Jim, what I'm concerned with is 3Dfx letting the high-end throne escape their grasp. Currently, the online enthusiast will run with SLI-V2, but the single player enthusiast will often run with a TNT to get the 32-bit color. Until Q3 or another very popular very complex game comes out, this will probably remain the case, with V3 replacing the SLI setup for online performance. If TNT2 comes out within 6 weeks of the V3, and performs like Sharky and Tom thinks it will (BIG IF!) then V3-3500 sales can be hurt significantly.
But V3-2000 and V3-3000 sales should not be hurt because of the price points. These products are where the money is at for 3Dfx/STB. And this shuld make 3Dfx a good investment based on the fundamentals. Whether the market awards that performance is another thing. I think the V3-3500 was produced by 3Dfx as a way to try to maintain some high-end respect while the 2000 and 3000 milk the 3500 reviews for retail and OEM success. I have no problem with that, as long as they are able to take the high-end lead in Q3 with the rumored "Rampage". I'm hoping they have the part mostly finished, and are waiting for the right moment to release it, both technologically and business-wise.
Tim |
