Zynga buys GTA's animation engine (euphoria)

So yeah this happened, Zynga bought naturalmotion which most of you will know as GTA and Max Payne 3's animation system. So this could mean that euphoria physics won't appear in the next R* games

http://blog.zynga.com/2014/01/30/ceo-update-5/

Our goal from a content perspective is to create top hits that engage mainstream global audiences. Our winning aspiration is to be the industry leader by delivering more #1 games than any other competitor. To accelerate these efforts and build on our core growth strategy, I’m pleased to share the announcement that we have signed an agreement to acquire NaturalMotion, a leading mobile game and technology developer based in Oxford.

NaturalMotion expands Zynga’s creative pipeline, accelerates our mobile growth, and brings next-generation technology and tools to Zynga that will fast-track our ability to deliver consumers more hit games. Bringing Zynga and NaturalMotion together is a bold step in the right direction at the right time.

The NaturalMotion team is led by renowned technology innovators, including Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Torsten Reil and Vice President of Games Barclay Deeming. Over the last ten years, they have proven their ability to blend their breakthrough technologies like Euphoria, with high-fidelity animation to create delightful mobile hits. Their games CSR Racing in the Racing category and Clumsy Ninja in the People simulation category have both achieved top of the chart status. With NaturalMotion, we will – in total – have five top brands and capabilities in Farm, Casino, Words, Racing and People.

Didn't Don Mattrick just join them? Fucker's still causing problems

GAF link

Does it stop Rockstar from licensing the engine?

I wouldn´t expect that to be a big issue for Rockstar tbh.

On another note,I wasn´t even aware you had a youtube channel,pretty successful too,congrats bro! I should probably check it out. >.>

The next Farmville will be interesting.

damn, they sure spend alot of money for a company laying people off left and right.

Yeah more than likely, I don't think Zynga would be bold enough to just take it away from R*

Thanks dude :)

Never played a Zynga game I think, but I thought there stuff was way too primitive to need tech like this.

Zynga doesn't actually think they make real video games do they? Because they don't.

That's the thing, their games aren't that high tech.

Imagine how the animals and crops will move now in Farmville though!!!!! - oh the sarcasm

The Technique is called Procedural Animation. Natural Motion built an engine that uses it but they don't own it. Rockstar can just make their own, but its difficult as hell, just ask The Last Guardian.

Yes. I hated the euphoria engine, it makes the gameplay very clunky and unresponsive. R* can learn a thing or two from Naughty Dog and Ubisoft.

Come on people.

Its not like tthey bought it from Rockstar against their wishes.

Rockstar sold it correct? That usually means there is something better in the pipeline.

With all the money Rockstar just made, i can bet they had no more use for Euphoria and the next gen adaptation is currently being perfected as we speak.

So you think they will just license it to other companies? Very strange if true imo. I dunno, guess we'll have to wait and find out.

Obviously it's not the only game it town, if they stopped other companies using it then they will be committing suicide, well in investment terms.

Hopefully they'll make a good Third person Shooter with max payne's gunplay. All they need is a clever level design after that and i'm sold! Max payne's level design were horrible only thing that saves that game is that fantastic gunplay.

The final part of that effort is today we are implementing a 15% workforce and cost reduction plan which impacts 314 employees. We don’t take these decisions lightly but we believe these actions will allow us to create a clearer, faster path to win.

Matrick fires a shit load of people and then buys another company? Wutttt? How long has been CEO again?

What do they need Euphoria for? Flash games? Is that not all Zynga makes?

I am surprised how much money was being talked about in regards to Zynga.

Anyway I hope this tech gets a bit bigger, it looks cool

http://vimeo.com/79098420

I hate these facebook esque phone game companies so fucking much.

It says nothing about Zynga buying the license from R*. They just bought the license from NaturalMotion, they own it, Zynga buying it doesn't affect R* in any way.

Your title is a bit misleading sean. Zynga bought out NaturalMotion for their games division's success in the mobile market with games like CSR Racing and Backbreaker Football. Plus I highly doubt they would end their Euphoria middleware contract with R*/Take-Two as I'm sure it's a pretty lucrative one.

its the best animation engine out there and i have no idea why more devs don't use it or something similar