Digital Molecular Matter
Encyclopedia
Digital Molecular Matter, better known as simply DMM, is a proprietary middleware
physics engine
developed by Pixelux. It is designed for computer, video games, and other simulation needs by attempting to simulate physical real-world systems. Unlike traditional realtime simulation engines which tend to be based on rigid body kinematics, the use of FEA allows DMM to simulate a large set of physical properties. Developers can assign physical properties to a given object (or portion of an object) which allow the object to behave as it would in the real world (e.g. ice, gummy bear, etc.) In addition the properties of objects (or even just parts of objects) can be changed at runtime allowing for additional interesting effects.
DMM can be authored or used in Maya
or 3ds Max to create simulation-based visual effects.
's Windows
, Xbox 360
, Sony
's PlayStation 3
, Apple's Mac OS X
, and Linux
.
's Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
, and was used again for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
.
Plugins for Autodesk Media & Entertainment's 3ds Max and Maya
animation software are also available. The plugin for Maya is included built in to Maya 2012.
DMM has been integrated with Gamebryo
, Trinigy Vision Engine
, Irrlicht
, OGRE
, and other game engines.
Several movies have made use of DMM for generating offline special effects. These include "Avatar", "Sucker Punch", and "Source Code". The Moving Picture Company has integrated DMM into their internal software pipeline known as Kali.
(TFU) project. The FEM system in DMM utilized an algorithm for fracture and deformation developed by University of California, Berkeley
professor, James F. O'Brien
, as part of his Ph.D. thesis. The O'Brien algorithm was refined, optimized and implemented into the DMM middleware by a team led by Eric Parker, the CTO of Pixelux. The DMM tools pipeline was designed and implemented by a team led by Mitchell Bunnell, the CEO of Pixelux.
An ARM version of DMM was incorporated by Pixelux into their DMM Touch iPhone/iPad product.
A version of the DMM Plug-In is included by Autodesk in their release of Maya 2012. The DMM Plug-In runs on all versions of Maya on all platforms in both 32 and 64-bit mode.
Since integrating DMM Technology into their custom "Kali" destruction engine, MPC has produced shots for the movie Sucker Punch
. The Kali destruction pipeline and shots performed with it are described in Cinefex Magazine
, issue 125. Of note was MPC's desire to use a simulation system that accurately captured the flexing of breaking wood for the Giant Samurai Battle . An interview with the VFX Supervisor, John "DJ" DesJardin on the site Animation World Network
titled "Stitching Together Sucker Punch" also discusses the use of DMM in Kali
A tweet by Pixelux Entertainment on April 2nd revealed that DMM was also used by MPC for destruction VFX shots in the movie Source Code
Middleware
Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...
physics engine
Physics engine
A physics engine is computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain physical systems, such as rigid body dynamics , soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics, of use in the domains of computer graphics, video games and film. Their main uses are in video games , in which case the...
developed by Pixelux. It is designed for computer, video games, and other simulation needs by attempting to simulate physical real-world systems. Unlike traditional realtime simulation engines which tend to be based on rigid body kinematics, the use of FEA allows DMM to simulate a large set of physical properties. Developers can assign physical properties to a given object (or portion of an object) which allow the object to behave as it would in the real world (e.g. ice, gummy bear, etc.) In addition the properties of objects (or even just parts of objects) can be changed at runtime allowing for additional interesting effects.
DMM can be authored or used in Maya
Maya (software)
Autodesk Maya , commonly shortened to Maya, is 3D computer graphics software that runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive 3D applications, including video...
or 3ds Max to create simulation-based visual effects.
Platform availability
DMM is available and optimized for MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
's Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
, Apple's Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
.
Function
DMM is a physical simulation system which models the material properties of objects allowing them to break and bend in accordance to the stress placed on them. Structures modeled with DMM can break and bend if they are not physically viable. Objects made of glass, steel, stone and jelly are all possible to create and simulate in real-time with DMM. The system accomplishes this by mimicking the effects of stress on real molecular matter. Objects react to stimuli in ways simulating the breaking effects of wood, glass, and semi-permeable substances in real time based on observations of their effects in real-world physics.Use
DMM has been used in LucasArtsLucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
's Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a multimedia project developed by LucasArts along with Dark Horse Comics, Lego, Hasbro, and Del Rey Books...
, and was used again for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II is LucasArts' sequel to 2008's Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game. A trailer announcing the game was shown December 12, 2009, at the Spike Video Game Awards. The game was released across multiple platforms in October 2010, along with a collectors edition of...
.
