Let me get this straight, cuz it's still not totally clear for me.

Voodoo Graphics was the first hardware 3dfx announced right? Were there any Arcade interfaces made/built/announced before November 6, 1995?

Because one site said this :


Quote:

In the time of its establishment 3Dfx Interactive was willing to develop graphics and interface systems for Arcade gaming machines, since they were still clearly superior to commercial computers which served as game platforms at this time. Nevertheless 3Dfx Interactive already attached importance to build products which use PC-compatible interfaces like the PCI bus and they also built interface modules for connecting console input devices with computer interfaces. One of the first well-known modules was the JAMMA Game-Control-Interface GCI. It translates signals of the control sticks and keys of a play hall console by a Microcontroller of Intel (type 80C51) into a RS232 compatible signal for a PC.

http://www.x86-secret.com/articles/divers/v5-6000/v56kgb-2.htm

And I just don't have a clue what the above means in normal English.

Can anyone clarify?

the GCI have 650-0001-00x on the PCB

so i should be the first product

650 = 3dfx
210 = STB
middel four gets higher with the time
00x is the rev
001 rev A
002 rev B
003 rev C

Interesting.

What was the motivation behind it? I mean, 3Dfx was already planning Voodoo Graphics at that time right? Or.....?

Who can translate the above (in my first post) in normal English, it doesn't make much sense to me. What do they mean with, "they were willing?"

How exactly did the Jamma module interface with a computer?

afaik,the whole idea behind 3dfx was bringing the graphics from arcade machines to the consumer pc..


edit: ok,so I was wrong..

ps47 wrote on 18.02.09 at 01:50:37:

afaik,the whole idea behind 3dfx was bringing the graphics from arcade machines to the consumer pc..

actually no it wasn't.

consumer based products were not even considered, at the time it was too expensive.

Hi ! this article was originaly written in french and I suppose there is a google translation if you don't understand what about it is takling...
As it is one o'clock and i just return from the pub, let's me try to do a translation that you'll understand.

O"n March 27 of the following year, 3Dfx Interactive was bring to life with a capital of 5,5 millions US $.
At the time of his creation, 3Dfx goal was to make PC graphics cards and interfaces system for Arcade gaming machine, because at this time theses systems (arcade machine) were considered far much powerfull and better plateform for gaming than PC.
Despite this fact, firsts 3Dfx products were already compatible with the PC world : the technology used PCI BUS, and some pieces allowed to connect arcade gaming's controls on a PC.
One of the first product known is the JAMMA Game-Control-Interface GCI : it translates signals from a Arcade Gaming system on a RS232 signal witch is understood by a PC. That was realized by using a microchip from Intel  (80C51)

I hope my translation is easier for you to understand.
So since his creation 3dfx goal was to make 3D graphics cards, but it was more profitable in 1994 - 1995 to make Arcades chip...

By the way I've read a lot of time this article, there is plenty of mistake (VSA 101 to get more power, 3dfx acquired by nVidia, Quantum 3D wasn't a split of 3dfx etc.)  

Narmounet wrote on 18.02.09 at 02:15:38:

Despite this fact, firsts 3Dfx products were already compatible with the PC world : the technology used PCI BUS

The first Voodoo Graphics Arcade machines did use PCI boards (Home run derby) but many were intergrated onto an arcade board too like Mace- The Dark Age and Blitz.

Please remember the founding members of 3dfx were from SGI, workstations and simulators were a prime market in their thoughts followed by arcade and PC market last.

Workstations and simulators had the money for expensive boards, home based PC'd less so.

Thanks guys, that did help.