Irish software company Havok has won an Emmy award for its physics engine which makes computer games more realistic, writes John Collins.

This is the first year that the US National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences included a category to recognise games in its technology and engineering Emmy awards.

The award, which was voted on by a panel of games publishers and developers, was presented at an awards ceremony in Las Vegas as part of the Consumer Electronics Show taking place in the city.

"I wouldn't say we were surprised to win because it is a reflection of our achievements to date," said Havok chief executive David O'Meara. "I think it's deserved."

Havok's physics engine, which makes interaction in computer games more like the real world, has been used in some of the top-selling games of 2007, including Halo 3, Assassin's Creed and Guitar Hero III.

Havok's other products have also been used to create special effects in a number of Hollywood films, including The Matrix, Troy, Poseidon and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Last September Havok was wholly acquired by chipmaker Intel. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but Intel is believed to have paid $110 million (€74.7 million) for Havok. Prior to that Havok's backers included Trinity Venture Capital, Bank of Scotland (Ireland), Enterprise Ireland and technology entrepreneur Jim Mountjoy.

Accounts for its parent company, Telekinesys Research, show that Havok had turnover of $12.1 million (€8.15 million) in 2006. The company reported an operating profit of $2.8 million but this translated to a pretax profit of just $100,263 due to a loss on foreign exchange and finance charges related to preference shares.

The company does the bulk of its business in the US, where game developers including Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft and Pandemic Studios are among its customers.

Havok was founded in Trinity College Dublin in 1998 by computer science lecturers Steve Collins and Hugh Reynolds.