Autodesk reveals 2013 line with Cognition, Population AI products

Middleware giant Autodesk has announced new versions of its GameWare line, and has introduced two new products for managing artificial intelligence in games: Cognition and Population The new AI products are the result of Autodesk's acquisition of certain assets (Character Control System, Digital Extra System) and staff members from Montreal-based Grip Entertainment last November. Cognition 2013 is a visual programming system and run-time engine for high-level artificial intelligence, while Population 2013 is an AI software module for Unreal Engine 3, allowing developers to create and manage large numbers of secondary characters. The Grip acquisition also resulted in enhancements to Autodesk's Kynapse 2013 AI product, which has a new pathfinding mode enabling characters to navigate around changing environmental conditions by dynamically updating pathdata based on a level's aggregates of dynamic objects. Autodesk has also revealed Scaleform 4.1, a new version of its video game user interface solution, with new features and enhancements targeting mobile game development, a new version of its Analyzer for Memory and Performance tool, and more. The company will also put out its lighting middleware Beast 2013, now with live scene authoring and other additions; and its character animation middleware HumanIK 2013, which has simplified access to its two-bone IK solver, a new shoulder solver, and more. All of these Autodesk products are expected to release this spring.