Tremulous Forum

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: OverFlow on June 30, 2003, 05:51:11 am

Title: An Idea...
Post by: OverFlow on June 30, 2003, 05:51:11 am

How about ragdoll deaths?  Sure it would be really really really hard to program, but it sure would be fun.  Most models already have skeletons in them for animation, so that wouldn't be an issue.  But I have this feeling that programming it would be near, if not entirely, impossible.  Thoughts on the subject Timbo?  

Hopefully this isn't the worst idea ever...

Title: An Idea...
Post by: Godmil on July 01, 2003, 12:37:22 am

Mmmm, that could push back the release date just long enough for me to finish my map  :-?

Nice Idea overflow  :D

Title: An Idea...
Post by: Timbo on July 01, 2003, 03:23:42 am

Animation in Q3 is frame (or vertex) based meaning that for each keyframe a complete configuration of the model is stored in the md3. In other words the skeleton in 3DSMAX, Lightwave or whatever is only used for the purposes of animation -- once the model is in game there is no concept of the skeleton.

However, there remains an effective skeleton in the form of the legs, upper and head seperation of standard Q3A models that you could potentially peturb in a rag doll fashion. Of course it's relatively trivial to subdivide the model further (programmatically) into many regions but animation of such a model will quickly become unworkable practically and aesthetically in the sense that each seperate part is "disconnected" from one another. That and the obvious issue that special player models would be required.

The physics behind rag doll simulations aren't as complex as you might think requiring relatively simple rigid body dynamics. I'm not sure it's really worth it to be honest though since you won't get flailing limbs -- the stuff that makes rag doll simulations cool.  :-?

Title: An Idea...
Post by: OverFlow on July 01, 2003, 05:55:26 am

oh well, although I bet this mod would get pretty famous if it was some how able to get that working nicely...

Title: An Idea...
Post by: M123 on July 10, 2003, 12:43:50 am

Maybe texture based footsteps, would be a nice idea. Walk on metal and you hear metal footsteps. Might help create atmosphere.

Title: An Idea...
Post by: OverFlow on July 10, 2003, 11:18:33 pm

accually, I think thats already being done...but Timbo or Dolby would know more about that...

Title: An Idea...
Post by: Godmil on July 13, 2003, 01:32:27 am

Yeah, I just noticed this a few days ago, thats already a feature of Q3.. cool eh  :D