Square Enix To Use SpeedTree For Last Remnant

Representatives from Interactive Data Visualization (IDV) have announced that Square Enix's recently announced Unreal Engine-powered Xbox 360/PS3 action RPG The Last Remnant will make use of the technology company's SpeedTreeRT foliage generation software. The SpeedTree software delivers highly realistic digital trees and plants, with adjustable wind effects, user-configurable LOD transitions, and an included library of hundreds of tree, plant and marine models representing more than 200 core species. The tool has already found use in a number of highly regarded next-generation titles, such as THQ's Saints Row and Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, both for the Xbox 360. In addition, developers of Webzen's upcoming MMOFPS Huxley are also utilizing the SpeedTree technology. This latest news adds to a wealth of new SpeedTree licenses recently announced by IDV, most recently in February when BioWare announced it would be using the technology for unannounced forthcoming titles. In January, the company announced that its technology had been licensed by six different game developers for titles to be released later in 2007 and into 2008, including independent developer Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment for the forthcoming Stargate Worlds MMORPG. “Since it's able to render not only a large number, but a large variety of trees quickly, SpeedTree has really been an important tool for us in developing The Last Remnant,” said Square Enix Chief Artist Kimihiko Miyamae.