed meshes can be inflated with internal pressure to imitate soft body, jelly-like objects or baloons themselves.

However, if hole in the baloon will be detected (as result of tearing, for example), it will deflate and force will be applied to the point of air outflow.

“Hardware acceleration” option can be enabled for cloth simulation, however, we were not able to spot any performance difference between CPU and “GPU” execution. It seems GPU acceleration is not fully operational yet.

To summarize: mCloth is a strong cloth simulation solution with decent pack of features and sufficient artist control over simulation, however, as a new tool it has not avoided some “childish” problems, like nonoptimal baking process (it is significantly slower than sim in viewports), unstable behaviour of baloon objects or overestimated cloth solver settings (they are set automatically, based on mesh resolution, but for real 3-5 times lower values are sufficient).

Another vital new feature – standart Forces (like PBomb, Vortex or Wind) can now affect MassFX objects, both rigid bodies and cloth.

Being developed in Autodesk, Forces interaction feature is not using forcefields mechanism from PhysX SDK, instead, custom forces are applied directly to actors.

Third major addition – stable auto-generated ragdolls from biped skeletons.

Instead of abomination – jiggling mess of rigid bodies and joints – that may be familiar you from original PhysX plug-ins, “create dynamic ragdoll” option now generates fairly adequate ragdolls, usable even without aditional tuning.

Note: unlike latest PhysX plug-ins, MassFX is only using one version of PhysX engine - 2.8.4.

Apart from all the features described above, MassFX 2013 also contains numerous amount of smaller features, interface changes and bug fixes. Here are some examples:

It is now possible to assign gravity to Forces (or even it completely) through MassFX Toolbar.

Convex decomposition (this tool allows MassFX to support concave objects) has been reworked – it is now using simplified interface and operates faster.

Physical meshes can now be displayed not only as wireframe, but as shaded hulls as well.

Multiple constraints can now be adited at the same time via Multi-object Editor tab (previosly only available for rigid bodies).

And.. more !

To summarize: MassFX has grew up, but still not enough to reach level of Reactor’s feature set. However, with continuing support from Nvidia and Autodesk, MassFX will eventually overcome previous solution from Havok.

Autodesk has officially presented 3ds Max 2013 and 3ds Max Design 2013 – popular 3D modelling, rendering and animation packages.

Among other changes and improvements, MassFX, PhysX SDK based physics simulation solution, was upgraded with a number of new features.

Artists can now enjoy a more integrated and accurate dynamic toolset, thanks to a wide range of enhancements and additions to the MassFX unified system of simulation solvers.

Highlights are a new mCloth module that features tearable fabric and support for dynamic ragdoll hierarchies. In addition, improved constraints, better handling of pivot points, and enhanced UI readability help improve overall workflow.

NVIDIA has uploaded a following video, revealing new, never seen before, module for APEX Framework, called APEX Dynamic Systems (it is still an early prototype, however).

Detailed description is not available yet, but it seems that this new module is supposed to speed up the creation process of complex dynamic actors like articulations, ragdolls and vehicles, by providing artist friendly environment, where one can easily create and tune such objects and preview their behaviour.

NVIDIA has uploaded a set of demontrational videos, which were used to showcase features of NVIDIA APEX toolset, its authoring capabilities and games integrations examples at GDC 2012.

APEX Turbulence Module

We find APEX Turbulence demo particularly impressive, since particle simulation of such magnitude and complexity (scene contains up to 180 000 particles combined) is yet to be seen in games, while it can be used to create new generation of realistic smoke, dust and explosion effects.

It is good to see that this module has finally reached production stage. Turbulence is promised to be released as part of APEX 1.2

APEX Destruction Module

This video showcases assets authoring and real-time destruction using updated Art Gallery demo and Alice: Madness Returns title as examples.

APEX Clothing Module.

APEX Clothing can be used not only to simulate character clothing itself, but also to create great environmental cloth assets, like interactive banknotes, posters or rugs in recent Batman: Arkham City title.

If you are interested in Clothing module, following presentation from GDC contains far mode details.

Following presentation was held as part of GDC 2012 NVIDIA Game Technology Theather event on March 9.

Session called “Enhancing Games with APEX (Clothing, Destruction, Turbulence)” was presented by Aron Zoellner and Kevin Newkirk from NVIDIA.

Update: recording is now available on YouTube

Presentation has started with overview of APEX Clothing module using full-body clothing (tie, jacket, pants) on Bryce Wayne character from recently released Batman: Arkham City title as example. Dynamic clothing on Samaritan character was also demoed, but we had session about it at previous GDC already.

As a nice addition, few words were said about features of new clothing solver, introduced in PhysX SDK 3 (we expect it to appear in APEX Clothing 1.2):

• Enhanced control over bending and shearing.
• Enhanced control over high-energy dynamics.
• Connected tapered capsule collision.

Second part of the session was focused on APEX Destruction, and how it was used to create destructible environments in Alice: Madness Returns game.

Several upcoming features for Destruction module were also revealed:

• Tesselation.
• Multiple interior materials per assets.
• Fracturing by selected (ability to have pieces with different fracturing setting in one asset, like concrete and wood).
• UV based cutout fracturing.

Unfortunately, only brief overview of APEX Turbulence module was given, but we can expect it to be integrated in UE3/UDK as well.

More detailed videos of new experimental destruction engine with support for real-time fracturing, already previewed in previous demonstration, are now available.

In this video we show our new destruction prototype. Here, piec fractures pieces on the fly. There is no limit of how many times pieces can be fractured. Also, the fracture pattern depends on the impact location.

To simulate the massive amount of rigid bodies we use GRBs – GPU accelerated rigid boides.

Destruction algorithm also works well for objects with concave geometry.

In this video we show our new destruction prototype. Here, objects are fractured on the fly. There is no limit of how many times pieces can be fractured. Also, the fracture pattern depends on the impact location. The original objects as well as the pieces are allowed to be non-convex which is an additional challenge.

To simulate the massive amount of rigid bodies we use GRBs – GPU accelerated rigid boides. The scene runs above 40 fps until the end including rendering on an nvidia GeForce GTX 480.

Update: Lately, more detailed video with some technical description was added.

Update #2: Finally, there is one more video from GTX 680 press kit.

Without doubt, pretty impressive technology.