Golaem 9 released

Golaem has released Golaem 9, the latest version of its crowd simulation software.

Golaem 9 introduces universal joint rig animation support, direct animation replay, crowd levels for adding secondary simulations, and the beta ML Deformer which enables advanced character deformation in crowd scenes. Workflow and UI improvements are also part of this update, addressing feedback from users involved in major crowd productions.

The new animation engine in Golaem 9 supports any character animation with fewer constraints,. The software now supports direct FBX, USD, and BVH animation replay, allowing for easier motion playback and retargeting.

Enhanced features include 9-DOF animation support and modular rigs without secondary skeleton mapping, providing greater flexibility for creating advanced characters. The PlayMotion layer and CreateEntity Layer allow for character creation and animation without traditional simulation, offering more control over crowd shots.

Golaem 9 also introduces the Crowd Levels paradigm, enabling incremental shot building and detailed simulations like cloth or secondary animation. The software allows for non-destructive mixing of simulations, accommodating changes in shot compositions.

Additional features include track locator navigation for dynamic crowd control, foot locking for improved ground contact, a new LOD workflow for custom level-of-detail creation, and custom skeleton display options. The update also enhances the CHOPS node-based behavior tool with new attributes and detailed video tutorials.

Golaem 9 continues to support traffic simulation and flocking behaviors for a variety of scenarios, from cars to birds and insects. It includes advanced crowd character FX, such as skinned fur generation and GPU-accelerated cloth simulation, and offers compatibility with multiple software platforms, including Maya, Houdini, Unreal Engine, and others.

For more information, visit the Golaem website.