About Nvidia, game optimizations for their cards, and the PC gaming monopoly

Hey guys, just wanted to hear what your take on the subject is.

Nvidia basically pays off companies to deliver better performance to people who buy their cards, and people who are looking for graphics cards will buy them because of this, when really, what I think, is that they're not optimizing the games for Nvidia at all. They're giving you better framerates, but I think it's simply a scam, and if there were a way to trick the game into thinking you were running Nvidia hardware, you would get better framerates.

Take the game Batman Arkham Asylum for Example:
This game of course supports Nvidia Physx, and is optimized for Nvidia.
My 5770s in Crossfire barely get close to a GTX 295 because of this crap.
The Crossfire scales great, but I can't get the anti-aliasing setting up because of how it's not optimized equally for ATI.

I read about how they made the game only support in-game anti aliasing settings for ATI, and at release (I think) anti aliasing wasn't even supported by the Catalyst CC. Additionally, not only do they give the additional gaming quality enhancement and de-borification by adding physics, they use Nvidia's Physx software, rather than letting the game run physics on ATI's software the same way, unless you want CRAPPY performance (like 15 fps when you could be getting much better.)

Here's what some "hackers" did, or at least that's what I'll call them.
They modified the GPU ID for an ATI card and switched it with an Nvidia card, and (NOT) surprisingly, the game ran better than it did normally, and supported Anti aliasing! Additionally, there was an update I bookmarked but lost after a format...

There was also a match someone made to make ATI run Physics with 100% ATI cards for Batman Arkham Asylum, off of the CPU and GPU with decent framerates, owning the framerates of the default method of trying it without Nvidia physx.

What I think:
Nvidia pretty much forcing game companies to support only their cards having physics in certain games doesn't bother me so much, but if I was able to get at least the performance of an Nvidia card with pretty much EQUAL/BETTER hardware (processing power/processors/clocks etc...), without physics enabled, I wouldn't even care.

There are a lot of games I simply won't touch because they won't run well on my exceptionally good hardware, because it's ATI.
Before I got my rig, I wasn't in-touch with benchmarks and ATI/Nvidia comparisons enough to know how biased the performance of Nvidia is.

This is definitely a scam, and I would love it if someone could work some type of Graphics Card ID emulation software to force games into thinking you're running Nvidia, and play every game prior to the update with the proper amount of performance, and possibly physics/physx running on only ATI cards.

I'm probably going to wind up buying my first Nvidia card because of this monopoly.
ATI needs to fight back, because their cards are simply getting less and less performance with each new game Nvidia is making game devs "optimize' for them. The worst game like this I've seen are Borderlands and Crysis, and some of the popular games I know that are like this are GTA4, Assassin's Creed 1, and 2 when it comes out (just great <_<) I'm glad Bad Company 2 won't be "optimized" for Nvidia, because I'm looking forward to getting some awesome performance on my 5770s now that I've overclocked my i5 to 4ghz.

Here's a list of games I found that play better on Nvidia.
It's a bit of a messy copy-paste, sorry.

Do a ctrl+F search for some of the games you play on ATI cards, and see how your performance is being crippled, and if you play them on Nvidia, you should feel a bit lucky you're gaining that same performance we're losing.

