Teppo Holmqvist

I don't want to sound harsh, but that is fake. Uses too many well known (and easy to use) Photoshop filters.

Yeah, they have. But P.A. Semi also has contract with IBM, so it wouldn't be very far-fetched to assume that Broadway is actually based on IBM / P.A. Semi processor technology.

P.A. Semi Unveils Game-Changing Multicore Processor Family Industry Veterans Launch New Company and PWRficientTM Processor Family; Announce Power ArchitectureTM License from IBM. Fall Processor Forum – San Jose, Calif. – Oct. 24, 2005 – Emerging from more than two years of stealth development, P.A. Semi today unveiled the PWRficientTM processor family—a 64-bit multicore, scalable processor line based on the Power ArchitectureTM from IBM—that delivers high performance at very low power consumption, offering up to a tenfold advantage in performance per watt over the industry. P.A. Semi is headed by Dan Dobberpuhl, the acclaimed lead designer of the DEC Alpha series of microprocessors, the ultra-power-efficient StrongARM microprocessors, and the first commercial multicore processors including the SiByte 1250. The 150-strong processor, ASIC, software and systems engineering team also includes key designers of other defining processor architectures, such as Opteron, Itanium, and UltraSPARC. "The next wave of microprocessor innovation is contingent on solving the problem of dramatically increased power consumption," said cofounder, president, and CEO Dan Dobberpuhl. "We had to start from scratch, rethinking every step, to achieve our breakthrough performance-per-watt design. The result is a paradigm-shifting processor that has been enthusiastically received by our customers, who look forward to building a new breed of cool, efficient, yet high-performance, systems around the PWRficient processor." PWRficient HIGH PERFORMANCE AT LOW POWER The PWRficient processors address the multibillion-dollar high-performance embedded and computing markets to redefine power, cost, and throughput efficiency in high-performance processing. The unique system-on-chip architecture and design, underpinned by 50 patents filed and pending, delivers high performance (up to 2.5GHz per-core) at phenomenally low power consumption. In terms of performance per watt, the defining metric for all next- generation processors, PWRficient is up to 10 times superior to the competition. For example, the first PWRficient processor, a dual-core chip running at 2GHz, dissipates just 5-13 watts typical, depending upon the application. Beyond performance per watt, the PWRficient processor delivers key breakthroughs in cost and throughput efficiency. PWRficient processors are the first processors in their class to integrate what is typically a three- to five-chip-set platform into a single chip, called a "platform processor." Not only does the integration of the cores, memory, south bridge, and high-speed I/O onto one chip dramatically reduce the cost of silicon and power consumption, but it also delivers high throughput at low latency. PWRficient SCALABILITY Through its unique modular architecture, which allows the number of cores, memory controllers, cache, serdes lanes, and protocols to easily scale, P.A. Semi will deliver a family of PWRficient processors targeting a variety of applications, including high-performance computing, embedded datacom and telecom, storage, and other embedded consumer applications. Additionally, this modularity advantage enables P.A. Semi to tape out new PWRficient processors in one quarter, versus the years common in the industry "P.A. Semi's PWRficient processor addresses the fundamental challenge facing all next-generation processors by delivering higher performance and reduced power," says In-Stat analyst and Microprocessor Report editor in chief Kevin Krewell. "In being phenomenally low-power while still being able to run at high clock speeds, the PWRficient processor is ahead of today's processors and will be a significant challenger to