LucasArts shows us what Next-Gen really is
by Adams Briscoe 
{ Apr 21st 2006 at 1:15PM }
With the advent of a new era in console gaming, everyone has been presented with what we are to assume is the "next-generation." But what is next-gen, really? Is it the graphics? The hardware? Or perhaps the innovation (not likely)?
Well LucasArts and NaturalMotion are teaming up to bring gamers a taste of what this new age of gaming is all about. The Indiana Jones universe will soon be played out in gaming glory with a new animation technology that is unprecedented. They're calling it euphoria, and it seeks to re-invent how you look at behavioral modeling.
So what is it anyway? Euphoria is an adaptive animation technology that can sort of be described as rag doll physics, except for live models. They're not "dead" when they do things such as brace for a fall or cling to walls as they plummet down a void. The models with this technology react to everything around them: when punched in the face they'll stammer backwards or trip over something. But don't count them out: the models will literally shake themselves off and come back at you.
This is essentially adding a much more dynamic layer on top of the animation we've considered "next-gen." Behaviors and intelligent reactions are the next step, all dynamically calculated. Be sure to note this is not AI, but rather the physics that enables the AI to react the way it does. From the article: "The AI is programmed by the developer, in this case LucasArts, into the euphoria models to control them."
[Thanks, Fan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris @ Apr 22nd 2006 6:48AM
The AI that is used looks amazing.
http://www.ps3assistant.com/news
Fan @ Apr 23rd 2006 1:38PM
Since parent is a uninformed shameless plug ill add a more usefull link:
http://www.naturalmotion.com/pages/le.htm
This is for the free learning edition of endorphin. Pretty fun.
Eric @ Apr 24th 2006 2:42AM
This is the only reason I would buy Madden...
Even if I don't like football, I'd pay to see players react realistically and differently to every hit and situation---I'm tired of Madden's "simulated" hitting physics...THIS is what I've been waiting for in my football games.
YOU HEAR ME EA?!
EA would be borderline retarded not to use this in their next gen football games.
Razib Ahmed @ Apr 24th 2006 12:20PM
LucasArts is a pioneer in gaming and NaturalMotion has a good reputation too. I am thrilled to see that these two big names have joined hands to produce next generation games.The AI in this picture looked great.
Smart @ Apr 26th 2006 3:33AM
With this kind of AI and these kind of behaviors it creates these situations where no two players' experiences are ever the same.