Deborah R. Fowler
Houdini in Games
Posted on Dec 11 2013
Updated on March 3 2020
To install SideFX Labs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmTORjg6q9s
Houdini Game Engine
- A really excellent introduction to using
the Houdini Game Engine by sidefx
https://vimeo.com/228234352 - install Unreal, then install Houdini and make sure to check that the plug-in is available (under edit/plug-ins) as per the instruction at http://www.sidefx.com/docs/unreal/_getting_started.html
- When installing the Houdini Game Engine (api) - be sure that you have a compatible version of Unreal and Houdini (for the moment I am using Unreal 4.20.3 to be consistent with Houdini 17.0.352.
- unfortunately Houdini Game Engine is not available in apprentice but is available in Indie and Commercial
- install Unreal first, then install Houdini - if the plug-in does not appear in your Unreal session you may need to copy the files over manually into C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UE_4.20\Engine\Plugins\Runtime\HoudiniEngine\ from C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 17.0.352\engine\unreal\4.20\HoudiniEngine\ (I tried 3 installs and it did not "automatically" copy - this was advice from a forum post)
- the above video has clear steps of loading your hda into unreal and updating it (force cooking or "building" - it is not realtime, but is great for level design)
- be sure to use instances (pack and instance checkbox)
- Once in + on the tool to access game dev tools (checkbox in the list), restart
- You can bring in animation by exporting an fbx (there is a game shelf tool), then bring it into unreal, drag it on, then drag animation, for a destruction it brings it in as bones
Example using Mocap for Fun Python Exercise
Links of Interest
- Houdini
at GDC 2019
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MgUEbfrjXA
(Gameloft
houdini)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9_HGihCWGE
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCcmwdrSTvM&t=202s
- IMPORTANT
Documentation
for creating and importing a HDA into Unreal 4
- Houdini Games & VR Reel 2017
- Houdini
at GDC 2018 (week of March 19th)
- Houdini at GDC 2017
- Houdini at GDC 2016
- Houdini Engine for
Unity and Unreal Engine by Robert Magee
- Realtime FX with
Houdini by Scad Alumni Steven Burrichter
- Thinking Procedurally
with Houdini by Scott Keating
Procedural Game Environment Design Practices for Visual Effects Artists - by Jennifer McSpadden
From 2012:
- FxGuide at Siggraph Asia 2012 - Dec issue - see how Houdini is being used for data in games in a new way! (Thanks to Zak DiMaria for pointing this out).
- Freek Hoekstra's Siggraph
2012 procedural city generation for games - click here.