With Mafia 2 coming closer to it’s release, hype atmosphere is getting hotter, and apart from other materials you can find on the web, PC Games Hardware has published decent interview with Denby Grace from 2K Czech on several Mafia’s engine features, and PhysX part specifically:

PC Games Hardware: Are there any differences between the Console and the PC Version of Mafia 2 as far as technical as well as visual aspects are concerned, for example GPU accelerated PhysX effects?

Denby Grace: You hit the nail on the head. The biggest difference is the GPU enabled physics effects. While on a system without GPU (consoles and ATI cards), the game will have a great PhysX simulation with particles and cloth, however, if you have the extra hardware we are able to push things to a whole new level which has not yet been seen in open world game before.

Our destructible environments feature thousands of physical particles which in turn can be affected by individual explosion force fields to make them move. It’s all very impressive and it’s these kinds of improvements that high end PC gamers can expect.

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2K Czech has revealed requirements and recommendations for Mafia 2 PC version:

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor: Pentium D 3Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ (Dual core) or higher
RAM: 1.5 GB
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8600 / ATI HD2600 Pro or better
Hard Disc Space: 8 GB
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
Peripherals: Keyboard and mouse or Windows compatible gamepad

RECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor: 2.4 GHz Quad Core processor
RAM: 2 GB
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 9800 GTX / ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better
Hard Disc: 10 GB
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compliant card
Peripherals: Keyboard and mouse or Windows compatible gamepad

PHYSX/APEX ENHANCEMENTS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Minimum Processor: 2.4 GHz Quad Core processor
Recommended Processor: 2.66 GHz Core i7-920
RAM: 2 GB

Video Cards and resolution: APEX medium settings
Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (or better) for Graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA 9800GTX (or better) for PhysX
Recommended: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 (or better)

Video Cards and resolution: APEX High settings
Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 (or better) and a dedicated NVIDIA 9800GTX (or better) for PhysX
Recommended: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 for Graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 285 (or better) for PhysX

NVIDIA GPU driver: 197.13 or later.
NVIDIA PhysX driver: 10.04.02_9.10.0522. Included and automatically installed with the game.

We’ve already saw Mafia II and GPU PhysX related sneak-peek trailer previously, and now – second, more detailed trailer has arrived from Gamespot.

Update: Now in HD.

It is showcasing all extra PhysX content, mentioned in preview articles – various impact debris and chunks via APEX Particles module, APEX Clothing based cloth simulation on characters and shockwaves from explosions, repelling all physical objects in their blast radius.

Gamespot took an exclusive glimpse on several new features, available for PC version of upcoming Mafia II title – GPU PhysX effects via APEX and 3D Vision.

Specifically, the PC version of Mafia II will take advantage of two different aspects of APEX technology. The first, the “clothing module,” will realistically model flowing clothes on what are designated as “primary characters.” In the case of Mafia II, this means Vito (the protagonist) and any other characters that happen to be up close to him will benefit from this module. The APEX clothing module realistically makes trench coats flap in the wind and sway while characters walk or run.

The second APEX module, the “destruction module,” models realistic damage and deformation on exploding objects, as well as the concussive force of a powerful explosion with an “invisible force field” that realistically sends any sufficiently light objects (or characters) flying. We watched a demonstration of this in action with an exploding car, which smashed nearby crates to bits and sent their splinters–and a nearby mobster–hurtling through the air.

It also offers Mafia II an enhanced particle system that creates discrete and unique, procedurally generated debris when you or other characters destroy any of the game’s deformable objects. The demonstration we watched was from the Wild Ones level we’ve covered previously–specifically, the part where Vito and his gangster buddies use tommy guns and Molotov cocktails to tear a rickety wooden diner to shreds. The scraps of wood and shards of glass realistically went flying with each explosion, and we’re told that no two play-throughs should produce the exact same scraps and shards.

While certain statement brings only more confusion, it’s unclear – is Mafia II really using APEX Destruction (in addition to Clothing and Particles modules) or it is just result of misinterpretation, this article is pretty interesting read in overall.

Moreover, material contains some new screenshots, showcasing particle effects in action.

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GPU PhysX support in Mafia II, highly anticipated mobster crime drama from 2K Czech, is not a secret for certain time, and recently official press-release, along with three new screenhots, were revealed.

The integration of PhysX and NVIDIA APEX technology, including the APEX Clothing and Particle modules, enable the city and personalities of Empire Bay to truly come alive on Windows PC. The NVIDIA APEX Clothing module allows for more dynamic movement in clothing, making in-game characters even more realistic and reactive to environmental conditions.

With the implementation of NVIDIA APEX Particles, players are engulfed in lifelike explosions that are bigger and brighter, including weapon fragments, in-game debris and destructible environments that are amplified in both quantity and realism through the integration of APEX Particles. For example, a pistol fired into a glass pane will emit hundreds of glass shards; a shotgun blasted through a wooden landing will splinter the wood; and a Tommy Gun will chip into a brick or stone wall to methodically fracture and break it into pieces.

An addition to hardware accelerated PhysX content, PC version of Mafia II will feature 3D Vision support. Mafia II will be available in North America on August 24, 2010, and internationally on August 27, 2010.

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Mafia II – Developer Diary Episode 2 by GamerSpawn

New developer diary for highly anticipated Mafia II title. Interesteng detail – judging by in-game scenes (like 1:03-1:09), clothing simulation won’t be GPU PhysX exclusive.

Land Of Ozis by ccPaolo

Blitz 3D and PhysX SDK based arcade indie game, posed by it’s author as sequel to “World of Goo” title. Available for download from here.

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Assumptions about GPU PhysX support in upcoming Mafia II title are now becoming a reality.

Update: second PhysX trailer

With launch of their new GTX480/GTX470 GPU products, Nvidia has revealed a trailer, showcasing hardware accelerated PhysX content in Mafia II.

Amount of physics effects is looking impressive – various types of particle debris and chunks, sparks and smoke, destructible objects, APEX based clothing simulation. Not to mention, that apart from those effects, overall in-game physics in Mafia II is based on PhysX SDK too.

Will Mafia II become killer app for GPU PhysX many are waiting for ? We’ll know at August 24th 2010.

Recently, Nvidia put some information sessions showing their upcoming next generation GF100 GPU (you can see previews all over the web now). But this article – “Sneak-peek at Nvidia’s Fermi” by neoseeker.com contains something really interesting:

It’s a demonstration video of new APEX Clothing module from PhysX Toolset, showcasing dynamic clothing simulation on “game character from upcoming game title” (left pic)

But we can’t be fooled – that’s Vito Scaletta – main character of upcoming Mafia II. (right pic).

GPU PhysX support in Mafia II was suggested previously, but now it’s more then obvious.

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PCgameshardware.com revealed a new Mafia II hands-on article today, and it says

Mafia 2 is a pure cross platform title although the PC is said to be the lead platform. Due to the higher resolutions as well as additional GPU Physx particle effects, like dynamic, interactive smoke the PC version will also offer better graphics than the console variant.

Let’s wait for official announcement.

Source: PCgameshardware.com