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Wii to have a dedicated PPU?
Inspired by a story on digg.
Clues have been given that the Wii may have a built in PPU(Physics Processing Unit)……MrPhiller investigates….
So lets start off by defining a PPU…..here’s what Wikipedia has to say:
A physics processing unit (PPU) is a dedicated processor designed to handle the calculations of physics, especially in video games. Examples of calculations a PPU might do include rigid body dynamics, soft body dynamics, collision detection, fluid dynamics, hair and clothing simulation, finite element analysis, and fracturing of objects. The idea is that specialized processors can do quickly what would take longer for a CPU, analogous to the way a GPU performs optimized graphics operations.ÂÂ
And on digg…a comment on the Wii to have a dedicated PPU story by mrgreen4242:
Think about it like this: a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) handles all of the video you see on the screen. It’s very good at doing that and just that, which is what allows us to have the amazing games we see today. It wouldn’t be very good as the main chip in your computer, though.
A PPU does the same thing for physics. This moves all the physics calculations away from the CPU (main brain) to the PPU, leaving the CPU to do other things (handle input, AI for computer controlled characters and enemies, network functions, etc). Also, since the PPU is much much better at doing these physics calculations, it can do more of them, and more accurately.
So, things like an explosion, rather than be just a big random spray, has each exploding piece mapped out in a realistic way. Or, to look at a good Nintnedo example, the gravity in Mario Galaxy would be able to be more accurately represented, or the spin on a tennis ball may change if the ground is grass or clay or concrete, or wet or dry, etc. It’s being touted as the next step in game evolution, but we will see where it goes.
For the Wii, which is the least powerful next gen system, it will free up CPU an memory resources, which could help it compete better with MS and Sony.ÂÂ
So we know a PPU is somthing that goes along side the CPU and GPU to help make that gaming experience more realisitic….This also follows Nintendo’s philosophy because a PPU would not make a game more “beautiful” just more realistic. And like mrgreen4242 said this would help Nintendo compete better with Microsoft and Sony. So Nintendo would have an excuse to put a PPU in there….now what are the clues….
Here’s a segmant from an interview with Konami that IGN did:
IGN: Is the hardware as easy to use on the Wii as it was with the Gamecube? The two systems are very similar is structure we’re told.
Konami: Yes, the structure is very similar to GameCube, but you already knew that. The development was not that difficult, as the Wii system has built in physics simulation. That helped the process.ÂÂ
The other clues…Well today a Nintendo PR rep said that there are more hardware features to be found out…..could this be it?
Summed up the PPU would be a great thing to be added into the Wii….as long as it keeps the price low 
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