October 11th 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the GeForce 256, the original Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). With cutting edge technologies like hardware-accelerated transformation and lighting (T&L), combined with what was - for the time - brutal performance, GeForce 256 was a game-changer.
In this DF Direct special hosted by Alex Battaglia, we bring together Nvidia staff to discuss why this product was so important. On the panel, we have:
John Montrym, Chief Architect
John Spitzer, VP of Developer and Performance Technologies
Nick Stam, Director of Technical Marketing - and Editor-in-Chief of PC Mag in 1999
Jacob Freeman, GeForce Evangelist
00:00 Overview and introductions
06:44 What does GeForce 256 mean to you? What has its impact been?
12:23 GeForce 256 feature uptake
15:00 Hardware transform and lighting and its importance
17:56 GeForce 256 development milestones
20:40 GeForce 256’s initial impact on games
24:43 Reactions to GeForce 256
30:33 Environment mapping
35:01 Reviewing the GeForce 256
39:33 What the GeForce 256 meant beyond gaming
41:16 The GeForce 256’s lasting legacy
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DF Direct - Inside GeForce 256 - The First GPU - 25th Anniversary Retrospective | Digital Foundry Direct Weekly podcast - Listen or read transcript on Metacast
