Havok (software)

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Havok is a software suite developed by Havok (company), a subsidiary of Microsoft. It is widely used in the video game industry for physics, animation, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Havok's technology has been integrated into over 600 games, including popular titles such as Halo, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Assassin's Creed.

History

Havok was founded in 1998 by Hugh Reynolds and Steven Collins in Dublin, Ireland. The company quickly gained recognition for its innovative physics engine, which allowed for realistic simulation of physical interactions in virtual environments. In 2007, Havok was acquired by Intel, and in 2015, it was sold to Microsoft.

Components

Havok's software suite includes several key components:

• Havok Physics: A robust physics engine that simulates real-world physical interactions, including collision detection, rigid body dynamics, and soft body dynamics.
• Havok Animation: A toolset for creating and managing complex character animations, including inverse kinematics and ragdoll physics.
• Havok AI: A suite of tools for developing sophisticated AI behaviors, including pathfinding and decision-making algorithms.
• Havok Cloth: A module for simulating realistic cloth and clothing behavior.
• Havok Destruction: A tool for creating destructible environments and objects.

Applications

Havok's technology is used in a wide range of applications beyond video games, including film, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR). Its physics engine has been employed in movies such as The Matrix and Harry Potter series to create realistic special effects.

Notable Games Using Havok

• Halo series
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• Assassin's Creed series
• Dark Souls series
• Uncharted series

See Also

• Physics engine
• Animation
• Artificial intelligence
• Video game development
• Microsoft
• Intel