I don't like the direction the developments currently take in the PC gaming business. First we had the STALKER story, looking better on NV hardware, than we had Half-Life 2 to be NV exclusive? and now this: SANTA CLARA, CA?APRIL 10, 2003?NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today announced that it has formed a strategic relationship with Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS), the leading worldwide publisher of PC and console games. The two companies will work together to produce and market next-generation 3D content under the EA GAMES and EA SPORTS brands, which include such top-selling games and franchises as Madden Football, Command & Conquer, James Bond 007, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Golf and Battlefield 1942. By supporting NVIDIA® graphics processing units (GPUs) for desktop and notebook PCs, including the new NVIDIA® GeForce? FX family of GPUs, EA is able to deliver innovative and rock-solid gaming experiences to PC consumers worldwide. There is more... Under terms outlined by their agreement, NVIDIA hardware will become the preferred PC graphics platform for EA?s worldwide studios to give its developers the best solution for realizing their creative visions. EA development teams will use PCs powered by NVIDIA GPUs to create eye-popping 3D effects while allowing full compatibility across all PC gaming systems featuring NVIDIA hardware. NVIDIA and EA will also discuss opportunities to implement NVIDIA-specific features and special effects in several upcoming EA titles such as Madden NFL Football 2004 and others for the PC platform. NVIDIA also announced that it has been awarded the exclusive OEM bundling rights to certain EA PC titles. Under terms of the agreement, NVIDIA will act as sole OEM distributor of certain PC titles published under the EA Games and EA Sports brands, bundling select content with its PC manufacturer and system builder partners. "Electronic Arts has a tremendous track record for developing games that can be enjoyed by consumers of all ages and both the hardcore and casual gamer alike. By exclusively adopting NVIDIA hardware for their worldwide studios, EA is escalating the creative palette of its 3D artists and programmers," said Dan Vivoli, executive vice president of marketing at NVIDIA. "Our FX family of GPUs were designed to usher in an era of cinematic computing, and we couldn?t be more thrilled that EA has signed on to help us meet our goal." To increase consumer awareness and signify the best way to play EA games, retail boxes of current and future EA PC titles will carry the "NVIDIA: The Way It?s Meant to Be Played" logo, a marketing program created by NVIDIA designed to alert consumers to games created for play on NVIDIA hardware. Source: Nvidia