Video game physics middleware company Havok has announced the official release of Havok 4.0, which includes a modular suite of artist tools and run-time technology. The first games making use of Havok 4.0 are due out in fall/winter this year. The 4.0 solution enhances Havok's gameplay physics and animation products, including Havok Physics and Havok Animation. It also introduces two new products - Havok Behavior and Havok FX - to accelerate development of interactive character behaviors, and to deliver a higher level of physically-based "special effects" phenomena. Havok Behavior introduces an SDK and stand-alone composition tool that works seamlessly with Havok’s plug-in tools for 3ds Max, Maya, and XSI, enabling rapid creation of real-time blending and character performances that respond intelligently to other characters and the physical world around them. With Havok 4.0, game developers can select from a modular suite of technologies and tools spanning game-play physics, character animation, behaviors and special effects, optimized for a wide range of platforms, including the upcoming PlayStation 3, as well as Microsoft’s 64bit Windows operating system. In the 4.0 release, Havok’s HydraCore technology has been optimized to distribute physics and animation more broadly across specialized cell and multi-core processing units in today’s advanced game and PC hardware configurations. This maximizes gameplay responsiveness and overall performance, enabling thousands of game-critical, gameplay objects and characters to interact in real-time. Havok 4.0’s tools and SDK are designed to be modular and open so they can be integrated easily into existing production pipelines, reducing the overall iteration time needed to create immersive gameplay experiences and special effects. The Havok 4.0 suite is backed by support and professional services, leveraging the experience of over 160 commercially released Havok-powered game SKUs. “Havok is committed to developing a suite of products that allow developers to create games that take realism to new levels, that take less time to develop and can be built more economically,” said David O’Meara, CEO of Havok. “Havok 4.0, Havok Behavior, and Havok FX are evidence of this focus and our commitment to continue to introduce groundbreaking solutions. We expect broad adoption of Havok 4.0 in our customer base.”