User:NeoGenPT/Final Reality

Final Reality
Developer(s)	Remedy Entertainment, VNU European Labs
Stable release	1.01 / May 1997
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Platform	x86-compatible
Type	Benchmark software
License	Proprietary

Final Reality is a computer benchmarking software tool co-developed by Remedy Entertainment and VNU European Labs (testing division of VNU Business Publications), and released in November 1997. Its purpose is to determine the overall performance of a computer, based in 2D and 3D graphics rendering tests as well as bus transfer rate tests. It became an industry standard for benchmarking and part of the bundled software for many graphics cards. Over five million copies were distributed worldwide. Remedy Entertainment announced the discontinuation of support to the application on November 15, 1998, shortly after the launch of 3DMark 99 by its spin-off company FutureMark.

History

In summer 1997, Remedy Entertainment was contacted by VNU Business Publications (considered at the time the biggest computer magazine publisher in Europe) and asked to create a 3D accelerator benchmark program. Remedy accepted and signed a development contract for the application which was later to be known as Final Reality. Remedy also found this a good opportunity to try out their upcoming 3D engine MAX-FX, which was later to be used in Max Payne and 3DMark99.^[2] But in the final version Final Reality used Remedy's in-house developed "e2 - Exit Technology" 3D Engine.^[3] The soundtrack accompanying the benchmark tests was composed by Purple Motion (who composed also for Remedy's video game Death Rally) and also included music from the critically acclaimed demo "Second Reality" by Future Crew.^[4]

Technical Overview

the "Reality Marks" DirectX 5.0 requirement, system requirements box, etc
Final Reality uses Remedy's in-house developed "e2 - Exit Technology" 3D Engine. (http://web.archive.org/web/19981206005428/http://www.remedy-ent.com/fr/)

The Tests

Final Reality included a group of nine tests to evaluate a system's overall performance, these were categorized into 2D tests, 3D tests, bus transfer tests, and a separate AGP test. Although separated from the others, the AGP test is also a bus transfer test that measured the speed of graphics rendering when dealing with amounts of textures superior to the graphics card video memory.

2D Tests

3D Tests

Bus Transfer Tests

Reception

describe the industry reception, how it became a benchmarking standard, etc

References

^ Final Reality by remedy :: pouët.net
^ "Remedy company profile". Remedy Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2000/08/18. Retrieved 2010/02/08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |archivedate= (help)
^ "Final Reality main page". Remedy Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1998/12/06. Retrieved 2010/02/08. Final Reality uses Remedy's in-house developed "e2 - Exit Technology" 3D Engine. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |archivedate= (help)
^ "Press release: Thursday 1st May 1997". Remedy Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2000/10/11. Retrieved 2010/02/08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |archivedate= (help)

External Links

http://web.archive.org/web/19981206005428/http://www.remedy-ent.com/fr/

[1] Final Reality by remedy :: pouët.net

[2] "Remedy company profile". Remedy Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2000/08/18. Retrieved 2010/02/08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |archivedate= (help)

[3] "Final Reality main page". Remedy Entertainment. Archived from the original on 1998/12/06. Retrieved 2010/02/08. Final Reality uses Remedy's in-house developed "e2 - Exit Technology" 3D Engine. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |archivedate= (help)

[4] "Press release: Thursday 1st May 1997". Remedy Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2000/10/11. Retrieved 2010/02/08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |archivedate= (help)

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