Intel buys Havok

AMD bought ATI.

Intel did not buy Nvidia, but for some reason, many folks think they did (it was just a cross-licensing partnership, kids).

Then *BAM!* Intel buys Havok, makers of the gold-standard for physics engines (hard to argue), character behavior (maybe arguable), and animation (arguable).

AMD? Your turn.

What does this mean?

For Intel, it represents a significant additional revenue stream, as Havok's technology is used in top-tier games (BioShock, Stranglehold, Halo 2, Half Life 2, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Crackdown, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, MotorStorm, etc.) and movies (Poseidon, The Matrix, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.).

Practically, for gamers, the purchase may not much. I mean, Intel says "Havok will operate its business as usual", but there is the upside that they will be able to "take advantage of Intel's innovation and technology leadership".

To be honest, despite the happy happy press intonations, I think Intel does do a better job than a lot of folks with their driver releases and robustness, so the Havok acquisition may additionally benefit gamers on that front as well.