LucasArts And Pixelux Redefine Environmental Realism For Next-Generation Interactive Entertainment
EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL MOLECULAR MATTER TECHNOLOGY MAKES EVERY STRUCTURE IN EVERY GAME WORLD REACT EXACTLY AS IT WOULD IN REAL LIFE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - May 8, 2006 - LucasArts
announced today that it has partnered with Pixelux
Entertainment Inc. to include revolutionary Digital Molecular
Matter (DMM) technology into all internal titles currently in
development for next-generation video game consoles. DMM is
exclusive to LucasArts beginning with Indiana Jones® 2007
[working title] and continuing with the next Star Wars®
experience. This breakthrough in material physics will bring
an unprecedented level of realism to next-gen projects by
making completely interactive environments that react as they
would in real life. From crumbling walls to shattering glass
and even swaying organic plant life, in-game objects have
material properties that behave realistically all in real
time.
If a structure exists -- big or small, dense or thin, floppy
or rigid -- DMM causes it to react in the same way dictated
by reality. For example, unlike what you'd see in current-gen
games, wood doesn't simply break apart along a predetermined
seam every time -- rather, it splinters into countless pieces
from the exact point of impact, also taking into account the
amount of sheer force exerted. The same rules apply to any
substance imaginable: Rubber bends and snaps back into place.
Glass shatters. Crystal fractures. Stone crumbles. Carbonite
(yes, the very alloy that encased Han Solo) dents.
With DMM in action, a Jedi unleashes the Force like never
before. His violent Force push hurtles a helpless
stormtrooper through a stone column, blasting it apart.
Moments later, the sudden lack of support causes the building
to smash to the ground, piece by piece. Meanwhile, a virtual
Jabba the Hutt presides over his court, as rolls of
gelatinous fat bounce and jiggle thanks to a body composed of
DMM.
"Pixelux has been a fantastic partner in our effort to bring
true next-generation gameplay to these new consoles," said
Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product development at
LucasArts. "Digital Molecular Matter enables us to deliver
game worlds that feel truly dynamic and alive -- we can pack
in dramatically more gameplay per square foot than was ever
possible with earlier hardware generations."
"When it comes to unlocking the potential of DMM -- a
technology that many engineers believe is still 10 to 15
years away -- it's hard to beat opportunities like next-gen
Indiana Jones and Star Wars," said Vik Sohal, chief operating
officer at Pixelux. "Partnering with LucasArts is the perfect
way to introduce DMM to the gaming public."
LucasArts will demonstrate DMM during a behind-closed-doors
tech demo set in a galaxy far, far away on May 10-12 at the
E3 Expo in Los Angeles, CA.
About LucasArts
LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer
and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide
for video game console systems, computers and the Internet.
Based in San Francisco, CA, as well as on the Internet at
www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in
1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his
vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment
company.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and
entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it
is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company.
In addition to its motion-picture and television production
operations, the company's global activities include
Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serving the
digital needs of the entertainment industry for
visual-effects and audio post-production; and Lucas
Licensing, which manages the global merchandising activities
for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties. Additionally, Lucas
Online creates Internet-based content for Lucasfilm's
entertainment properties and businesses. Lucasfilm's
motion-picture productions include five of the 20 biggest
box-office hits of all time and have received 19 Oscars and
53 Academy Award nominations. Lucasfilm's television projects
have won 12 Emmy Awards. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in
San Francisco, CA.
About Pixelux Entertainment Inc.
With engineers who have worked on everything from military
missile tracking to the racecars of legendary NASCAR®
drivers, Pixelux was founded in October 2003 with a mission
of automating art asset production through physical
simulation. Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology has
been designed to take full advantage of next-generation
architectures, utilizing GPUs and multiprocessor cores to
achieve an unprecedented degree of realism. Pixelux is a
member of middleware programs for both the PlayStation®3 and
Xbox 360 with versions of DMM being prepared to take
unique advantage of each of these platforms. DMM will also be
available for properly equipped PCs. Pixelux is currently
working exclusively with LucasArts to apply DMM into
next-generation games released through September 2008, such
as new titles based on Indiana Jones® and Star Wars®. Pixelux
is also marketing middleware products to the United States
military. For more information, please visit www.pixeluxentertainment.com.