The power behind the force video
Dublin-based technology company Havok (the guys who supply the physics engine that makes for more realistic bodies to maim and kill in cool games like Halo3) has just landed a licensing agreement with Californian firm 2K Games, which will use Havok’s technology to inject special effects into its Wii games.
The physics engine from the Emmy award-winning Havok is seen in most video games in high-street stores, including BioShock, Guitar Hero and Wall.e and across the major games consoles, the Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3 and PSP.
The first game that 2K Games will use Havok’s technology with is Carnival Games: Mini-Golf, a sequel to the first installation on the Wii, Carnival Games.
“Havok physics engines allow game developers to realistically depict motion and the effects the game character has on their environment,” explained David O’Meara, managing director of Havok.
“Havok technology communicates with physical elements in the game and loads them with intelligence, allowing them to react to the players’ actions in a realistic way.
“Of course, anyone who has used the Wii will recognise how important accurate movement is for the players’ enjoyment of the game,” he added.
Recently Havok, which was bought by Intel last September for US$110m, opened an office in Japan bringing the current number of employees up to 100 but the main headquarters operate from the Digital Hub in Dublin.
The company’s technology has also been used in Hollywood blockbusters including the Matrix, Harry Potter and Troy to produce realistic special effects.
By Marie Boran