Spoiler

13th Century 1C Games 1C Games
1944 Battle of the Bulge MonteCristo Games Digital Reality
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Eidos Interactive Funcom
Age of Empires III Microsoft Game Studios Ensemble Studios
Age of Mythology Microsoft Game Studios Ensemble Studios
America's Army: Soldiers US Army US Army
Apocalyptica Konami ExtremeFX
AquaNox 2: Revelation Enlight Software Massive Development
Arena Wars Ascaron Entertainment GmbH Ascaron Entertainment GmbH
Armed & Dangerous LucasArts Planet Moon Studios
Armies of eXigo Electronic Arts Black Hole Entertainment
Asheron's Call 2 Microsoft Game Studios Turbine Entertainment
Assassin's Creed Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Auto Assault NCsoft Netdevil, Ltd.
BIONICLE Heroes Eidos Interactive Travellers Tales
Bard's Tale, The Vivendi Universal Games inXile entertainment
Battle Engine Aquilla Vector Lost Toys
Battlefield 1942 Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield 1942: Road to Rome Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield 2 Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield 2142 Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield 2: Special Forces Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield Heroes Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Battlefield Vietnam Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Bet on Soldier Digital Jesters Kylotonn
Beyond Divinity Hip Games Larian Studios
Beyond Good and Evil Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Big Mutha Truckers Empire Interactive Eutechnyx
BioShock 2K Irrational Games
Bionic Commando Capcom Capcom
Bionic Commando Rearmed Capcom Capcom
Boiling Point: Road To Hell Atari Europe Deep Shadows
Borderlands 2K Games Gearbox Software
Breed CDV Software Brat Designs
Bridge It Auran Chronic Logic
Broken Sword 3: Sleeping Dragon THQ International Ltd Revolution Software
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Gearbox Ubisoft Entertainment
Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box Electronic Arts Criterion Games
Cabal Online OG Planet ESTsoft
Caesar IV Sierra / Vivendi Tilted Mill Entertainment
Call of Duty Activision Inifinty Ward
Call of Duty 2 Activision Inifinty Ward
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Activision Infinity Ward
Call of Duty: World at War Activision Treyarch
Call of Duty: United Offensive Activision Gray Matter
Captain Blood 1C Games Akella
Chaos League: Sudden Death Focus Home Interactive Cyanide
Chaos Legion Capcom Capcom
Chaser JoWooD Productions Cauldron
Chronicles of Narnia, The Buena Vista Games Travellers Tales
Chronicles of Riddick, The: EFBB Vivendi Universal Publishing Starbreeze Studios
Cities XL Monte Cristo Monte Cristo
City of Heroes NCsoft Cryptic Studios
City of Villains NCsoft Cryptic Studios
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword 2K Games Firaxis Games
Civilization IV: Colonization 2K Games Firaxis Games
Codename: Panzers CDV Software Storm Region
Cold War DreamCatcher Games Mindware Studios
Colin McRae Rally 2005 Codemasters Software Codemasters Software
Colin McRae Rally 4 Codemasters Software SixByNine
Comanche 4 Novalogic Novalogic
Command & Conquer: Generals Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Command & Conquer: The First Decade Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Command & Conquer: Zero Hour Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Commandos 3 Eidos Interactive Pyro
Commandos Strike Force Eidos Interactive Pyro Studios
Company of Heroes THQ Ritual Entertainment
Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts THQ Ritual Entertainment
Conan TDK Mediactive Cauldron Ltd.
Conflict: Denied Ops Eidos Interactive Pivotal Games
Conflict: Desert Storm Gotham Games SCI
Conflict: Desert Storm 2 Pivotal SCI
Contract J.A.C.K. Sierra / Vivendi Monolith
Crazy Machines 2 Viva Media FAKT Software
Cryostasis Sleep of Reason Action Forms 1C Company
Crysis Electronic Arts Crytek
Crysis Warhead Electronic Arts Crytek
Cycling Manager Focus Home Interactive Cyanide
Cycling Manager 5 Focus Home Interactive Cyanide
D&D Online: Stormreach Atari Turbine Entertainment
D-Day MonteCristo Games Digital Reality
Dark Age of Camelot: Atlantis Vivendi Universal Publishing Mythic Entertainment
Dark Age of Camelot: Catacombs Mythic Entertainment Mythic Entertainment
Dark Age of Camelot: Frontiers Mythic Entertainment Mythic Entertainment
Dark Age of Camelot: Shrouded Isles Vivendi Universal Publishing Mythic Entertainment
Dark Messiah Might and Magic Ubisoft Entertainment Arkane Studios
Dark Void Capcom Airtight Studios
Dark and Light Farlan Entertainment NP3
Darkest of Days Phantom EFX 8Monkeylabs
Dead Space Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Delta Force Xtreme Novalogic Novalogic
Delta Force: Black Hawk - Team Sabre Novalogic Ritual Entertainment
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down Novalogic Novalogic
Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps Digital Jesters Digital Reality
