Game-physics for beginners

Have you ever wondered how to get started on writing your own “physics-engine” ? No matter if it is supposed to be for a game, for a simulation or just for fun – this series of tutorials probably is what you have been looking for!

An introduction to the subject

In modern commercial videogames, movies and simulations, physics has become quite important for the realistic modelling of many natural process.

But modelling physics is not restricted to modern 3D-Shooters or high performance CPUs/GPUs/PPUs (processors). Everybody can get a hand on it! And with Adobe’s ActionScript3 there exists a powerful tool that allows you to see results quite quickly!

Assuming little knowledge of physics, but a good mathematical understanding and at least some programming background (preferably in Adobe’s AS3/Flex/Flash), this series of tutorials is intended for those who are curious to sneak a peak into how one can approach:

Modelling 2D game-physics from scratch.

It is of course only one approach and there are dozens of others out there (including complete, ready-to-use physics-engines). Also, the author is still learning himself.

When I was trying to get a start on game-physics myself, I didn’t really find a good beginners tutorial. I don’t know if there aren’t any out there or if I just looked at the wrong places, but I hope that this series of tutorials will help others to get a start on those physics!

The way I think about this series of tutorial is that it does not really matter what you particularly have in mind for your game or simulation. Its more of a general approach. I think the most important thing for every beginner is to do something, to somehow see something physical going on on their screen in case of game-physics. So that’s the spirit!

How to get started?

A few points on how to get started:

• Get to grips with AS3  – Adobe ActionScript3 (or your preferred programming language)
• Maybe dug out this dusty physics-textbook and flip a few pages
• Read this series of tutorials, implement, and enjoy

Oh, and don’t get frustrated if stuff seems complicated here and there. After all this is modelling physics. At least at some point it will involve serious physics, maths and computer science (probably up to first year university level). It is a beginners tutorial, but a beginners tutorial about quite challenging material. So never forget:

“Modelling physics is no ponyranch!”

After these warning words, if you’re still curious about modelling 2D game-physics from scratch, lets gets started with the first tutorial, part i.

Please feel free to comment.