Is TDFX dictating to gamers?
I don't think so.
When Voodoo 1 came out 32 bit color would certainly have been a poor idea. Now we're seeing the evolution of that chipset into the Voodoo3 chip and crying foul that they haven't added it. But I don't think adding this feature is so easy. We'll have to wait for their true second generation (Voodoo Rampage, or Voodoo 4, whatever they decide to call it.)
That is correct. In fact, in the early days, nobody but 3dfx could sustain the fill-rate needed to make this stuff work. I'm a believer in real-world-performance. I believe that the main reason gamers buy video cards is because they *see* it in action, and they want it. As long as all the games actually run best on 3dfx, I would suggest a long position.
Specs mean nothing. Performance (not performance measurements) mean everything. Whoever has the best performance will win.
Keep in mind that a lot of the money spent on 3dfx is cards is by teenagers with little to spend and lots of time to research by passing notes at school. If it runs faster, and costs less, that's what they'll want. Visit E.B. or another PC game store in the mall, and try to get in the mind of the buyer... Ask them if they would buy a non-3dfx card for gaming. Ask the sales guy. Post here with the response .. it might be interesting. Ask them if they are waiting for 32-bit framebuffers to make their game better.
The only problem that I have with 16-bit frame buffers is that when layering multiple transparent textures on top of one another (for smoke and fire for example) you can see the dither patterns as little squares on the screen. Other than this artifact, I have never noticed an artifact due to the 16-bit frame-buffer (although I'm sure there are a few others)...
Sold at 15 1/2 today... hopefully will pick up later at a lower price, I'm tired of not selling before it runs back down.
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- Aaron |
