Topic: Havok Technologies Powering Wii U

[Webmalfunction]

The middleware developer will help power Nintendo's upcoming console.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/29467

Nintendo has licensed Havok Technologies middleware (services provided to software development beyond the operating system) for use on the Wii U.

With the licensing agreement, Wii U software developers will gain access to Havoks Physics and Animation technologies, previously used in the Assassins Creed franchise, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and L.A. Noire.

This week also saw the announcement of a similar licensing agreement between Nintendo and Autodesk, Inc. over Autodesk Gameware technologies.

[Enner]

Ah, delicious middleware.


Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't Super Smash Bros. Brawl use Havok stuff? I recall seeing the logo somewhere in Brawl's credits or titles.

[Nemo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havok_%28software%29

It was used in SSB: Brawl and RE: Darkside Chronicles, plus lots of other PC and game platforms.

[TJ Spyke]

This means any Wii U developer will have access to it (free, or at least cheaper than licensing it on their own), this is good news. Giving developers more tools is always a good thing, better to give them more options and let them decide whether to use something or not than to have it not available at all.

[hibern81]

This is a good thing!

[Ymeegod]

No TJ Spyke, software developers still have to cover royalities paid to Havok for using their software, all this does is give them access to it right from the gate.  This isn't anything new or unexpected considering Havok's been multiplatform from day 1.

All this means is porting will be simplfied with games using their tools like ACIII.

[Chozo Ghost]

There are other physics engines besides Havok available, and developers could always make their own in house engines, but Havok is the industry standard and probably the best.