the much vaunted devices on its competitors' roadmaps." THE PWRficient PROCESSOR ROLLOUT The first PWRficient chip, the PA6T-1682M, which dissipates between just 5-13 watts, depending upon the application, is a dual-core implementation running at 2GHz with two DDR2 memory controllers, 2MB of L2 cache, and a flexible I/O subsystem that supports eight PCI Express controllers, two 10 Gigabit Ethernet XAUI controllers, and four Gigabit Ethernet SGMII controllers sharing 24 serdes lanes. It will sample in the third calendar quarter of 2006, with single-core and quad-core versions due in early and late 2007, respectively, and an eight-core version planned for 2008. PWRficient ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS The PWRficient family of platform processors is derived from a common set of fundamental architectural elements. A coherent, ordered crossbar called CONEXIUMTM interconnects multiple Power cores, L2 caches, memory controllers, and the ENVOITM I/O subsystem. ENVOI combines a set of configurable serdes lanes with a set of protocol controllers for such I/O standards as PCI Express, Gigabit Ethernet, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. These controllers share a bridge to CONEXIUM, as well as a set of centralized DMA channels, offload engines, and a coherent I/O cache. The architecture supports a variety of offload engines, including support for TCP/IP, iSCSI, cryptography (IPSec and SSL), and RAID. This layered, scalable architecture results in versatile single-chip solutions that can be quickly developed by combining the appropriate number of Power cores, memory controllers, and L2 caches with a suitable number of serdes lanes and protocol controllers. P.A. Semi also employs a unique scalable-socket plan, which provides several options for performance upgrades or cost reductions with little or no design effort. P. A. Semi defines a "socket" (package, pinout, and power envelope) by the number of memory controllers (up to four), the number of serdes I/O lanes (up to 32), and the supported system peripherals. Each socket supports several performance levels by varying the number of cores (up to eight on a chip) and the size of the L2 cache (up to 8MB). Within a socket definition, processors are tailored to different applications by adjusting the number and type of the high-speed I/O protocols (for example PCI Express, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 1 Gigabit Ethernet, SATA/SAS, RapidIO, and Fibre Channel). Initial socket definitions include the "E" socket (entry), "M" socket (midrange), and "P" socket (performance). Customers can design to a specific socket, instead of a specific processor, to enable easy migration to compatible processors. P.A. SEMI STRATEGIC PARTNERS AND ECOSYSTEM P.A. Semi is partnered with some of the most notable names in technology, having licensed the Power Architecture from IBM [see other news release, P.A. Semi Signs Power Architecture License], and is supported by an ecosystem of partners, including Macraigor Systems, Micron, MontaVista Software, QNX Software Systems, SMART Modular Technologies, Inc., Terra Soft Solutions, and Wind River. P.A. Semi is backed by two of the most respected venture-capital firms, Bessemer Venture Partners and Venrock Associates. FALL PROCESSOR FORUM PRESENTATION Jim Keller, vice president of engineering, Architecture Group, P.A. Semi, will present the PWRficient processor architecture at Fall Processor Forum in San Jose, California, on Tuesday, October 25 at 9:50 a.m. in a session titled "A Power-Efficient, Scalable Processor Family." The new PWRficient processor will also be demonstrated at the show on an EVE (Emulation and Verification Engineering) ZeBu-XL emulation platform. More information on P.A. Semi, its founders, the PWRficient processor family, and its partners appears on the new P.A. Semi web site, also launched today, at http://www.pasemi.com. URL: http://www.pasemi.com/news/releases/2005_oct_24_1.html

