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Game physics



 
 
Computer animation physics or game physics involves the introduction of the laws of physics into a simulation or game engine, particularly in 3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics

3D computer graphics are graphics that use a Cartesian coordinate system#Three-dimensional coordinate system representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images....
, for the purpose of making the effects appear more real to the observer. Typically simulation physics is only a close approximation to real physics, and computation is performed using discrete values.

There are several elements that form components of simulation physics:



mmon aspect of computer games that model some type of conflict is the explosion.






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Computer animation physics or game physics involves the introduction of the laws of physics into a simulation or game engine, particularly in 3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics

3D computer graphics are graphics that use a Cartesian coordinate system#Three-dimensional coordinate system representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images....
, for the purpose of making the effects appear more real to the observer. Typically simulation physics is only a close approximation to real physics, and computation is performed using discrete values.

There are several elements that form components of simulation physics:

  • Physics engine
    Physics engine

    A physics engine is a computer program that simulates Newtonian physics models, using variables such as mass, velocity, friction and wind resistance....
     is program code that is used to simulate Newtonian physics within the environment.
  • Collision detection
    Collision detection

    In physical simulations, video games and computational geometry, collision detection involves algorithms for checking for collision, i.e. intersection, of two given solids....
     is used to solve the problem of determining when any two or more physical objects in the environment cross each other's path.


Particle systems

A common aspect of computer games that model some type of conflict is the explosion. Early computer games used the simple expediency of repeating the same explosion in each circumstance. However, in the real world an explosion can vary depending on the terrain, altitude of the explosion, and the type of solid bodies being impacted.

Depending on the processing power available, the effects of the explosion can be modeled as the split and shattered components propelled by the expanding gas. This is modeled by means of a particle system
Particle system

The term particle system refers to a 3D computer graphics technique to simulate certain fuzzy phenomena, which are otherwise very hard to reproduce with conventional rendering techniques....
 simulation. A particle system model allows a variety of other physical phenomena to be simulated, including smoke
Smoke

File:Bling-Bling Skywriting David Shankbone.jpgSmoke is the collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrainment or otherwise mixed into the mass....
, moving water
Water

Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or States of matter, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam....
, precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)

File:MeanMonthlyP.gifIn meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of Atmosphere water vapor that is deposited on the earth's surface....
, and so forth.

The individual particles within the system are modeled using the other elements of the physics simulation rules, with the limitation that the number of particles that can be simulated is restricted by the computing power of the hardware. Thus explosions may need to be modeled as a small set of large particles, rather than the more accurate huge number of fine particles.

Ragdoll physics

This is a procedural animation
Procedural animation

A procedural animation is a type of computer animation, used to automatically generate animations in real-time to allow for a more diverse series of actions than could otherwise be created using predefined animations....
 and simulation technique to display the movement of a creature when slain. It treats the character's body as a series of rigid bones connected together with hinges at the joints. The simulation models what happens to the body as it collapses to the ground.

More sophisticated physics models of creature movement and collision interactions require greater level of computing power and a more accurate simulation of solids, liquids, and hydrodynamics. The modeled articulated systems can then reproduce the effects of skeleton
Skeleton

In biology, a skeleton is a rigid framework that provides protection and structure in many types of animal, particularly those of the phylum Chordata and of the superphylum Ecdysozoa....
, muscle
MUSCLE

MUSCLE is public domain, multiple sequence alignment software for protein and nucleotide sequences.MUSCLE is integrated into UGENE bioinformatics tool as a plugin....
s, tendon
Tendon

A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension . Tendons are similar to ligaments except that ligaments join one bone to another....
s, and other physiological
Physiology

Physiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. Physiology has traditionally been divided between plant physiology and animal and all living things physiology but the principles of physiology are universal, no matter what particular organism is being studied....
 components.

Books


See also

  • Cartoon physics
    Cartoon physics

    Cartoon physics is a joking reference to the fact that animation allows regular physical law to be ignored in humour ways for dramatic effects. For example, when a cartoon character runs off a cliff, gravitation has no effect until the character notices and reacts....
  • Physics engine
    Physics engine

    A physics engine is a computer program that simulates Newtonian physics models, using variables such as mass, velocity, friction and wind resistance....


External links

This library is royalty-free for hobby use and an inexpensive alternative for commercial developers. The Physics Engine is a new effort in games/animation physics simulation. Newton is a free physics engine for commercial and hobby use, supports multiple platforms, SDK is contained as well. 2D physics engine, with C, C++, Ruby APIs and a 3rd party python API, open source. Vortex is a commercial physics engine for visual-simulation and games that demand higher fidelity and validation Bullet Physics Engine
Bullet (software)

Bullet is an open source software multi-threaded 3D Collision Detection, Soft Body and Rigid Body Dynamics Library . It is published under the zlib license making it free for commercial use....
 is an open source physics engine free for commercial use, including Playstation 3
PlayStation 3

The PlayStation 3 is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation ....
. is a 2D physics engine, with C++ and Ruby APIs. It is open source and allows commercial use. (Dax Phyz) is a public domain, 2D physics engine with built-in editor, soft-body dynamics, Lisp interpreter and DirectX graphics and sound. contains a comprehensive list of physics engines and links to game physics resources. is a fast 3D physics game engine. Dein Portal rund um Physik-/Sandbox-Spiele und Programme.