If you are new to the topic of ray tracing you might want to read through this section. Ray tracing is a rendering technique that generates a 2D image out of a given 3D scene. This is done by simulating the physics of light propagation using rays. The algorithm shoots, for every pixel on the screen, a so-called "primary ray" from the perspective of the eye of the viewer. The ray tracing algorithm then determines which object is hit first on the path of the ray.More info over here.
Ray tracing and gaming.. a year later
Posted on Monday, January 21 2008 @ 2:55 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
PC Perspective gaves you an update on ray tracing and gaming to give you a perspective on what changed since early 2007: