Word comes from GDC that NaturalMotion, developers of the euphoria and endorphin Dynamic Motion Synthesis technologies, has shipped morpheme, a new animation engine for next-gen game development. Featuring a flexible and unique 3D authoring tool chain, morpheme allows animators total creative control over the look of their final in-game animation by allowing them to author and preview blends, blend trees and transition graphs in real-time. Morpheme is available on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC and is being demonstrated publicly at the GDC.

Further details can be read just after the jump.

morpheme consists of two components: morpheme:runtime and morpheme:connect. morpheme:runtime is a run-time engine optimized for PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360TM and PC, and ships with full source code. morpheme:connect is a powerful 3D authoring application that allows animators to graphically author blend trees and transition logic (based on hierarchical finite state machines), modify and edit parameters through sliders (or even game pads), and view the results in real time. morpheme is designed as a flexible and open system and does not require the licensing of any other product. morpheme is also designed to seamlessly integrate with other leading 3D animation software and middleware technologies, such as physics engines.

Unlike euphoria, morpheme is not based on NaturalMotion’s DMS technology. Instead, morpheme was designed to seamlessly complement euphoria (which is available separately through NaturalMotion’s co-development program).

Key features in morpheme:runtime and morpheme:connect are as follows:

morpheme:runtime

• lightweight run-time animation engine
  
• optimized for PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360TM and PC
  
• fully customizable blend nodes
  
• full hierarchical finite state machine
  
• euphoria support
  
• full source code supplied

morpheme:connect

• modern, fully scriptable application
  
• 2D and 3D viewports for authoring and visualization
  
• graphical authoring of transition graphs and blend trees
  
• real-time manipulation through sliders and instrument panel
  
• on-target viewer
  
• support for live game pad control
  
• script support (Lua)
  
• fully extensible through plug-ins
  
• euphoria support

Pricing and Availability

morpheme is available on PLAYSTATION3, Xbox 360 and PC. For additional information on pricing, or to arrange a morpheme evaluation, please visit www.naturalmotion.com/morpheme.htm or contact NaturalMotion via phone (415-867-9679) or email at contact@naturalmotion.com. For additional information on NaturalMotion, euphoria, endorphin or DMS technology, please visit www.naturalmotion.com.