Havok tech deal for â??budget consciousâ?? devs

Popular game tools group Havok is extending its reach to social, digital and indie developers that can’t budget the firm’s full-price tech.

The company will next week launch the new ‘Strike Program’ at Game Connection in Lyon, France.

The scheme will provide developers with limited versions of its tools at a reduced price.

Havok said the initiative is “designed to enable smaller budget and casual titles access to basic Havok products and services”.

No price structure, nor comparable discount numbers, were detailed. Havok said the scheme is “affordable and flexible”.

Developers that sign up to the Strike Program are also promised full access to the group’s customer support service.

“Havok is determined to continue to be an industry enabler by providing the best resources at an affordable price to all developers,” said managing director David Coghlan said.

“"We are excited to be supporting the industry with a business model that allows development teams with limited game budgets to innovate using our industry leading technologies and tools.”

The Strike Program will incorporate the firm’s entire suite of development tools; Havok Animation, Havok AI, Havok Behavior, Havok Cloth, Havok Destruction, Havok Physics and Havok Script.

Developers are allowed to individually pick each of the tools for purchase.

Jose Sanchis, the managing director of Lexis Numerique – one of the first companies to sing on for the program – praised Havok for “listening to the needs of the game development community and designed a solution that allows the ’budget conscious’ developer to take advantage of their products as well.”