NaturalMotion's Euphoria Gets PhysX For Backbreaker

Physics hardware manufacturer Ageia has announced that animation software developer NaturalMotion has integrated Ageia's PhysX technology into its Euphoria motion synthesis engine to power Backbreaker, its recently-announced football title for next-generation consoles. Backbreaker is currently scheduled to ship in 2008, and uses NaturalMotion's Euphoria motion synthesis engine. The Euphoria technology is also used by a number of other high profile upcoming releases, such as Grand Theft Auto IV and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Based on NaturalMotion’s DMS technology, euphoria uses the CPUs of next-generation platforms to synthesize interactive animations, using simulations of game characters' motor control, muscles and biomechanics. The Ageia PhysX technology utilizes a dedicated hardware physics processor to power real-time interactive worlds governed by physics laws. NaturalMotion CEO Torsten Reil said, "Backbreaker is more than just another sports title; it’s an entirely new experience. Using full real-time simulations of the athletes’ motor nervous systems and bodies enabled us to produce a fantastic, realistic sports experience that captures the riveting excitement of the American favorite pastime. By utilizing PhysX as part of our euphoria engine in this title, players in Backbreaker will never make the same tackle twice, giving them an intensely unique experience every time they play the game.”