Deus Ex: The Invisible War Eidos Interactive Ion Storm
Devil May Cry 4 Capcom Capcom
Doom 3 Activision id Software
Dragon's Tale Online Chinese Gamer Chinese Gamer
Dredd vs. Death Vivendi Universal Publishing Rebellion Development Ltd
Driv3r Atari Reflections
Dungeon Lords Dreamcatcher Interactive Heuristic Park
Dungeon Runners NCsoft NCsoft
Dungeon Siege 2: Broken World Microsoft Games Studios Gas Powered Games
EVE Online Simon & Shuster Interactive CCP Games
Elder Scrolls, The: Oblivion Bethesda Softworks Bethesda Softworks
Empire Earth II Vivendi Universal Publishing Mad Doc Software
Empire Earth II: The Art of Supremecy Vivendi Universal Publishing Mad Doc Software
Empire Earth III Vivendi Universal Publishing Mad Doc Software
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Activision Splash Damage
Enter the Matrix Atari Shiny Entertainment
EverQuest Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
EverQuest II Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
EverQuest II: Desert of Flames Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
EverQuest II: Kingdom of Sky Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
EverQuest: Omens of War Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
EverQuest: Prophecy of Ro Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
Evil Genius Vivendi Universal Publishing Elixir Studios
F.E.A.R. Vivendi Universal Publishing Monolith
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin WB Games Monolith
F.E.A.R. Extraction Point Vivendi Universal Publishing TimeGate
F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate Vivendi Universal Publishing TimeGate
FIFA Soccer 10 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
FPS Creator X10 The Game Creators The Game Creators
Fable: The Lost Chapters Microsoft Game Studios Lionhead Studios Ltd.
Fallout 3 Bethesda Softworks Bethesda Softworks
Far Cry Ubisoft Entertainment Crytek
Far Cry 2 Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Final Fantasy XI Square Enix Square Enix
Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia Square Enix Square Enix
Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan
Fire Captain MonteCristo MonteCristo
Flat Out Empire Interactive Bugbear Entertainment Ltd.
Flat Out 2 Empire Interactive Bugbear Entertainment Ltd.
Flight Simulator 2004 Microsoft Game Studios Microsoft Game Studios
Flight Simulator X Microsoft Games Studios Microsoft Game Studios
Free Realms Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
Freedom Fighters Electronic Arts IO Interactive
Frontlines: Fuel of War THQ KAOS Studios
Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers THQ Pandemic Studios
Fury Gamecock Media Group Auran
GTR 10Tacle Studios AG Simbin Development Team
GTR 2 10Tacle Studios AG Simbin Development Team
Gangland Focus Home Interactive MediaMobsters
Gears of War Microsoft Games Studios Epic Games
Ghost Master Empire Interactive Sick Puppies
Gladiator: Sword of Vengance Acclaim Acclaim
Gorky Zero: Beyond Honor JoWooD Productions Metropolis Software
Gothic 3 JoWooD Productions Piranha Bytes / Pluto 13
Grand Theft Auto IV Rockstar Games Rockstar North
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Rockstar Games Rockstar North
Ground Control II : Operation Exodus Vivendi Universal Publishing Massive Entertainment
Gun Metal Vector Yeti Studios
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Electronic Arts / Warner Bros Electronic Arts
Hellgate: London Namco Flagship Studios
Hidden and Dangerous II Take 2 Interactive Illusion Softworks
Hitman Blood Money Eidos Interactive IO Interactive
Hitman: Contracts Eidos Interactive IO Interactive
Huxley Web Zen Web Zen
I-Ninja Destination Software Namco
Imperator Mythic Entertainment Mythic Entertainment
Imperial Glory Eidos Interactive Pyro Studios
Indigo Prophecy Atari Quantic Dream
Infernal Eidos Interactive Metropolis Software
Jing Yong Online 2 Chinese Gamer Chinese Gamer
Joan of Arc: Wars & Warriors Enlight Software Enlight Software
Joint Operations: Escalation Novalogic Novalogic
Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising Novalogic Novalogic
Joint Task Force Vivendi Universal Publishing Mithis
Juiced THQ Juice Games
Junk Metal Square-Enix Square-Enix
Just Cause Eidos Interactive Avalanche Studios
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Eidos Interactive IO Interactive
Knights of the Temple TDK Mediactive Starbreeze Studios
LEGO Indiana Jones Lucas Arts TT Games
LEGO Star Wars 2 Giant Interactive Travellers Tales
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game Giant Interactive Travellers Tales
League of Legends Riot Games Riot Games
Left Behind: Eternal Forces Left Behind Games Left Behind Games
Line of Fire Take 2 Black cactus Games
Lineage II NCsoft NCsoft
Lineage II - Chronicle 3 Rise of Darkness NCsoft NCsoft
Lock On Ubisoft Entertainment Eagle Dynamics
Lord of the Rings Online, The: Shadows of Angmar Midway Turbine Entertainment
