NaturalMotion Releases Morpheme Animation Package

3D character animation software developer NaturalMotion has announced that its new graphically-authorable next-gen animation engine package morpheme is now available for development on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The morpheme engine is made up of two core components: morpheme:runtime and morpheme:connect. morpheme:runtime is a run-time engine optimized for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and ships with full source code, as well as support for customizable blend nodes, rigid body dynamics, and IK. morpheme:connect is a 3D authoring application that allows animators to graphically author blend trees and transition logic (based on hierarchical finite state machines), modify and edit parameters through sliders, and view the results in real time. morpheme:connect includes 2D and 3D viewports for authoring and visualization, support for live game pad control, script support (Lua), and is fully extensible through plug-ins. Though not based on the company's euphoria dynamic motion synthesis technology, recently chosen by Rockstar for its forthcoming next gen games, morpheme has been designed to 'seamlessly complement' the euphoria system in both the connect and runtime modules. Said NaturalMotion CEO Torsten Reil, “We developed morpheme to improve the workflow for next-generation game developers. By backing up a next-gen animation engine with a strong 3D authoring application, animators and programmers are now able to work hand-in-hand, in real time, to create fluid in-game animation that truly reflects the quality of the source data.” NaturalMotion will be publicly demonstrating morpheme technology publicly at the 2007 Game Developers Conference, booth number 118.