What have been most important technology developments for the games industry recently?
TV: Without a doubt the two most important developments have been the introduction of multi-core architectures in the CPU and the introduction of general computing capability in the GPU. Where do you see it developing in future? TV: The major manufacturers are working on what I would call a heterogeneous computing platform.” In simple terms this means that the boundary between general computing such as what is done in the CPU and specialized computing which currently is done in things like GPUs and audio processors is blending. What this means to game developers is the opportunity to improve multiple functional areas in their software such as AI, physics, real world interface (the Wii controller is a first-generation example) and, of course, graphics. A good example of this is Intels tera-scale project. High-end PC games have, at least over the past 10 years, driven technology uptake by game developers, but is that tailing off due to piracy? TV: The chip development industry would undo