Lord of the Rings, The: Battle for Middle-earth Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Lord of the Rings, The: Battle for Middle-earth II Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Lords of Everquest Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
Lost Planet Colonies Capcom Capcom
Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Capcom Capcom
MKZ TBD Object Software
MTX: Mototrax Aspyr Media, Inc. Beenox
MU Web Zen Web Zen
Mabinogi Nexon Nexon
Madden NFL 2003 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Madden NFL 2004 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Mage Knight Apocalypse Namco Namco
Master of Epic Hudson Soft Hudson Soft
Matrix: Path of Neo, The Atari Shiny Entertainment Inc.
Medal of Honor: Breakthrough Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Medieval II: Total War SEGA Creative Assembly
Medieval Lords Focus Home Interactive MonteCristo Games
Megami Tensei Online - Imagine Atlus Atlus
Men of Valor Vivendi Universal Publishing 2015 Inc.
Metro 2033 4A Games THQ
Michael Schumacher World Tour Kart 2004 10Tacel Studios Inverse Entertainment
Mirror's Edge Electronic Arts Digital Illusions
Moto GP 2 THQ Climax
Moto GP3 THQ Climax
Myst IV Revelation Ubisoft Entertainment
Mythos Flagship Studios Ping0
NASCAR Thunder 2004 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
NBA 2003 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
NHL 2003 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Need for Speed ProStreet Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 Electronic Arts Black Box
Need for Speed: SHIFT Electronic Arts Slightly Mad Studios
Need for Speed: Ultimate Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Need for Speed: Undercover Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Need for Speed: Underground Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Need for Speed: Underground 2 Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
Neverwinter Nights Atari Bioware
Neverwinter Nights 2 Atari Obsidian Entertainment
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer Atari Obsidian Entertainment
Nexus Nobilis Mithis
No One Lives Forever 2 Sierra Monolith
Nobunaga's Ambition Online Koei Koei
Nurien Nurien Nurien
Orange Box, The Steam Valve Software
Order of War Square-Enix Wargaming.net
PT Boats 1C Games Akella
Pac-Man World 2 Hip Games Bitmap Brothers
Pacific Fighters Ubisoft Entertainment 1C Company
Painkiller DreamCatcher People Can Fly
Painkiller: Battle from Hell Dreamcatcher Interactive People Can Fly
Painkiller: Black Edition Dreamcatcher Interactive People Can Fly
Panzer Elite Action JoWooD Productions Zootfly
Pariah Groove Games Digital Extremes
Perimeter Codemasters Software Ltd K-D LAB
Pirates of the XXI Century DIOsoft
Pitfall: The Lost Expedition Aspyr Media, Inc. Beenox
Planetside Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
Planetside: Core Combat Sony Online Entertainment Sony Online Entertainment
Port Royale Take 2 Interactive ASCARON Publishing Software
Powerdrome Zoo Digital Argonaut Software Ltd.
Prince of Persia Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Pro Evolution Soccer Konami Konami
Pro Rugby Manager 2004 Focus Home Interactive Cyanide
Pro Rugby Manager 2005 Focus Home Interactive Cyanide
Project Offset Offset
Psychonauts Majesco Double Fine Productions
Quake 4 Activision id Software
RACE 07 Viva Media Simbin Development Team
Race On Viva Media Simbin Development Team
RalliSport Challenge Microsoft Game Studios Digital Illusions
Rayman 3 Hoodlum Havoc Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 Steam Tripwire Interactive
Republic: The Revolution Eidos Interactive Elixir
Rig n Roll 1C Games 1C Company
Rise and Fall Midway Midway
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends Microsoft Games Studios Big Huge Games
Robin Hood: Defender of the Crown Capcom Atomic Planet
RoboBlitz Naked Sky Naked Sky
Rome: Total War Activision Creative Assembly
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky THQ GSC Games
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl THQ GSC Games
SEGA Rally Revo SEGA SEGA Racing Studio
SUN Webzen Inc. Webzen Inc.
SWAT 4 Vivendi Universal Publishing Irrational Games
SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate Vivendi Universal Publishing Irrational Games
Saboteur, The Electroni Arts Pandemic Studios
Sacred Encore ASCARON Publishing Software
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel CDV Software Ascaron Entertainment GmbH
Saga of Ryzom, The Nevrax Nevrax
San Guo Online Wayi Wayi
Savage: The Battle for Newerth iGames S2 Games
Scrapland KOCH Media Deutschland GmbH Enlight Software Limited
Second Life Linden Lab Linden Lab
Serious Sam II 2K Games Croteam
Settlers: Heritage of King Ubisoft Entertainment Blue Byte Germany
Settlers: Rise of an Empire Ubisoft Entertainment Blye Byte
Shade: Wrath of Angels Cenega Black Element
Shadowrun Microsoft Games Studios FASA Studio
Shattered Horizon Futuremark Futuremark
SiN Episodes Steam Ritual Entertainment
