I have two game titles to name: Half-Life 2 and Doom 3. What is so special about these games? Perhaps all you have to consider is the game play, will it be a fun game to play, a game you will purchase? More than likely you have more considerations to make, considerations that are somewhat forced; these games are more than just two new titles, they are the advent of a new breed of game engines?engines designed to make your current video card cry and beg for mercy. Of course they are long awaited sequels to the gaming industries most seminal franchises, so naturally most people will at least like to give them a try. Lastly, and perhaps most important are the hidden implications of such a software apocalypse: whether you like Doom 3 or Half-Life 2 does not really matter, when you consider the fact that software developers for the next several years will be licensing these engines to create their own games?and these licensed versions of the engines will likely be twea! ked and even more system intensive than the originals, you realize an upgrade will become necessary in the near future. What does this say for your Direct X 8 video card? Run 3D Mark 2003 and you will soon find out that you are most definitely not prepared to get the most out of the upcoming software evolution.