Middleware

Intel-owned middleware provider Havok has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 3D game engine maker Trinigy for an undisclosed sum. Privately owned Trinigy’s multiplatform Vision Game Engine – which is available for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Windows and most recently Vita - is currently being used for over 200 commercial game productions from companies including Take-Two and Ubisoft. Following the expected completion of the transaction in mid-August, Havok will begin integrating the two companies' development teams, operations and customer support, while the Trinigy Vision Engine will be re-branded as the Havok Vision Engine. Havok managing director David Coghlan said: “We are delighted to acquire this highly experienced, proven team. This acquisition will extend the reach of both companies’ technologies across new geographies and market segments. We are excited by the opportunities that the combination of Havok and Trinigy will bring as the industry continues to broaden in terms of target platforms, markets, budget sizes and distribution models.”

Speaking to Develop, Michel Ancel said the UbiArt Framework used in his visually striking current project, Rayman Origins, will eventually be made available to the development community for free - but that the industry's reticence to share technology is holding it back. "UbiArt has been built to be shared," he said. "If the guys who invented the paintbrush only kept it for themselves then fine art would be ephemeral. I want [UbiArt] to be open source, I want it to go out and be shared and evolve. If you look at the best artists at Disney, they create incredible books and artwork and share their processes...that whole medium has evolved on the basis of sharing ideas. But in games we lock it all in a black box and keep it to ourselves. We need to be more open. I don’t believe that keeping the technology to yourself is interesting."