Sid Meier's Railroads! 2K Games Firaxis Games
Silent Hill 2 Konami Creature Labs
Silent Hill 3 Konami Konami
Silent Hill 4: The Room Konami Konami
Silent Hunter III Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Silent Storm Encore / JoWood Nival
Silverfall Atari Monte Cristo
Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion, The Electronic Arts Maxis
Sims 2 University Expansion, The Electronic Arts Maxis
Sims 2, The Electronic Arts Maxis
Sims 3 World Adventure, The Electronic Arts Maxis
Sims 3, The Electronic Arts Maxis
Sins of a Solar Empire Stardock Iron Clad
Sniper Elite Namco Rebellion
Soldier of Fortune II Activision Raven Software
Soldiers: Heroes of World War II Codemasters Software Ltd 1C Company
Soldner: Secret Wars Encore / JoWood Wings Simulations GmbH
Speedball 2 - Tournament FIP Publishing GmbH Kylotonn Entertainment
SpellForce Encore / JoWood Phenomic
SpellForce 2 JoWooD Productions Phenomic
Splinter Cell Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Spore Electronic Arts Maxis
Spore Galactic Adventure Electronic Arts Maxis
Star Trek DAC Paramount Digital Ent. Naked Sky
Star Wars Battlefront Lucas Arts Pandemic Studios
Star Wars Galaxies Lucas Arts Sony Online Entertainment
Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed Lucas Arts Sony Online Entertainment
Star Wars, Republic Commando Lucas Arts Lucas Arts
Stargate SG-1: The Alliance JoWooD Productions / Namco Perception PTY
Starship Troopers Empire Interactive Strangelite
Steel Fang Capcom / Sega / Nifty Nextech
Stolen Hip Games Blue52
Street Fighter IV Capcom Capcom
Stronghold Legends 2K Games Firefly Studios
Stubbs the Zombie Aspyr Media, Inc. Aspyr Media, Inc.
Supreme Commander THQ Gas Powered Games
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance THQ Gas Powered Games
Sword of the New World imcGames Inc. K2 Network Inc.
Taikodom Hoplon Infotainment Hoplon Infotainment
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Konami Konami
Terminator Salvation Evoloved Games Grin
Terra Firma BTU Games
Thief: Deadly Shadows Eidos Interactive Ion Storm
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 Electronic Arts Headgate
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 Electronic Arts Headgate
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 Electronic Arts Headgate
Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online Electronic Arts Electronic Arts
TimeShift Vivendi Universal Publishing Saber Interactive
Titan Quest THQ Iron Lore Entertainment
Titan Quest: Immortal Throne THQ Iron Lore Entertainment
ToCA Race Driver 2 Codemasters Software Ltd Codemasters Software Ltd
ToCA Race Driver 3 Codemasters Software Ltd Codemasters Software Ltd
Tom Clancy: End War Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Tom Clancy: HAWX Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Tomb Raider Anniversay Eidos Interactive Crystal Dynamics
Tomb Raider: Legend Eidos Interactive Crystal Dynamics
Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness Eidos Interactive Core
Tomb Raider: Underworld Eidos Interactive Crystal Dynamics
TrackMania Digital Jesters Nadeo
TrackMania Nations ESWC Digital Jesters Nadeo
TrackMania Sunrise Digital Jesters Nadeo
Trainz Railroad Simulator 2004 Auran Auran
Tron 2.0 Buena Vista Games Monolith
Tropico 3 Haemimont Games Kalypso Media
True Crime: Streets of LA Activision Luxoflux
U-WARS Biart Studios
Universe at War Sega Petroglyph
Unreal 2 Atari / Infogrames Legend Ent. / Epic Games
Unreal Tournament 2003 Atari / Infogrames Digital Extremes / Epic Games
Unreal Tournament 2004 Atari Digital Extremes / Epic
Unreal Tournament 3 Midway Epic Games
Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ubisoft Entertainment Cyan Worlds, Inc.
Vampire: Bloodlines Activision Troika Games
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Sony Online Entertainment Sigil Games Online
Virtual Skipper 3 Digital Jesters Nadeo
Vivesector Action Forms
War Front: Turning Point CDV Digital Reality
Warhammer 40k: Dark Crusade THQ Relic Entertainment
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War THQ Relic Entertainment
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 2 THQ Relic Entertainment
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Electronic Arts Mythic Entertainment
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos Bandai Namco Black Hole Entertainment
Westerner, The Crimson Cow Revistronic
World Championship Rugby Acclaim Swordfish
World in Conflict Sierra / Vivendi Massive Entertainment
World of Warcraft Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard Entertainment
WorldShift RTL Games Black Sea Studios
Worms 3D Sega Team 17 Software Ltd.
X2: the Threat Enlight Software Egosoft
XIII Ubisoft Entertainment Ubisoft Entertainment
Xpand Rally KOCH Media Deutschland GmbH Techland
You Are Empty 1C Games Digital Spray Studios
Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species Microsoft Game Studios Blue Fang Games
kill.switch Hip Games Namco

