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Why Is Physics Acceleration Important?
Anti-aliasing is so yesterday. Physics is the new "in" thing. Physics allows game developers to design games with more realistic environments.
Think of trees that can actually sway with the wind, and fabric that ripple and flow with movement. Smoke and fog can also be made to swirl around objects while dirt and debris can bounce off walls like they do in the real world. Virtual environments can become so much more immersive if objects behave according to the rules of physics, rather than have pre-determined effects applied to them.
Unfortunately, delivering physics in games is no easy task. The amount of mathematical and logical calculations required is tremendous, especially since it has to be delivered in real time. Before GPU acceleration was possible, the CPU had to handle any physics calculations in addition to AI (artificial intelligence).
What Can Game Physics Do?
Let's take a look at what some games are using physics for :
Cryostasis : Sleep of Reason |
Mirror's Edge |
Sacred 2 : Fallen Angel |
• Physically simulated water throughout the game |
• Physically simulated glass |
• Physically simulated spell particles |
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