Intel buys Havok...

[fblack]

Havok is middleware that helps create very realistic physics effects in many popular games such as oblivion. Previously unavailable for use on Macs, until Blizzard in late 2006 licensed the engine for both PC and Macs. Now Intel has bought Havok. I'm speculating but it seems like an opportunity for Apple to enlist Intel's aid in making Havok available for more games on Macs. Of course, that is if Apple remembers that there are mac users out there who like to play games...

http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2007/09/cry_havok_and_let_slip_the_dog.html

http://theinquirer.net/?article=42368

 

[Pressure]

They also made physics in several movies, The Matrix being one of them.

 

[fblack]

They also made physics in several movies, The Matrix being one of them.

Pretty cool I didn't know that.

 

[dmw007]

Interesting, I hope that this means better gaming performance for Mac...

 

[Eric5h5]

Interesting, I hope that this means better gaming performance for Mac...

Nope, it doesn't. However, there's a slight chance that it might mean Havok's insanely high fees might get reduced...apparently they charge the same for the Mac version (6 figures, last I heard) as the PC version, even though Mac games don't sell anywhere near as much. So nobody except Blizzard can afford it.

--Eric

 

[mikebatho]

Ok, can someone just tell me if there's a direct download link anywhere to this havok blizzard thing?

If it's free, of course. I only want it for playing online puzzles, games etc....

There's a lot of people talking about it, but nobody posting a clear link, and I can't see where to get it on the HAVOK page....

 

[nullx86]

Wait, we are talking about the Havok engine right? like whats used in games (like Second Life? cant think of any others that use it)?

 

[mikebatho]

Yeah, but I don't even want it to play complex stuff, just lunch hour games like Monster Golf on the Miniclip site......

http://www.miniclip.com/games/monster-golf/en/

Says I need a plugin. Tries sending me to the shockwave download, but I have that already. Warning talks about the Havok download as missing

 

[Huntn]

Nope, it doesn't. However, there's a slight chance that it might mean Havok's insanely high fees might get reduced...apparently they charge the same for the Mac version (6 figures, last I heard) as the PC version, even though Mac games don't sell anywhere near as much. So nobody except Blizzard can afford it.

--Eric

My understanding is that for Havok games, Mac porters just used another physics program? Or were Havok games stopped dead in their tracks for Mac ports, don't remember for sure.

The ideal solution would be that when a company licenses Havok, it is for just the title game name and not a separate license for each platform it will run on or as you said, greatly reduced license fees for additional platforms.

 

[mikebatho]

No then. What a con.

 

[MRU]

(like Second Life? cant think of any others that use it)?

Almost all console games of late which utilize physics in some way are using the havok engine. It has been massively popular......

 

[mikebatho]

Just seems a bit rotten that they're posting free games on an online site that not everybody can use....

 

[nullx86]

Almost all console games of late which utilize physics in some way are using the havok engine. It has been massively popular......

I know Havok is used by a few others, and theres the Crysis/Crytek engine, the source engine, and theres another popular one... my understanding was Havok was popular and used a bit, not not in like every console game.

 

[Xavier]

Hopefully this will reduce the licensing price for Havok so companies like Aspyr and MacSoft can produces games easier and better.