It is quite possible that they have already started working it. It isn't really uncommon that companies recruit new employees for their projects after they have noticed that their current labour force isn't enough for finishing project.

Direct quote: "In a demonstration of the swift collaborative response to consumer-driven marketplace changes that a revitalized Sony can deliver, the company soon will unveil a line of compact, portable video devices to fill the time gap before PlayStation 3 launches in Japan in March and in the U.S. a year from now." (This is part of interview that Hollywood Report did with Howard Stinger, representative of Sony Computer Entertaiment) URL : http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/business/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001393148

Sony has said that PS3 will launch in March, but only in Japan. USA will get console between late autumn and early winter and there isn't even any word when they will launch in Europe. Could even go to year 2007.

Actually... it is NST which is making new FPS, not IS, or so do I believe. Why is that? I often browse job applications on Gamasutra and Gamebiz just for fun, and I saw about half and year ago application where NST sought for modeller who would have extensive knowledge about modelling modern firearms such as M-16, AK-47, etc. I don't even know did they found anyone for that job, but the application was genuine. Of course it is possible that Mario & Luigi will go gung-ho in next Mario game, but I suspect that it isn't the case.

Here is something really, really fun... Sony has patented technology for Blu-Ray that makes disc usable only in the first machine where disc is put to. Patent even has following quote: "By means of the present invention as described above, the following effects are obtained. Since only titles for which legitimate software has actually been purchased and which have been initially registered in the machine table can be used, resale (so-called used software purchase) after purchase by an end-user becomes practically impossible. When data recorded on a disk is illegally copied in full, since the exact pattern of the verification data cannot be recreated, the manufacture of counterfeit software becomes extremely difficult, and simple copying to a recording medium becomes meaningless. " Imagine the possibilites! No more piracy! No more used games! No more lending games to your friends! No more way to play games that you have bought if your PS3 breaks up! Hooray for $ony! URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=/netahtml/search-adv.htm&r=1&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=ptxt&S1=(Kutaragi.INZZ.+AND+Sony.ASNM.)&OS=in/Kutaragi+AND+an/Sony&RS=(IN/Kutaragi+AND+AN/Sony)

1080 Avalanche Animal Crossing Baten Kaitos Battalion Wars Beyond Good & Evil Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Donkey Konga Doshin the Giant Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem Fire Emblem F-Zero GX Geist Harvest Moon Killer 7 Legend of Zelda: Collectors Disc, the Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, the Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, the Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Mario Party 4 Mario Power Tennis Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes Metroid Prime Metroid Prime 2: Echoes Midway Arcade Treasures Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance Nintendo Puzzle Collection Paper Mario: The Thousand Year-Door Pikmin Pikmin 2 Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Resident Evil Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil Zero Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike Skies of Arcadia: Legends Soul Calibur 2 Super Mario Sunshine Super Monkey Ball Super Smash Melee Bros Tales of Symphonia Timesplitters 2 Wave Race: Blue Storm Viewtiful Joe Viewtiful Joe 2 WWE: Day of Reckoning X-Men Legends

You see... though it isn't allowed in EU, you can patent software innovations in USA. Game companies haven't usually done that, but during last two years patenting your gaming ideas has been more common than before. For example, Microsoft is the company who owns patent for "custom soundtracks in videogames", Nintendo owns "Sanity system for videogames" and Konami has patent for dancing games that use four buttons. I wouldn't be really surprised that Nintendo just wants to patent stuff for sake of patenting, as they can be very valuable assests in future. Plus because Nintendo has lots of money and it has innovated lots of stuff during these years, they also can defend their patents successfully in the court. That was why Immersion Corporation sued only Sony and Microsoft about having analog sticks in their controllers, because their patent wouldn't had hold any water against Nintendo.

Problem with traditional camera systems is that camera doesn't always understand that there is something between camera and object that is followed. If I understood correctly, by using this routine, camera always "knows" if there is anything between it and object that is followed. Code can then automatically adjust camera for better view or turn problem giving object to invisible. Result of this is that there shouldn't be ever problem that camera would literally be inside any walls or that something big covers whole view between camera and followed object. Does this make any sense?

Actually, they aren't. That patent is (by my understanding) highly advanced routine for camera that should prevent that nothing comes between camera and object that player is following. For example, if you think about Super Mario 64, there was always problem that camera could get "inside" wall and you couldn't see Mario. With using this routine there should be no way that Mario could "disappear" behind the wall. That makes games far easier to play even for beginners and would be actually quite logical, when you think how much Nintendo is aiming for new gamers.

It is simple. You can control when you release game in certain area and maximize your profits.

BTW, have you noticed how Gamehelix is advertised on Seriousfaker007's blog? I wouldn't be surprised if he was behind these "news". EDIT: Yeah, it is Seriousfaker007. Falafelkid can confirm that in his own blog.

N-Next is reliable, but the original source of the news isn't. Original source for news is Gamehelix, shady and quite unknown company that offers gaming toolbars for Internet Explorer. Gamehelix's toolbar is filled with crappy spyware and they are just trying to get more victims to download their product. URL: http://gamehelix.ourtoolbar.com/