Intel Buys Havok, Maker of Game Development Tools

Intel Corp. will buy Havok Inc., a provider of software and services used by videogame creators and movie special-effects teams, the company said Friday.

Havok will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel but keep operating its business as usual, according to an Intel press release. It will add to Intel's visual computing and graphics efforts, while continuing to develop products for all computing platforms, the company said. The acquisition will help Havok grow into new market segments, Havok CEO David O'Meara said in a prepared statement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1998, Havok's helps game developers simulate real world physics in their games, making objects appear to move in a more realistic fashion.

The Dublin company's tools have been used on games such as "BioShock," "Halo 2" and "Half Life 2" and movies including "The Matrix," "Troy" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Founded in Dublin in 1998, the company has operations in San Francisco, Stockholm, Calcutta, Munich, Tokyo and San Antonio, Texas.