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NEC and Namco Form Alliance to Revolutionize PC 3D Graphics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

NEC Corporation and Namco Limited, a leading arcade game machine supplier, have announced an alliance to provide realistic, 3-dimensional computer graphics for PC users running Windows 95. The partnership aims to make PowerVR, a revolutionary 3D graphics technology developed by NEC and VideoLogic, the world standard for 3D. This alliance marks a significant breakthrough in 3D technology, enabling the creation of 3D systems with unprecedented performance and realism.

Key Takeaways:

  • NEC and Namco aim to make PowerVR the world standard for 3D graphics, targeting PCs in the home and planning to market PowerVR chipsets to PC manufacturers worldwide.
  • The partnership will provide PC users with 3D performance and realism far beyond conventional PC 3D games systems, surpassing home games consoles in 3D graphics performance and realism.
  • NEC has stated their sales target is to have 2 million PowerVR chipsets installed in PCs worldwide by the middle of 1996.
  • Namco is planning to release leading edge game software such as "RaveRacer", "TEKKEN", and "AIR COMBAT22" on the PC platform.
  • PowerVR is capable of running at over 200,000 polygons per second, and up to 2 million polygons per second in a parallel configuration.
  • The collaboration between NEC and VideoLogic has resulted in a 3D graphics accelerator chipset that provides users of Windows 95 with 3D computer graphics superior to those available from 32-bit game consoles.
  • A single PowerVR chipset can deliver advanced realism with functions such as perspective-correct realistic textures, real-time shadows, and searchlighting.

Statistics:

  • 2 million PowerVR chipsets target for installation in PCs worldwide by the middle of 1996.
  • Over 200,000 polygons per second: the capability of a single PowerVR chipset in terms of polygon execution.
  • Up to 2 million polygons per second: the capability of multiple PowerVR chipsets in parallel configuration.

Sources:

  • "NEC and Namco Announce Alliance to Revolutionize PC 3D Graphics" (Business Wire, November 20, 1995)
  • "NEC and VideoLogic Collaborate to Develop PowerVR 3D Graphics Technology" (Press release, December 1994)

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