Discreet PlayStation 2 Development

Discreet, a division of Autodesk announced today that it currently has a Middleware relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) to reduce the development time for new titles. The company will provide developers of PlayStation 2 software with open access to character animation technology found in 3D Studio MAX R3, a development tool from Discreet.

According to the company line, "Open access to core character animation source code and algorithms in 3D Studio MAX R3 software gives game developers the freedom to integrate leading-edge character animation effects typically seen in broadcast and film directly into their next-generation PlayStation game engines -- at no additional fee."

"By working closely with Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. to understand the capabilities of the Next Generation PlayStation, Discreet is delivering on its promise to provide game developers with the most-advanced game-authoring environment available," said Jim Guerard, vice president of marketing and product management at Discreet. "The Next Generation PlayStation is an exciting showcase for 3D Studio MAX R3 software's new surface modeling, skin deformation and soft-body dynamics algorithms. We believe that open access to these character animation technologies is a requirement for leading-edge game developers who want to provide seamless integration between their game authoring and runtime environments."

Discreet's 3D Studio MAX program has been used to create such past PlayStation titles as the Tomb Raider series, Jet Moto III, and Metal Gear Solid.