Yes, all that dynamic clothing and particle effects are cool, but actuall performance of Mafia II with APEX PhysX effects set on “Medium” or “High” isn’t very fascinating – even GTX 480 users may met some annoying fps drops and lags. Fortunately, there is a way to tweak APEX content a little.

Note: Interested in how exactly APEX Framework is being used ? Visit Mafia II GPU PhysX profile page for additional information.

Important: Mafia II may have some issue with PhysX System Software installation. If you experiencing major slowdowns, reinstall it using 9.10.0512_SystemSoftware package from \Steam\steamapps\common\mafia ii – public demo\3rd folder.

You also may wanna try new 9.10.0513 PhysX drivers

PART I – APEX CLOTHING

Most performance is devoured by APEX Clothing module (why ? because it is running on CPU, not on GPU), that is responcible for realistic clothing simulation on main and several NPC characters.

Update: tweaking APEX Particles effects

Update #2: following tweaks will work with final version of Mafia II

1) Disabling all clothing

If you can live without flowing Vito trenchcoat and woman’s skirts, you can simply follow the path

\Steam\steamapps\common\mafia ii( – public demo)\edit\APEX

and delete (don’t forget to backup) directory named as

Cloth

This will remove  certain APEX assets, and all character clothing will revert to static skinned mesh (like with APEX set to “Off“), but all particle effects will stay !

Result ? No more realistic cloth, but huge fps increase. 70 average fps vs 25 fps without this trick (APEX set to High, single GTX470 is used, GPU PhysX enabled).

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If you haven’t played Mafia II demo, and still wondering what are differences between APEX PhysX effects setting, we have prepared a small video, showcasing several APEX settings using built-in benchmark.

Update: Tweaking PhysX in Mafia II – huge fps increase without noticable difference.

Update #2: comparison PhysX videos for final version, covering APEX Clothing and APEX Particles modules usage in details.

As you may notice, when APEX is set to “High” – a lot of dynamic particles (impact debris, chunks from explosions, smoke) are added, and simulated clothing for characters as well. Detailed effects description is available here.

Unfortunately, this one is not even close our usual detailed comparison videos, so – our apologies.

Full scale APEX Effects comparison is planned only after Mafia II release.

While you are waiting for Mafia II Demo, planned to be released just in a few hours, you can read the preview of APEX/PhysX content, prepared by Techgage in their “Taking a Look at Mafia II and its PhysX Use” article.

Demo includes “Benchmark” mode, and that’s how it’s look like:

Update: Our PhysX Comparison video using built-in benchmark. In addition, APEX comparison and showcase videos roundup.

Update #2: Tweaking PhysX in Mafia II – huge fps increase without noticable difference.

Update #3: Mafia II Demo – PhysX Benchmarks roundup

Update #4: Mafia II GPU PhysX profile – comparison video, screens and other additional info.

APEX/PhysX Features:

• Physically simulated clothing for main character and additional characters
  • Custom wind simulation that creates a more dynamic movement of clothing as the characters walk around and interact with the environment.
  • Force fields from explosions and interact with clothing, making those explosive moments even more immersive
• Up to 3,000 unique particles on screen at any given time (10,000 at High settings).
• Particle effects including dynamic collision, mass and kinetic simulation, and force fields from explosions that move and displace particles along its path.
  • Destruction particle debris from cement, wood, glass, dirt, and more
  • Weapon impact that creates dynamic smoke and kinetic persistent particles
  • Garbage moves and exists in the world of Empire Bay and reacts to effects like force fields and character interactions
  • Tire burnout while driving produces dynamic smoke and particles including fluid movement simulation and particle velocity and trajectory
• Character clothing on all character models is rendered entirely on the GPU when using a dedicated PhysX card which can be anything from a GT 240 to a GTX 480.

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Conitec Datasystems has announced that physics system in latest A8 version of their Gamestudio game engine is now based on PhysX SDK 2.8.3 (previously it was ODE).

According to devs, such changes will result “in a better frame rate and greater stability of the physics simulation”.

PhysX SDK integration was developed in conjunction with Christian Kahler, author of pXent PhysX wrapper.

New “Behing the scenes” video, covering technological aspects of Mafia II engine merges today on GameTrailers.

It includes several details on animation, AI, lighting system, and, of course, physics engine and destructible environments (which are based on PhysX SDK too) – but, unfortunately, no new information about GPU PhysX/APEX content.

For those of you who are still playing with old Nvidia PhysX Fluid Demo (version 1.0.0.9, released in 2008 with first PowerPack) Nvidia has prepared a new, slightly updated variant – PhysX Fluid Demo ver. 1.0.1.3.

Update: Modding of PhysX Fluid Demo

Release notes:

• Allocate only 64MB of VRAM heap instead of 128MB
• Adjusted text output to not conflict with the PhysX Visual Indicator
• Added option to toggle the display of all text (in screen space) on/off.

You can download PhysX Fluid Demo ver. 1.0.1.3. from here (19 mb)

Alternative download from physxfiles.com (virustotal report).

User elliottad (also known as mohawkade at our forums) has uploaded nicely composed GPU/PPU PhysX showcase video as entry for Crank That S#!t UP contest, hosted by Firing Squad and NVIDIA.

As nice addition, video includes few scenes from decent, but now completely forgotten PPU PhysX titles, like Stoked Rider: Alaska Alien, Bet on Soldier, Infernal and Switchball.

Worth watching

According to NVIDIA, new 2.8.3.3 PhysX SDK for Linux (both 32- and 64-bit versions) has passed QA process and is available for beta testing.

If you want to participate in beta program, you need to send your request to PhysXDevSupport@nvidia.com

(Provide a description on how are you planning to use the Linux SDK - number of beta testers is limited)

Long awaited event actually, cause after old 2.8.1. SDK many developers have thought that PhysX SDK for Linux was completely abandoned. From now on Linux SDK will be updated accordingly with PC versions.

In recent days, some websites have revealed new visual content from Mafia II title, and suprisingly, certain amount of screenhots is from PC version, with additional APEX/PhysX effects enabled.

We formed a gallery from most demonstrable of them, and here is the result:

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Gramy Mafia II by matrixserek

13 mins of gameplay sequences from upcoming Mafia 2 title, Chapter 9 “Ball & Beans” (initial version is available at tvgry.pl). As you may notice from flowing character clothing and lots of dynamic particles – APEX effects are enabled.

Unity Bootcamp by Hemiogenic

Tech demo, developed by Aquiris for Unity 3.0 engine release. All physics is held by latest 2.8.3. version of PhysX SDK.

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