 

i think that your rant should be how ati is lack in working with game devs.
nv works closely with the devs so there hardware works well in these games....its takes money which ati does not think its worth it to spend or else they would right?
you cant even get game profiles with ati hareware/drivers that would be a step in the right direction.
as for cf ha....it does not even work on alot of games out of the box without changing exe.
as for aa/af its laughable too because game tests by reviewers show big numbers but half the time its broke or not applying
i do(tinfoil hat on)think that nv has something to do with the lack of "inhanced"dx11 games out before the new dx11 nv offerings thuo...

 

Haha, dunno what to say...

Let the flaming begin :backfire:

 

Mmm might be some element of truth in the op´s post but it´s pretty much all speculation.

after being with nvidia for several years (9800gtx-260-275-285-295) and now recently back with ati I have had issues with both camps but for me the 5870 has been a bit of a relevation. I enjoyed using all the nvidia cards although the 295 was a bit of a headache.

i enjoyed some physx effects (eg batman) but tbh dont see them as a major factor in influencing what I buy next. on the other hand dx11 hasnt impressed me much either.

driver wise i think both are pretty equal. empire total war didnt run well on most of the nvidia cards i had but now with the 5870 I cant turn on volumetric effects but gameplay is very smooth. (i used etw as an an example but there are other games that you could use). i wouldnt say ati drivers are any worse that´s for sure...

so for me i think its a bit of pot luck which games you like and which will run well on either nvidia or ati. regards physx and dx11 time will tell as I think it´s early days and we need to wait to see more releases....

xfire/sli am not convinced on as well. am sticking to fastest single-gpu for the mo.

 

This is pretty much my findings also after using Nvidia for years then going ATI. I had many driver problems with Nvidia, all gone when switched over.

Either way though, I feel the same about Xfire/SLI. I can't wait to see if ATI puts out a 5890 as rumors suggest. I just might have to hold off till the ATI 6 series this summer though.

 

You'll be "holding off" until 2011.

http://66.196.80.202/babelfish/tran...p://www.hardware-infos.com/news.php?news=3352

Crumby translation but the info is there.

 

If nVidia sinks money into working with game developers, helping to optimize code or provide testing/certification, than that's certainly not an unfair advantage. They desever to have better performance in that case.

However, when that results in intentional crippling of competitive products just for the sake of it, ie. no AA on Radeons in Batman: AA or disabling the use of a dedicated PhysX card when a Radeon is used for display then the tune, for me at least, is entirely different.

Optimizations: Great!

Crippling competing products: Teh suck.

 

Batman uses the UE3 engine which has no built in AA. Nvidia worked with the devs to implement AA in that game, that's why it was only available on Nvidia cards.

As for Nvidia paying off devs to use GPU PhysX... it's actually the other way around, the devs have to pay Nvidia to use that technology. And let's not forget ATI gave CM $1 million US to delay Dirt 2 and put DX11 into it. It works both ways.

 

Not a fair comparison.

If the DX11-mode of Dirt2 ends up only working on Radeons it'd be the same thing. Of course I doubt that's the case.

On the other hand AA is disabled on Radeon cards in Batman: AA, not because the cards can't handle them but simply because they are there. A simple hack to remove the hardware-check allowed in-game AA to function perfectly fine on Radeons as well.

nVidia may argue that they paid for the privilege until they're blue in the face but, as has been frequently proven, consumers just don't agree with their view. And rightly so.

