BioShock Development Tool Available for Free

Intel opens Havok toolbox

Posted by Staff
BioShock Development Tool Available for Free
Havok has now made its core middleware development platform, Havok Complete, available for free download. One element of the bundled development kit, Havok Physics, has been used in the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Guitar Hero III, BioShock, Half Life 2: The Orange Box, and Heavenly Sword. It is also being used to develop LucasArts forthcoming Star Wars: Force Unleashed.

Along with the physics engine, Havok Animation is also for "non-commercial use", according to the developer. Additionally, Havok tells us it "has entered into an agreement with Intel, Havok’s parent company, under which approved game developers on the PC platform can execute a commercial distribution license with Havok for free."

When Havok announced that it would be making the tools freely available, it said, "By making Havok Complete for the PC freely downloadable, Havok will further build on its leading position by completely removing the barriers to entry for the large number of independent developers, academic institutions and enthusiasts in the PC space."

What it will also do, of course, is increase aspiring developers' familiarity with Havok's tools and more inclined to use them as they move into professional development and start working on commercial endeavours.

The move is sponsored by Intel, which recently bought Havok. Making the tools freely available fits with Intel's membership of the PC Gaming Alliance and its mandate to "drive worldwide growth of PC gaming."

You can get the package from Havok's website.
Companies:

Comments

Joji 2 Jun 2008 12:26
1/3
Wow! This is good news. If Havoc were compatible with XNA, we'd be seeing some cooler indie games. Shame we can't see more generosity like this.
truBlue 5 Jun 2008 11:54
2/3
Awesome. Why be tied to M$ XNA which will never come out as they first indicated almost 3 years ago, and only be on Live?. This tool chain will support much more than that and not be tied to some corporate monster.
Joji 5 Jun 2008 14:37
3/3
Its just a suggestion, coming from a good creative place in my heart, man.

Either way, I like that its free as its bound to encourage some folk out there. to get their creative juices flowing like a river.

Good news for all.
Posting of new comments is now locked for this page.