Quote:Original post by gharen2Quote:Original post by Nathan Baum
Game: Nearly every space sim ever.
Feature: Outer space is full of water.
Comments: In the real world, outer space is nearly a vacuum. In the alternative universe which nearly every space sim ever is set in, outer space is filled with water. There is a top speed which is only a few km/s at best, and continuous thrust is required to maintain constant velocity.
I agree that realistic physics have merit, but I think for most people it also detracts from the "fun factor" of a game.
Does it really? Are football games with realistic ball physics unfun? Were the physics-based puzzles in Half-Life 2 unfun? I think when you say "unfun" you really mean "different".
Sure, people who are used to space shooters which are actually submarine sims might not enjoy a space shooter which is really set in space.
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Keeping track of physics in 3D space in the middle of a fast paced fight would be highly unfun.
That's why I propose we use a computer to do the physics calculations for us. [wink]
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Personally I think realistic physics should only be used in 2D space games, as the physics are easier to visualize.
Perhaps you're thinking of terrible 'space' maze games where you have to twist your ship around and carefully apply tiny amounts of thrust to stop your ship smashing into a wall? That is unfun. But space isn't actually filled with mazes, and even if it was nobody would really make a space ship with such a stupid control system.