3dfx

Background

3dfx (also called 3dfx Interactive) was a company that specialized in the manufacturing of 3D graphics processing units and graphics cards. It was a pioneer in its field from the late 1990s until 2000, when it underwent one of the most high-profile demises in the history of the PC industry. It was headquartered in San Jose, California until, on the verge of bankruptcy, many of its intellectual assets (and many employees) were acquired by its rival, NVIDIA. 3dfx Interactive filed for bankruptcy on October 15, 2002.

1st Logo (1996-July 1998)

Visuals: On a black background, a cartoon shout bubble, colored white with a yellow outline, zooms in quickly as another teal shape bobs in and out behind it. Hovering over the shape is the text "3Dfx interactive", in a Gill Sans font, rotating around a few times before stopping. The text is shown at a rather high angle and is casting a visible shadow on the shape.

Technique: Real-time 3D graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: Can be seen when starting a 3Dfx Glide-compatible PC game on a 3Dfx Voodoo 1 or 2 graphics card with a driver before late 1998.

2nd Logo (1997-2001)

Visuals: On a black background, the text "3df\" is seen with a metallic texture and is facing the lower-left corner of the screen, of which it starts rotating straight towards the screen. As it does, a orange streak come around and crosses the slash, forming an "x" and completing the text "3dfx".

Technique: Real-time 3D graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on the Carmageddon Splat pack, MDK and Wizardry 8 for the PC. It can also be seen when starting a 3Dfx Glide-compatible PC game on either a 3Dfx Voodoo 3, Voodoo 4 or Voodoo 5 graphics card, as well as prior generations of cards with later driver updates starting in September 1998.