It seems that next “2011″ product line from Autodesk will rely on PhysX SDK in more intensive manner than before. We already wrote about updated PhysX solver in Softimage 2011, and now PhysX plug-in integration is listed in new features set for Autodesk MotionBuilder 2011, character animation software package.

Rigid-body and ragdoll simulations can now be calculated using the Nvidia PhysX plug-in, a feature of particular benefit to games customers using the PhysX middleware.

As you may notice on the screenshot, PhysX SDK 2.8.3 is used for the integration, and apart from rigid body solver plug-in provides cloth simulation features.

Autodesk Softimage is well known 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and compositing solution. Rigid body physics system in Softimage has moved to PhysX SDK with version 5.0, and old physics core wasn’t upgraded since than.  However, according to latest press-release, upcoming Softimage 2011 will finally include updated PhysX components

PhysX 2.8.3 — Helps artists create meshless deformations in ICE with the latest NVIDIA PhysX rigid body library. Provides new support for springs and dampers. New library also offers accelerated performance when using the optional addition of an NVIDIA CUDA enabled graphics processing unit (GPU).

Interesting detail – since hardware acceleration support is promised with clear definition of PhysX SDK as “rigid body” solution, it seems that GPU rigid body solver is going to be used.

Update: confirmed via Softimage wiki – “Support for CUDA acceleration for PhysX Rigid Body Dynamics (including ICE)”

Update #2: official press-release from Nvidia

You see ? Only two months passed and I was able to fix it

Small patch for Dark Void title emerges today – it’s purpose is to resolve issues with PhysX mini-driver, called “Game System Installer”, which was able to corrupt existing PhysX System Software installation (my personal experience), and cause other problems.

From nzone.com:

An earlier version of PhysX System Installer, called “Game System Installer”, was inadvertently provided and subsequently incorporated into the released version of Dark Void for PC. This version is not compatible with some accelerated PhysX configurations and features, most notably the ability to turn on the medium and high PhysX setting within the game.

Please use the new PhysX System Installer patch below which will automatically cleanup and update the PhysX subsystem to resolve this issue.

You can download PhysX System Software patch here (36 mb)

Please note, retail version of Dark Void requires main PhysX patch to be applied firstly.