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[[File:Animus.png|thumb|The Animus|300px]]
[[File:Animus.jpg|thumb|The Animus.|300px]]The '''Animus''' (Latin for "mind") is a machine, developed by [[Abstergo Industries]], to read a subject's [[genetic memory]], and, from it, create a simulation of the ancestor's life that the subject can interact with, "playing" as the ancestor.
The '''Animus''' is a machine that has been developed by [[Abstergo Industries|Abstergo Industries]], and it is used to decode genetic memory in order to produce a visual simulation.
Genetic memory is the accumulated memory of one's ancestors that is encoded in your DNA. The Animus simply decodes intuitive processes of life within animals, such as how birds know where to migrate to or how animals know how to reproduce. The memories generated by the Animus are those that cause people and animals to have unaccounted experience and intuition for.  


When the Animus' structure is first seen, it looks like a regular bed with blue lights in circular motifs. There is a machine under the bed that runs Desmond's experiences, and it appears to release a large amount of heat through the vents surrounding the machine. At one point it apparently overheats (though this may have been a deliberate stall on Lucy's part), visually represented by the blue elements, glowing orange instead. Despite the foolproof design of the machine, the user must first have a stable mental synchronization with the ancestor to allow the memory to be simulated.
==Use==
A subject lies on top of the Animus, placing his head in the intended location.  A circular glass screen opens around his head. This screen serves as a display for the Animus's menus.


[[Desmond Miles]] uses this machine to control his ancestor [[Altair]] throughout the game. Every time he uses the machine, he is able to see a simulation of Altair through a glass interface in front of himself. However it is unclear as to what Desmond actually does in there, he is meant to be reading his ancestors memory but he also has control over the simulation which doesn't make much sense. The speculation is that this interactive play that Desmond experiences is a sort of way of synchronizing him with Altair and that the real memories are seen through the cut scenes where you'll find that his interactive powers are striped to just walking around.
The subject selects a memory to play, and the Animus's simulation begins. The glass screen is not used for the simulation- it appears that the simulation is actually projected into the subject's head.  The subject appears to control the character in the simulation by thought. The game manual hints that the Animus is controlled by a video game controller, but that is probably just be a bit of foolery to explain why they're writing the manual.


The Animus is run much like a futuristic computer. It features a tutorial for teaching subjects about the Animus and how to use it. It also stores memory information (like letters, maps, etc.) and some of Altair's thoughts that may be useful in assassinations. The onboard computer has it's own female voice of sorts which offers useful tip in loading scenes and the tutorial. A strange thing that seems to happen whilst the Animus is reading memory is that it experiences "Glitches" which allows the perspective of the player to temporarily change to a closer and better view during cut scenes.    
===Synchronization===
{{main|Synchronization}}
As the subject interacts with the simulation, his actions must remain Synchronized with those of his the ancestor whose memories are being reenacted. Important events in the ancestor's life must be recreated by the subject in the simulation. Failure to do so, or otherwise straying from the "path", will result in a loss of [[Synchronization]].  Too much Synchronization loss, and the entire simulation must restart from an earlier point.


== Possible Upgrades ==
Synchronization is measured by a bar on the top left of the HUD.
When the gameplay trailer of [[Assassin's Creed II]] was first seen at E3, it appears as if two major changes have been done to the Animus. For example, when Ezio assassinates the target, the screen and HUD seem to 'melt' away to the scene where Altaïr/Ezio talks to the target. Also, the 'talk' scene is also different, as in the first game, the scene was an icy blue, but in the sequel, it appears to be a white color. These could all be the result of an upgrade or modifacation to the Animus machine, or it could be a new program installed in the Animus, such as the 'Jump' program. Another possible change is the logo. The first logo consisted of three lines meeting together in the center. The new logo, as seen on the Assassin's Creed Official Website, looks almost like three layers of triangles. These changes will all most likely be revealed at the beginning of Assassin's Creed II.
 