Plugins for Autodesk Media & Entertainment's 3ds Max and Maya
Maya (software)
Autodesk Maya , commonly shortened to Maya, is 3D computer graphics software that runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive 3D applications, including video...
animation software are also available. The plugin for Maya is included built in to Maya 2012.
DMM has been integrated with Gamebryo
Gamebryo
Gamebryo is a game engine, originally from Numerical Design Limited , and the successor to NDL's NetImmerse engine.Since the creation of Gamebryo, NDL merged into Emergent Game Technologies...
, Trinigy Vision Engine
Trinigy
Trinigy is an independent company focusing on the development of advanced 3D graphics technology with its headquarters based in Southern Germany, with offices in Austin, TX and Seoul, South Korea....
, Irrlicht
Irrlicht Engine
Irrlicht is an open source 3D engine written in C++. It is cross-platform, officially running on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Windows CE and due to its open nature ports to other systems are available, including Xbox, PlayStation Portable, SymbianOS and iPhone.Irrlicht is known for its small size...
, OGRE
OGRE
OGRE is a scene-oriented, flexible 3D rendering engine written in C++ designed to make it easier and intuitive for developers to produce applications utilizing hardware-accelerated 3D graphics...
, and other game engines.
Several movies have made use of DMM for generating offline special effects. These include "Avatar", "Sucker Punch", and "Source Code". The Moving Picture Company has integrated DMM into their internal software pipeline known as Kali.
Development
The DMM tools and middleware were developed by Pixelux Entertainment over a 6.5 year period starting in 2004. From 2005 through 2008, Pixelux' DMM technology was exclusive to LucasArts Entertainment as a part of the Star Wars: The Force UnleashedStar Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a multimedia project developed by LucasArts along with Dark Horse Comics, Lego, Hasbro, and Del Rey Books...
(TFU) project. The FEM system in DMM utilized an algorithm for fracture and deformation developed by University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
professor, James F. O'Brien
James F. O'Brien
James F. O'Brien is a computer graphics researcher and associate professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.-Education:...
, as part of his Ph.D. thesis. The O'Brien algorithm was refined, optimized and implemented into the DMM middleware by a team led by Eric Parker, the CTO of Pixelux. The DMM tools pipeline was designed and implemented by a team led by Mitchell Bunnell, the CEO of Pixelux.
An ARM version of DMM was incorporated by Pixelux into their DMM Touch iPhone/iPad product.
A version of the DMM Plug-In is included by Autodesk in their release of Maya 2012. The DMM Plug-In runs on all versions of Maya on all platforms in both 32 and 64-bit mode.
Technology partners and usage by companies
Notable companies using the technology include:- AutodeskAutodeskAutodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
(software) - AMD (chip maker)
- NVIDIANVIDIANvidia is an American global technology company based in Santa Clara, California. Nvidia is best known for its graphics processors . Nvidia and chief rival AMD Graphics Techonologies have dominated the high performance GPU market, pushing other manufacturers to smaller, niche roles...
(video cards etc.) - LucasArtsLucasArtsLucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
(digital art) - Moving Picture CompanyMoving Picture CompanyThe Moving Picture Company is a post production facility creating digital visual effects and computer animation for feature films, commercials, music videos and television...
(VFX House) - VandoStudio - Terminix Flying Monster and Terminix Beams commercials - Destruction Shots with DMM
Since integrating DMM Technology into their custom "Kali" destruction engine, MPC has produced shots for the movie Sucker Punch
Sucker Punch (film)
Sucker Punch is a 2011 action-fantasy thriller film, directed by Zack Snyder and co-written by him and Steve Shibuya. It is Snyder's first film based on an original script. The film stars Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, and Oscar Isaac...
. The Kali destruction pipeline and shots performed with it are described in Cinefex Magazine
Cinefex
Cinefex is a quarterly professional movie special effects magazine. It is among the first dedicated special effects magazines ever produced, at a time where computer generated imagery effects were not as common....
, issue 125. Of note was MPC's desire to use a simulation system that accurately captured the flexing of breaking wood for the Giant Samurai Battle . An interview with the VFX Supervisor, John "DJ" DesJardin on the site Animation World Network
Animation World Network
Animation World Network is an organization for animators, with an extensive website with news, articles and links for professional animators and animation fans. AWN also publishes a printed journal, "Animation World"....
titled "Stitching Together Sucker Punch" also discusses the use of DMM in Kali
A tweet by Pixelux Entertainment on April 2nd revealed that DMM was also used by MPC for destruction VFX shots in the movie Source Code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...