http://web.archive.org/web/19961124052334/www.videologic.com/NEWS/uknamco.htm
NEC and NAMCO Form Alliance Towards World Standard for 3-Dimensional
Computer Graphics
10 November 1995
NEC Corporation and Namco Limited announced an alliance to provide
realistic 3-dimensional computer graphics for PC users running Windows
95. According to the agreement, NEC will begin sample shipments of
PowerVR chipsets to PC manufacturers in March 1996. In May, Namco will
market 3D games software worldwide to run on PowerVR chipsets. NEC and
Namco aim to make PowerVR the world standard for 3D.
The background to today's announcement is as follows: NEC is pleased
to partner with Namco who are the leading arcade game machine supplier
and bring particular expertise in the development of high realism
arcade quality games software. For their part, Namco recognise the
high performance, functionality and low-cost of the NEC/VideoLogic
PowerVR 3D technology, allowing Namco to bring arcade quality games to
the PC platform.
In December 1994, NEC announced an agreement with VideoLogic for the
collaborative development of PowerVR, a revolutionary 3D graphics
technology. With this new technology, NEC/VideoLogic have created a 3D
graphics accelerator chipset that provides users of Windows 95 with 3D
computer graphics superior to those now available from 32-bit game
consoles.
"Together NEC and VideoLogic have made a major breakthrough in 3D
technology that will allow arcade, PC and console manufacturers to
produce 3D systems with unprecedented performance and realism," said
Shigeki Matsue, Vice President, Semi-Conductor Group NEC Corporation.
"We are very excited by Namco's decision to bring their acclaimed
arcade games software to the PC. Namco games and PowerVR will be an
unbeatable combination."
PowerVR is a revolutionary new scalable, high performance 3D system
capable of meeting the requirements of the most demanding arcade games
machines and virtual reality systems, yet scalable down to low cost
games consoles and consumer PCs. PowerVR delivers advanced realism
with functions such as perspective correct realistic textures, real
time shadows and searchlighting. A single chipset can run at over
200,000 polygons per second: up to 2 million polygons per second is
possible when PowerVR chips are used in a parallel configuration.
Tad Otsuki - General Manager of Namco said; "We would like to
congratulate NEC and VideoLogic. PowerVR will provide PC users with 3D
performance and realism far beyond conventional PC 3D games systems.
We are confident that PowerVR has the highest level of performance and
functionality among the current 3D graphics chipsets available or
under development. With PowerVR, PCs will be able to surpass home
games consoles in 3D graphics performance and realism providing the
ideal partner for Namco PC games titles."
Dr Hossein Yassaie - VP Engineering VideoLogic commented; "It has been
a great pleasure working with Namco; we are very pleased to see
commitment to PowerVR from Namco who are a leading arcade system and
game title developer. We are sure that Namco's expertise combined with
NEC and VideoLogic's PowerVR technology will revolutionise game
systems by bringing levels of performance and realism that have not
been possible before."
NEC and Namco are targeting PCs in the home and will market PowerVR
chipsets to PC manufacturers worldwide. NEC have stated their sales
target is to have 2 million PowerVR chipsets installed in PCs
worldwide by the middle of 1996.
Namco's strategy for games software is to provide multi-platform
titles providing customers with all the games software needed in the
home. In the world of game machines, Namco's 3D games are widely
recognised as premier titles placing Namco among the leading companies
in the industry. Namco has formed a special PC software project team
with the task of directing strategy in the PC area. Namco is planning
to release leading edge game software such as "RaveRacer", "TEKKEN",
and "AIR COMBAT22".
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I am so pissed that NAMCO's Rave Racer (arcade-only sequel to Ridge
Racer)
and Air Combat 22 (arcade sequel to Air Combat, predacessors to the
Ace Combat series)
never got released for first-gen PowerVR cards (PCX-1 or PCX-2) for
PC.
Yes, I am STILL sore at Namco for that.
Next Generation magazine, issue 19, July 1996, Rave Racer on
PowerVR for PC, preview.
http://www.imagepup.com/up/Y334_1202439748_PowerVRPC_RaveRacer.jpg
http://www.imagepup.com/up/3BN6_1202439796_PowerVRPC_RaveRacer2.jpg
> never got released for first-gen PowerVR cards (PCX-1 or PCX-2) for
> PC.
You have one of those cards??