PhysX is a better example. Running a PhysX game on nVidia hardware gives an advantage, the ability to run the physics engine on the GPU, but that doesn't mean Radeon owners can't play PhysX games.

 

Well, I agree with their view. If they put in the effort to work with devs on an AA implentation that works with their hardware, then why should they insist that the devs allow the option for cards from other manufacturers to use it when it hasn't been tested on those cards.

I'm not sure what you're getting at with the PhysX thing... it depends on whether the game is coded for GPU PhysX or not.

[EDIT]oh I see what you mean now, yeah disabling GPU PhysX when an ATI card is detected is totally retarded, because I probably would have bought an Nvidia card to use with my Radeon. I'm sure I'm not the only one, I guess they shot themselves in the foot there.

 

actually i saw on the Eidos forum someone posted how to put AA in Batman with ATI

 

dx11 is not an ati thing its a microsoft thing... as you know

 

Really?

Why is it the PhysX control panel gives you the options of using hardware or software implementation then? Assuming you have a nVidia card that can handle it, obviously.

I weren't actually talking about the 'disabling PhysX when a Radeon card is used'-issue but rather that PhysX is a good example of how to implement a bonus perk for nVidia users without leaving AMD users in the cold.

The Batman: AA anti-aliasing situation is not.

I'm aware of that, I don't think you fully understand what I were trying to say.

Comparing nVidia assisting with implementing anti-aliasing in Batman: AA with AMD assisting with implementing DX11 features in Dirt2 isn't fair since the latter will benefit both camps, once nVidia releases DX11-compatible hardware. There's no hardware limitation that prevents in-game anti-aliasing working on Radeon cards with Batman: AA, it's a pure check that were possible to spoof during testing.

Thus, apples-to-oranges.

 

During the making of Batman both AMD and nVidia were working with Eidos to enable optimisations, however, nVidia poured money into Eidos' pockets and they simply ended AA support for ATI cards.

This is unfair business practice and is the exact same thing Intel have been doing. Intel are getting fined heavily for it by the EU, the US and possibly Japan and South Korea, too. nVidia Also deserve to get fined for this as this doesn't serve the consumer and is unnecessary.

 

Until ATI implements a way to set individual game profiles like Nvidia does, I'm going to have to side with Nvidia on this. They clearly care more about gaming than ATI. There's no reason to NOT give us customizable profiles for individual games. Plus, Nvidia BOUGHT Aegia. They're under no obligation to let ATI use the technology they paid for. Because it's not as good for the consumer doesn't mean it's unfair. If you were in a similar position, I highly doubt you'd play it any differently.

I'm not trying to be a fanboy or anything, and I'm really not. Hell, I'm currently using an ATI 5870. I try to use whatever's the best at the time I'm purchasing something. But drivers vs. drivers, Nvidia was always way better for me than ATI. Please note that I highlighted the "FOR ME" before you flame me and bitch and moan that Nvidia drivers are worse than ATI's. Paying a developer to help your company is fair game, imo. ATI has quite a bit of money in their pockets that they could use, but they just don't. Especially now that they've been bought out by AMD.

EDIT: As for PhysX, big deal...It's only been implemented on what? 11 or 12 games? That's hardly a deal breaker in any sense. Plus, once DX11 becomes more common, I guarantee PhysX will get sidelined since most of the improvements in DX11 overlap with PhysX.

 

fusion is future..

 

Now all we need is a way to make Crossfire work in ALL games with awesome scaling.
I'd jizz for that as my 5770s feel crappy with no support in pre-2007 games -________-

 

Performance is crippled because ATI's drivers are not optimised for the games, or the games run opengl and ATI has issues with that in several titles (not all).

Don't even bring this crap here, Nvidia's TWIMTBP has nothing to do with ATI's low performance on many games, its entirely Driver issues and lack of optimising in the ati drivers.

 

Not true, This is only the case if a commercial developer fails to provide samples of the game / engine to nvidia. Read the PhysX licensing, its all stated there.

In other words, the SDK is free to use to create games and commercial physx simulators as long as nvidia is notified of, and provided samples of the product.

Failure to do so incurs standard licensing fee's.

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/physx_downloads.html

 

That makes absolutely no sense at all.

Much as I agree that the lack of automatic, and customizable, profiling in the CCC is a major drawback compared to nVidia's offerings that has absolutely zero bearing on the issues brought up by the OP.