The best graphics coders...not at game devs?

[Intel17]

Hey guys,

I was thinking,
Are the best real-time graphic's coders really at companies such as Epic games or id Software? Or are they the people at companies that produce engines for the sole purpose of being a benchmark? Or are they at nVidia and ATi pumping out those amazing techdemos?


What do you think? Personally, from a pure visuals side, the benchmarks/techdemo's are lightyears ahead of game stuff, but that's to be expected, since the games were not meant to be only playable on top-end stuff.

What are your views?

[Subtestube]

Depends on what you mean "Best".

Most efficient? Definitely the games firms. They've got to make a saleable product.
Most advanced? Almost definitely at either Universities or "Research" firms - such as nVIDIA or ATi. I personally don't consider benchie people to be all that hot - they make innefficient engines that aren't that advanced. I mean, 3dMark05 looked nice....
.... by having ridiculously tesselated models and HIGH resolution textures. I consider the original battle thing on 3dMark03 to look roughly as good as (or slightly worse than) Doom 3 - but it comes at a MUCH higher price in terms of system and GPU load. That's not to say the bench guys are bad - I just don't see them as being cutting edge or particularly efficient.

Edit: As always, this is only my opinion.