In case you didn't know, Havok - industry standard physics engine, is now free for use in your games, even if you plan to sell them:

http://www.havok.com/index.php?page=pro

Interesting, also Newton Game Dynamics went open source a few weeks ago. I guess competition is pretty tough in the physics middleware sector. Personally I still stick to open source software, that way you know the rules won't change again in the future

I doubt it will, it is actually sponsored by Intel now. That is the reason it is free. Intel decided to manage a deal to give it for everyone for game purposes

Mimi is working with Havok for his final year project (his dissertation they call it but it's a first degree). Annoying thing is that they are canceling the post-graduate work visas (UK) apparently just before he graduates so he needs a sponsorship/job :/

I guess they might have been inspired by AMD's decision to support Bullet and get Pixelux available for free. But it all works out well for us. I don't know enough about physics to have real opineons on which are better though.

And yeah, I heard the UK visa system was changing. A combination of new government and poor economy I think.