===Genetic memory===
{{main|Genetic memory}}
Genetic memory is the accumulated memory of a person's ancestors, encoded in his DNA.  While the theory is controversial in real life, it is evidently true in the ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'' world, as otherwise, the Animus would not work.
 
==Physical characteristics==
The animus is colored chrome, with blue lights in some places.  On top of the Animus is a metallic bed, where the subject lies as his genetic memory is read. A computer under the bed runs a simulation of the subject's genetic memory.  There is a glass screen that opens around the subject's head, to display the menus of the Animus.
 
The Animus releases a large amount of heat. At one point it apparently overheats, although this may have been a deliberate stall on [[Lucy]]'s part.  When it overheated, the blue lights began flashing orange instead.
 
==In ''Assassin's Creed II''==
In the first gameplay trailer for ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', it appears that the Animus has gone through major revisions. These appear to be the result of an upgrade to the Animus, or its software.  
 
When [[Ezio]] assassinates a target, the screen and HUD seem to 'melt' away to the death cutscene. The 'talk' scene is also different, as in the first game, the scene was an icy blue, but in the sequel, it appears to be a white color. The Animus's logo appears to have changed too. The first logo consisted of three lines coming together in the center. The new logo, as seen on the [http://assassinscreed.us.ubi.com/assassins-creed-2/ official website], is a [[Wikipedia:Penrose triangle|Penrose triangle]].


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*The word Animus is Latin for mind.
*The word Animus is Latin for mind.
{{AC}}
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Revision as of 10:31, 13 July 2009

File:Animus.jpg
The Animus.

The Animus (Latin for "mind") is a machine, developed by Abstergo Industries, to read a subject's genetic memory, and, from it, create a simulation of the ancestor's life that the subject can interact with, "playing" as the ancestor.

Use

A subject lies on top of the Animus, placing his head in the intended location. A circular glass screen opens around his head. This screen serves as a display for the Animus's menus.

The subject selects a memory to play, and the Animus's simulation begins. The glass screen is not used for the simulation- it appears that the simulation is actually projected into the subject's head. The subject appears to control the character in the simulation by thought. The game manual hints that the Animus is controlled by a video game controller, but that is probably just be a bit of foolery to explain why they're writing the manual.

Synchronization

Main article: Synchronization

As the subject interacts with the simulation, his actions must remain Synchronized with those of his the ancestor whose memories are being reenacted. Important events in the ancestor's life must be recreated by the subject in the simulation. Failure to do so, or otherwise straying from the "path", will result in a loss of Synchronization. Too much Synchronization loss, and the entire simulation must restart from an earlier point.

Synchronization is measured by a bar on the top left of the HUD.

Genetic memory

Main article: Genetic memory

Genetic memory is the accumulated memory of a person's ancestors, encoded in his DNA. While the theory is controversial in real life, it is evidently true in the Assassin's Creed world, as otherwise, the Animus would not work.

Physical characteristics

The animus is colored chrome, with blue lights in some places. On top of the Animus is a metallic bed, where the subject lies as his genetic memory is read. A computer under the bed runs a simulation of the subject's genetic memory. There is a glass screen that opens around the subject's head, to display the menus of the Animus.

The Animus releases a large amount of heat. At one point it apparently overheats, although this may have been a deliberate stall on Lucy's part. When it overheated, the blue lights began flashing orange instead.

In Assassin's Creed II

In the first gameplay trailer for Assassin's Creed II, it appears that the Animus has gone through major revisions. These appear to be the result of an upgrade to the Animus, or its software.

When Ezio assassinates a target, the screen and HUD seem to 'melt' away to the death cutscene. The 'talk' scene is also different, as in the first game, the scene was an icy blue, but in the sequel, it appears to be a white color. The Animus's logo appears to have changed too. The first logo consisted of three lines coming together in the center. The new logo, as seen on the official website, is a Penrose triangle.

Trivia

  • The word Animus is Latin for mind.
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