We are completing our overview of APEX PhysX content in Mafia II by this video,  showcasing most noticable effects based on APEX Particles module.

Previous comparison video, dedicated to APEX Clothing module, is available here.

APEX Particles effects are including:

• Various dynamic debris (concrete fragments, glass pieces, wood splinters, etc) from bullet impacts.
• Additional physically simulated chunks from explosions, car crashes, wheel slip, trash cans, mailboxes and other destructible objects.
• Vehicle tire burnout effect -  realistic fluid smoke, which reacts to environment and character/NPC movement.
• Up to 3000 (APEX Medium settings) or 10 000 (APEX High settings) unique particles on screen.

Sum: You can find dynamic particles almost in every single GPU/PPU PhysX game, but in Mafia II particle effects are close to their perfection – realistic collision simulation, various particle types (for both graphical mesh and physical behaviour), LOD based resource management (particles are not dissapearing over time, like in earlier games) – and, most important, pretty decent performance.

If your system can handle such effects, we recommended to leave them enabled, or you’ll loose significant piece of game’s immersion.

Finally, keep an eye on Mafia II GPU PhysX info mini-site for additional information and comparison screenshots.

Mafia II, likely most important GPU PhysX title for this year, was released just a few days ago, and as usuall we have prepared some PhysX comparison materials.

This particular video is focused on how APEX Clothing module is used the enhance game experience.

Update: Part II, dedicated to APEX Particles effects, is released.

Update #2: APEX Clothing in numbers

In general, APEX Clothing content includes:

• Much more detailed (you can even notice how wrinkles are formed), fully simulated clothing for main character – Vito Scaletta.
  Standart PhysX Cloth is still being used on consoles and PC (APEX Off settings), but in comparison to APEX Clothing based simulation (APEX High and Medium settings), it is looking chunky and crusty.
• Dynamic clothing for additional characters (Joe, Derek, Steve, etc) and some NPCs, instead of simple skinned mesh.
• Several supplementary effects, like cloth reaction to the wind and shockwaves from explosions.

Sum: High-resolution clothing simulation is nice looking, immersive and promising technology. However, in Mafia II resources are used not optimally – hardly noticable, but very demanding clothing simulation on NPCs can bring your system to knees.

Fortunately, PhysX tweaks discovered for Mafia II demo are working nicely in final version too. Following this guide, you can easily tweak amount of APEX Effects (for example, disable clothing simulation for NPC, but leave it for Vito) and find a compromis between visual fidelity and performance.

Also, keep an eye on Mafia II GPU PhysX info mini-site for additional information and comparison screenshots.

Mafia II in Slow Motion 3 by MikeX1978

Being immersive enough, APEX Particles are looking even better in slowmotion.

BioReplicant Crowd Simulation by ActionReactionLabs

Dynamic animation system (yes, like Euphoria) prototype, called “BioReplicant”. This crowd simulation demo is based on PhysX SDK.

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Since Mafia II Demo is a hot topic these days, lets browse through most decent videos, showcasing APEX PhysX effects in this title.

Mafia 2 Demo – PhysX Tire Smoke by MrTeeh

Immersive tires burnout effect – with dynamic smoke simulation. Best look with APEX set to High, as particle count is much bigger. One of the best SPH smoke simulation so far – comparing to other PhysX games.

Mafia II smoke turbulence by gbushimprov

Another demonstration of dynamic smoke effect.

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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.

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.

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

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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Metro 2033 PhysX #3 by protowiz

Rigid body and destruction physics in Metro 2033. “Advanced PhysX” option is disabled.

5870 with worlds fastest physX card by KingOfSand100

Hybrid PhysX system including HD 5870 and GTX 470. FluidMark 1.2 test with GPU acceleration enabled and disabled.

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UDK – The Physics Dance! by Elude87

New Mass Physics video in UDK, now with focus on artistic style, not on the amount of physical objects. Scene is available for download here

UDK – Barrel Bonanza mass physics by erikrass

Yet not tired of Mass Physics videos ? here is another one

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