NVIDIA shows off PhysX Flex with Killing Floor 2

Posted on Thursday, June 18 2015 @ 14:59 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
NVIDIA provides a preview of the capabilities of the new next-generation NVIDIA PhysX Flex technology that promises more spectacular and realistic physics-led effects than ever before. You can see PhysX in action in the short Killing Floor 2 clip below, further details can be read over here.
But what exactly is Flex, how does it differ from PhysX seen in other games, and how is it utilized in Killing Floor 2?

Traditionally, GPU-accelerated PhysX effects are created using a combination of specialized techniques for rigid bodies, fluids, clothing, destruction, and other material types. NVIDIA GameWorks’ SDK includes PhysX, PhysX Cloth, PhysX Destruction, and PhysX Particle modules for this purpose. With Flex, a unified particle system is instead used for all effects, materials and objects, enabling previously-impossible interactions and effects. For example, a water balloon made of rubber can be realistically destroyed by a bullet, the water within can burst out when the bullet strikes, and it can then cause the destroyed balloon to float on its surface. Here’s a quick video to demonstrate some of the possibilities.

In the current implementation in Killing Floor 2, Flex is powering bile, blood, and gibs galore. These features are best seen with the Bloat, a rotund vomiting enemy. As the Bloat waddles towards players he’ll vomit Flex-powered bile as a ranged attack, and when gibbed his lungs, intestines and skull will spew forth, in addition to buckets of blood and smaller giblets. Blood and bile intermix, body parts and fluids are scattered by explosions and the Siren’s scream, and everything interacts realistically with geometry and objects. And should another Bloat be popped, the force of his internals exploding outward will further manipulate the disgusting Flex-powered mess that’s already been created.

On less powerful enemies who have arms, legs and heads that can be shot or cut off, blood will gush like a fountain, painting the terrain in Flex-powered claret that can be manipulated and interacted with.

And as mentioned, the Siren’s scream will generate a forceful wave that manipulates all blood, bile and body parts.

Click to enlarge


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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