Physics Games and AGS

[Stupot]

Sorry if I'm neglecting something, but I'm trying to think and  I can't recall there being much, if anything, in the way of 'physics games' on AGS.  Has anyone tried having a go at making one?  AGS is pretty powerful, I'm sure it could cope with some interesting physics-based puzzles (such This one I've been playing.

[Gilbert]

I cannot think of one atm, but one problem is that AGS uses bitmapped graphics (as opposed to vector graphics of Flash) and so physics games may not look as good (there're usually effects such as sprite scaling, rotating and stretching, etc. that in general look better in a polycrapal or a vector setup).

[Wonkyth]

At one point Radiant was attempting to make an Incredible Machine clone in AGS, but for some reason - I forget why - he wasn't able to finish it.

[Monsieur OUXX]

I can't recall any names, but here are some leads for you :
- Someone made a rope's physics tech demo at some stage
- Someone (Radiant, I believe) developed a lot of vector-graphics-oriented code (espcially for the game vector vendetta)
- The "tween" module can be seen as a set of tools for interpolation, which comes very handy for physics.
- You can find a whole lot of "particule effect" modules, which are litterally toolboxes for gravity algorithms.

If you put all that together you can get something pretty powerful and already quite optimized.

[Technocrat]

Well, it's not a puzzle game, but 1st Drop has gravity involved!

[Radiant]

Yes, that was me on both accounts. Vector Vendetta is in my sig and is the first AGS game with zero sprites. Lenny the Labrat is a draft of an Incredible Machine clone, also on my website; it's primarily a proof of concept, and put on indefinite hold in favor of other projects.

[m0ds]

Some basic physics in Space Pool Alpha and Road Racer, surely? If collisions and bouncing count

[Ryan Timothy B]

Nah, I completely cheated with Road Racer. Pretty much just an acceleration force and a deceleration force and rotation.

[Igor Hardy]

Nah, I completely cheated with Road Racer.

Cheating should still count - maybe you just created a sci-fi alien world with different physics!

[Ryan Timothy B]

What I mean is they aren't realistic physics by any means. I faked it. There is no engine rpm speed, tire slip, side forces, etc etc.
I believe Stupot is looking for 'realistic' physics.

[Wyz]

Yet I can be done. You can use normal objects at give physics to them as is done with some of the platform games made with AGS.

But I have to agree with Gilbet about rotating sprites. If you wan't real physics things also need to roll, and the build in rotation function does not do anti-alias. But isn't there a module/plugin that gives a cleaner rotation?

Well it might be heavy on the CPU if you have a lot of sprites, but you could use some tricks, or use vector drawing. But I still have the feeling it can be done and have acceptable efficiency.

[Calin Leafshade]

doesnt the D3D ags engine rotate sprites nicely?

surely it filters them the same as it does when it scales.

[Ryan Timothy B]

You mean running the game with the Direct3D graphics driver?
I've rotated a few dynamic sprites before and tested if they use AA with D3D vs DirectDraw. It does not, I'm afraid.