3ds Max and Maya developer Autodesk has announced a new agreement to acquire Kynapse artificial intelligence middleware developer Kynogon for an undisclosed amount in a deal expected to be closed within the next three months.
Autodesk notes that the software, which gives characters spatial awareness, allowing them to realistically navigate digital environments has been used in a number of recently released and forthcoming games, including
Alone in the Dark 5, Crackdown, Fable 2 and
The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar.
Autodesk senior VP Marc Petit noted that in addition to game development, the AI middleware has been used for "defense and security simulations, such as mission planning and military operations on urban terrain."
"The future of videogames is about sophisticated game play, with more believable characters and environments," said Petit. "Our goal is to simplify videogame development by providing cutting-edge tools to create, animate and integrate 3D assets into game engines. The acquisition of Kynogon is a key component in reaching this goal."
