Hey AJ,
The Next-Gen's web site participants' praise of 3Dfx is deserved. 3Dfx has done a terrific job in that space.
In bit of ATI/3Dfx lore, the chief scientist for 3Dfx and the guy that did much of the original Voodoo architecture, Gary Tarolli, used to work with the original 3D kids of ATI, back when they all worked at Kubota Graphics, and in some cases previous companies too. If you look at the guts of both chips, there's some similar design philosphies resulting from overlapping and intermingled roots.
In another wierd overlap, my brother-in-law is Gary Tarolli's accountant.
And, in another story, I went to 3Dfx in Mountain View over a year ago on ATI business and if it wasn't for the fact I had a wife and kid in Massachusetts, I would have never gone back. Sans wife and kid, I would have called my landlord and told them to sell everything, I wasn't coming back. (Sort of like that one soldier's letter in "Apocalypse Now" after he hooks up with Col. Kurtz: "Sell the house, sell the kids...") At the time, 3Dfx had a fantastic buzz about them. Probably still do.
Finally, Lara Croft isn't only going to appear on 3Dfx in Tomb Raiders2 later this year. I know of at least one other hardware company upon who's hardware she will move with her own special grace. Let's just say I have no shortage of volunteers to work on that port! ;<#)
TLK |
