NaturalMotion To Launch Euphoria Real-Time Anim Technology

UK game tool firm NaturalMotion, the developers of 3D animation technology based on Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS), have announced Euphoria, a run-time animation technology for game play and development on next-generation platforms, including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. This tool follows up on the previously released Endorphin, a non-real-time animation-centric version of the same technology, Based on NaturalMotion’s DMS technology, Euphoria uses the CPUs of next-generation platforms to synthesize interactive animations on the fly, using fast simulations of the game character’s actual motor control, muscles and biomechanics. “Euphoria enables a whole new level of interactivity and realism during game play,” said Torsten Reil, CEO of NaturalMotion. “Every time Euphoria synthesizes what happens on the screen you know that no player has seen it before... These unique game moments are what next-generation games are all about.” Endorphin, the previous non-real-time version of the same tool, was used by film and game companies such as Giant Killer Robots, CIS Hollywood, The Mill, Sony Computer Entertainment, Namco and Moving Picture Company. According to the company, Euphoria is currently being integrated into multiple, as yet un-named next-generation game titles, and is available through NaturalMotion’s co-development program. NaturalMotion will show Euphoria behind closed doors at the 2006 Game Developers Conference (GDC).