It's been 25 years since my jaw first dropped at 3DMark2001's Nature test but hoo boy, have 3D graphics changed since then

A quarter of a century ago, Finnish software company MadOnion released its third iteration of a certain benchmark tool called 3DMark, and together with the launch of Nvidia's GeForce 3 series of graphics cards, 3DMark2001 showcased the potential of shaders in DirectX-powered games. For myself, it was the start of a period in my life which ultimately saw me working for the company, rebranded as Futuremark Corporation, and becoming neck-deep in everything gaming and graphics.

While I don't feel especially different 25 years on...