MGS Licenses Havok Tools For Dev Partners

Microsoft Game Studios signed a perpetual licensing agreement with Havok, giving its internal studios and development partners worldwide access to the middleware developer’s core Physics, Animation, and Behavior products, as well as future products. Microsoft is currently developing Fable 2, Halo Wars, Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts, and several other titles using Havok tools, having licensed the middleware developer's products since 2001. Havok-powered titles it has released include Halo 3, Halo 2, Scene It? Lights Camera Action, and Age of Empires III. The deal also provides Havok Animation to Microsoft game creators who license Havok Physics. The middleware developer recently offered its core physics software -- Havok 5.5 -- for PC non-commercial download for no charge in May 2008. Parent company Intel sponsored the toolset's free release, believing that the offer would "boost creative game development throughout the industry." Said Microsoft Game Studios business manager Jaon Mangold: "Microsoft Game Studios is proud to have committed to a long term partnership with Havok. As a leading Publisher, our mission is to deliver the highest quality Xbox 360 & Windows gaming experience to our customers. There's no question that using Havok's technology helps MGS deliver on that goal."