FAQ
Fun-Motion Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How often do you update the page?
Not as much as I used to, unfortunately. I’m working to return the site to regular update status.
Q: How do I suggest a physics game?
The easiest way is to email me at [email protected].
Q: What are you using to create game videos?
I’m using Fraps to capture the footage and Flash for encoding and playback.
Q: So just what is a physics game?
My personal definition of a physics game is a game where the player primarily interacts with the mechanics of a complex physics system. It’s a rough definition, I know, but I think it works well enough. By the very use of the word physics we are implying the games are somehow mimicking the behavior of real-world objects. Even so, games tend to split into two categories:
Real-World Activities
Some physics games are patterned after their real-world counterparts. One clear example is driving games, but other simulation games do the same: Ski Stunt Simulator (skiing), Trials (trials motorcycling), and so on.
Abstracted Activities
Other physics games embrace the behaviors that we all recognize as real-world physics: gravity, inertia, friction. But they do away with mimicking real-world activities. These games are more abstract in nature, such as a Breakquest or Gish.
Q: I’m a developer. Where can I find resources on programming physics games?
There are essentially two routes to go as a developer. You could utilize a pre-existing physics engine or create your own. There are pros and cons to each, depending on what you have in mind.
Physics Engines:
- Open Dynamics Engine (ODE) – Free
- Newton – Free
- Tokamak – Free
- Havok – Commercial
- Ageia – Commercial
- DynaMo – Free dynamic motion library (no collision detection)
Tutorials:
- GameDev.net – Physics tutorial index
- Chris Hecker – Rigid body dynamics tutorials
- N Tutorials – Metanet Software (2D collision and response)
[Questions will be added periodically–feel free to email me with suggestions!]
Related Posts:
- Frequently-Asked Questions
- Hardware Effects Physics vs. Gameplay Physics
- Play Physics Games? Like Taking Surveys?
- Ageia’s PhysX: Success or Failure?
- Privacy Policy
My name is Matthew Wegner, and this site is dedicated to physics games.
(4.24 out of 5)
on January 23rd, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Oops… I should have read the FAQ before posting you some suggestions :-)
on January 24th, 2006 at 9:54 am
Here’s a great, albeit mislabled, article on an easy and incredibly effective physics approach.
http://www.gamasutra.com/resource_guide/20030121/jacobson_pfv.htm
on January 24th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Do you have a prefered way that readers can submit/let you know about other physics-based games that are out there, for possible mention in your website?
on January 24th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
walaber: I added your question to the FAQ.
on August 21st, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Is there the possibility that you could release the list of the ~20 games you are going to review? Just the links? I’m really addicted to physics based games ;)
btw: thanks for all the work you made yourself!
on October 19th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Soo…any chance you can clearly state if games are mac compatible? I don’t like downloading a decent-looking game, then instantly moving it into my trash since I just realized it’s exe.
on October 19th, 2006 at 7:39 pm
I usually mention it at the bottom of a review, but you’re right–I should add in OS logos to the download links so it’s more clear.
BTW, every file I mirror on the server is Windows (I link to the official page if MacOS/Linux versions are available).
on November 24th, 2006 at 10:18 am
Why is it that some games I download don’t come with the folders that keep some of the necessary files to play? For example, I download all the files, but it doesn’t come with any folders, and it says it couldn’t find ‘blah.dll’ in the data folder.