Quake has sold over 500,000 copies on its first day, including both PC and console versions.
This achievement has already completely crushed all its competitors from the same period.
Our daily sales are more than theirs in a whole quarter. How can we compete?
Keep in mind that this is despite the fact that the adoption rate of Nova Radeon graphics cards is not ideal.
If everyone has a compatible cartridge, the sales of this game will likely rise to a whole new level.
even----
This work has the potential to become a classic tool for future gamers to test graphics card performance.
In just one day, players from various regions have already given different feedback.
Clearly, players who bought the high-end version of the Nova Radeon experienced a slightly different gaming experience compared to others.
It has a higher frame rate and better picture quality.
This already speaks volumes.
As a result, gaming communities from various regions immediately gathered together to conduct some research, and sure enough, they discovered the differences.
The highest performance version is obviously the most expensive lab-grade version, which is currently only available to the truly wealthy.
The second-best performer surprised everyone.
It's NovaXeno!
The Quake on the NX console actually outperformed a graphics card with only 512KB of video memory in terms of overall performance!
It's worth noting that in order to control costs, the NX only had 256KB of video memory.
However, the answer to this question was quickly found.
Electronic Games magazine even added an extra issue specifically for this occasion.
The reason for this difference is surprisingly simple.
Unlike PCs, which require an integrated graphics card via an interface, the NX uses Micron's original chipset and connects to the processor through a specially designed architecture.
This makes its data exchange efficiency far exceed that of ISA slot versions of graphics cards.
Furthermore, NX's SDRAM memory further raises the performance ceiling.
The processor, which had freed up a significant amount of performance, used all of that performance for gaming.
This means that although the NX lags behind some top-of-the-line high-end machines in terms of absolute configuration, its gaming performance is unmatched.
Nova Radeon's outstanding performance has given a sharp twist to the wheels of history that were running smoothly.
The butterfly effect has finally blown into the semiconductor industry.
Following the release of Quake, graphics card manufacturer Hercules officially launched its new flagship product.
Unlike 3D-specific hardware accelerator cards like Nova Radeon, Hercules took an extremely clever approach.
"A 2D graphics card used to assist the Nova Radeon?"
Lin Lixin was slightly taken aback when he saw the graphics card that Vivian had brought, which was covered with dense black chips.
I have to say this card really lives up to the name " Hercules ".
The materials were piled up to an extreme degree; the length of the entire card was more than three times longer than the slot itself.
However, it doesn't have their company's 3D acceleration chip; it's indeed a card used for rendering 2D graphics.
"Yes, they implemented a very interesting feature."
Vivian nodded. "When NovaRadeon is not running, it will take over the normal rendering of the system and maintain extremely low power consumption, which can reduce the electricity costs caused by NovaRadeon's high power consumption."
"Huh? Is that so?"
Lin Lixin raised an eyebrow.
In his memory, Hercules should have developed its own HGC display standard around 1987, a high-performance version of CGA.
After being burned by 3D chips in the 1990s, it had no choice but to withdraw from the market.
And now, under their influence, they've actually created such a unique product.
"Yes, and not only that, it can also take over rendering needs outside of the game while the Nova Radeon is running the game, freeing up all of the Nova Radeon's performance for the game."
Vivian was right, this really is a support card.
A purely support card specifically designed for the game.
"Wow, that's a great idea."
This design became very common in some mobile devices in later generations, such as laptops that could switch between plugged-in and unplugged modes.
When not plugged in, the integrated graphics, which consumes less power, are used to reduce performance and save power.
Once plugged in, the game card can unleash its full performance.
"Should we contact them? Or just acquire them?"
Vivian set it aside and asked.
"Hmm—no need, let them do what they want."
After thinking for a moment, Lin Lixin decisively shook his head.
Excessive monopoly in the semiconductor industry can actually have the opposite effect.
It's enough to keep Micron as a Micron fab to continuously supply 3D chips.
If manufacturers like Hercules plan to develop their own non-reference 3D cards in the future, they will still have to source from Micron.
Now, those manufacturers who were still producing 2D accelerator cards have finally figured it out.
"This healthy competition will actually help us further promote the widespread adoption of graphics cards. We just need to ensure that we never lag behind in chip technology."
Activision.
Although Quake has been officially released, the development of the 3D engine is far from over.
Unlike the open Quake C scripting language used in games, a formal 3D development engine naturally requires a fully functional N Language editor to maximize the development of the desired content.
However, Lin Lixin came here this time for another matter.
That, of course, is Temple Run, which I mentioned earlier.
Arcade games were the origin of Gamenova's success, so we can't favor one over the other.
"Lin, I'm ready."
David, sporting his distinctive mushroom haircut, led Lin Lixin to the PC he was using for development.
He wasn't idle during this time either. In addition to continuing Activision's restructuring work, he naturally started the new project that Lin Lixin had mentioned ahead of schedule.
The development of the Quake Engine has entered its later stages, and Ben Gorcy has been somewhat freed up.
David was fairly pleased with this kid who had performed remarkably well in the Quake project.
Seeing that Carmack was ignoring him after he'd used him up, treating him with an aloof attitude as he focused on his remaining breakthroughs, David felt a pang of guilt.
So David simply brought him into his project team.
The two have now created a version based on the real 3D space technology in Quake.
"Hmm... well done, but it's a bit over-designed."
Lin Lixin frowned slightly, then shook his head.
They seem to have been somewhat misled by the exaggerated portrayal in "Quake".
"We don't need true 3D like Quake. Although we're making 3D parkour, we can use some technical means to 'fool' it."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
David was taken aback; he had expected a pleasant surprise from Lin Lixin.
"3D parkour doesn't necessarily have to be in 3D."
Lin Lixin grinned, picked up his keyboard, and started a project.
It had been a long time since he had personally developed something character by character like this.
David looked on with some doubt, and Lin Lixin's hand moved so fast it was almost a blur.
The 100 bonus to all his attributes from the quest was finally showing its true effect.
Before long, a thing made entirely of monotonous blocks of color appeared before David.
Although it was monotonous, David's eyes lit up instantly.
At the bottom center of the screen is a solid-color cube, which jumps up and falls down as Lin Lixin presses the button.
Above that is a line of the same solid color.
The lines continue to fall downwards, and the scaling is applied to make them larger and larger.
One after another----
It was clearly a 2D animation, yet David felt like he was in 3D.
It's as if the square in the center of the screen is actually moving forward along a path.