"Next Gen" more than graphics?

[Bullwinkle]

Holy cow!

Lucas Arts is doing some pretty great things, apparently, working with a company named NaturalMotion and their animation software euphoria, they're putting realistic physical reactions into the next Indy game.  As the LA project lead Chris Williams says, "The age of the rag doll is over."

IGN has an article http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/702/702389p1.html that describes what they saw, but they've also got video of tech demos using similar (?) software to euphoria (we'll probably have to wait for E3 to see the Indy stuff ourselves).  There were moments in the first one, featuring football players, where it felt like I was watching real humans.  Really impressive stuff.  Imagine merging that with the amped up graphics and sound and we're getting close to real "Next Gen."  
They even seem to be doing something about AI.

[unbreakable]

Check it, yo.  It's gunna use PhysX.

It's sick.

[Bullwinkle]

Well, it seems to be more than physics, though.  It's almost AI, but it's really animation.  Characters are reacting according to mass and shape, but also moving to protect themselves or to reach out and help others who are falling.

It all seems pretty cool to me, and I can't wait to see it implemented.

[lildrgn]

Wow. THat is cool. Thanks for sharing.

[Bullwinkle]

And now this is being talked about on the front page.

Linky:http://www.gamingtrend.com/News/news.php?NewsID=5634

[WinoMcCougarstein]

Check it, yo.  It's gunna use PhysX.

It's sick.

You just made my night!  :lol: