In the futuristic combat simulation game "Starlancer," the 45th volunteer squadron battles the Eastern Coalition fleet, in what promises to be a galactic denouement charting the future of the solar system. The aviators comprising the squadron are charged with a simple but daunting mission - Failure...is not an option.

Nor is failure an option for the creative team at Digital Anvil, an entertainment based digital production studio in Austin, Texas. As Digital Anvil prepares to unveil "Starlancer," it has lined up a new warrior to ward off failure ... a computer powered by an AMD Athlon™ processor.

A preeminent company in the field of computer game design, Digital Anvil has partnered with software giant Microsoft Corp. to publish innovative, interactive computer games. Digital Anvil founder Chris Roberts is the creative talent behind the popular Wing Commander game series and its Hollywood cinematic counterpart.

Creating the stunning 3D visual effects and full-motion action sequences that gamers demand is taxing on the heartiest of computers. The lag time for the computer to render complex digital effects such as those in "Starlancer" sometimes seems nothing less than astronomical.

Not lagging behind

The AMD Athlon processor-based system helps bring the rendering times back down to earth, according to Digital Anvil Art Production Manager Jake Rodgers.

"The biggest problem with making art on computers is interface and lag time. While interfaces are getting better all the time, only once in a while is there a speed increase like that with the AMD Athlon processor. It really lets me do pre-visualization at the speed I need to," he said.

The shortened rendering process is not just a time saver. With the lag time no longer serving as a "distraction", according to Rodgers, an artist's creative process is less inhibited.

"Whenever something's quicker, I'll make it more complicated," he said.

In Rodger's case, that meant experimenting with new facial expressions and motions for a newscaster in "Starlancer," a character that drives the story forward and aids the players.

While working on certain animations for "Starlancer," Rodgers saw his rendering time decrease dramatically, he said. The screen refresh time was also slashed when Rodgers used the AMD Athlon processor-based system.

"Until I can think something and instantly see it on my monitor, computers aren't fast enough," Rodgers said. "Until then, I am really happy with huge speed increases like that given by the AMD Athlon processor."

Rodgers reported that he did not experience any trouble with the AMD Athlon processor-based system, and that he moved all his working files to that system.

"I was impressed with the AMD Athlon processor's stability. I use it for my most critical work," he said.

While Rodgers says developing games means he doesn't have enough time to play them, the AMD Athlon processor's superior floating point performance promises to enhance the game playing experience, delivering higher resolution and more realistic sound.

The gaming enthusiasts at Digital Anvil won't be playing on Rodger's AMD Athlon processor-based system, however.

"They'd have to tear it away from me," he said.