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 (1996-1998)


Logo: On a black background, we see an explosion symbol with the text "3Dfx" zooming in the screen. After that, the text rotates while the outer part of the symbol (colored in blue) moves in and out.

Technique: The logo zooming in and rotating.

Music/Sounds: 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 prior to 1998.

2nd Logo (1997-2001)


Logo: On a black background, we see the letters "3dfx" (with the second line of the "X" removed) facing the bottom-left side of the screen. The logo suddenly rotates to us. After the logo stops, a curved line draws itself in and stops at the left side of the "X", forming the finished letter and logo.

Technique: The word rotating, the line drawing and forming the logo.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Seen on the Carmaggedon 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.