Dublin-based software company Havok received an award yesterday from the US National Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences for its work on real-time physics and animation that advanced playability and special effects in computer games, as well as Hollywood movies.
Havok, which began as a Trinity College Dublin campus spin-off was bought by Intel in September 2007 for US$110m.
Many of the titles for all the major games consoles currently on shop shelves, including the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony PlayStation 3 have Havok’s physics, animation or behaviour technology integrated, including best-selling games like Halo 3, BioShock, Guitar Hero III and Splinter Cell.
The tech firm also has partnerships with leading game developers including Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft.
Havok has also created special effects for big screen movies including Poseidon, The Matrix, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“This award shows just how far Havok has travelled since its inception as an incubation project at Trinity College in 1998,” says David O’Meara, managing director of Havok.
“I am proud to accept this award on behalf of the entire team at Havok whose ongoing creativity and dedication has made our physics the global market leader in such a short space of time.”
Previously Havok has won two Develop Industry Excellence Awards as well as being listed on the Herring Top 100 in 2006, a prestigious list of top private companies judged on their innovation, financial performance and executive strategies.
By Marie Boran
