NaturalMotion
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NaturalMotion is a software company with offices in Oxford and San Francisco. Founded it November 2001 as a spin-out of Oxford University, the company specializes in creating animation technology for the game and film industries.
[edit] Technology
NaturalMotion is the first company to commercialize procedural animation technology, which they call Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS). DMS is based on a real-time simulation of biomechanics and the motor control nervous system [1]. As such, it has roots in biology and robot control theory. NaturalMotion states that DMS allows for fully interactive 3D characters, as it is not based on canned animation. DMS is used in the company's products endorphin and euphoria, with the former being a 3D application and the latter being a run-time engine for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.
[edit] Customers
NaturalMotion's technology is in use at many film and games companies, including Sony, The Mill, Electronic Arts, Moving Picture Company, Konami, Capcom, Sega and many more. Movies and games featuring endorphin animation include Troy, Poseidon, The Getaway, Tekken 5 and Metal Gear Solid. In 2006, LucasArts announced that it will use the euphoria engine in the upcoming Indiana Jones game.
Recently, Rockstar Games has also licensed this engine in many of their new and upcoming games. It's also been rumored that this engine will be used in Grand Theft Auto IV, developed by Rockstar Games. Currently, Rockstar Games has confirmed that they will use RAGE Engine for Grand Theft Auto IV, but this may also be worked in.
