Digital Molecular Matter…

Here’s some more interesting information on the upcoming technology behind “The Force Unleashed”.

“With The Force Unleashed, LucasArts will not only introduce a new chapter in the Star Wars saga, but also two completely new and innovative technologies — Digital Molecular Matter by Pixelux Entertainment and euphoria by NaturalMotion Ltd. These groundbreaking technologies combine with Havoc physics to create true next-gen gameplay and the Force like it’s never been seen or experienced before.
Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) by Pixelux Entertainment is exclusive to LucasArts for any game releases through September 2008. It brings an unprecedented level of realism to the new generation of consoles by making completely interactive environments that react as they would in real life. From crumbling walls to shattering glass and even swaying organic plant life, in-game objects have material properties that behave realistically all in real time and without using a single frame of animation.

If a structure exists — big or small, dense or thin, floppy or rigid — DMM causes it to react in the same way dictated by reality. For example, unlike what you’d see in games of the previous generation, wood doesn’t simply break apart along a predetermined seam every time — rather, it splinters into countless pieces from the exact point of impact, also taking into account the amount of sheer force exerted. The same rules apply to any substance imaginable: Rubber bends and snaps back into place. Glass shatters. Crystal fractures. Stone crumbles. Carbonite (yes, the very alloy that encased Han Solo) dents.

With DMM in action, a Jedi unleashes the Force like never before. His violent Force push hurtles a helpless stormtrooper through a stone column, blasting it apart. Moments later, the sudden lack of support causes the building to smash to the ground, piece by piece. Meanwhile, a virtual Jabba the Hutt presides over his court, as rolls of gelatinous fat bounce and jiggle thanks to a body composed of DMM.”