Could a new Physics Engine Mean a New Era of Driving Games?

DefaultPrime's Lucas considers the impact of games implementing a newly developed soft-body physics engine for driving games. Could it be the next genre revolutionizing idea?

[dumahim]

That looks pretty awesome, but the crash details aren't going to be used to their fullest capabilities in GT or Forza as they have to limit the amount of damage to keep the manufacturers happy. It'd be perfect for fantasy cars though and would LOVE to see a new demo derby type game with this tech.

[kmanmx]

This tech is great, but it's not new. It's straight from a game called Rigs of Rods, and it's just softbody physics which as technically been around for quite a few years. This implementation though is almost certainly the best.

The reason you havn't seen it is because of the reason you said. No manufacturer will allow this. Also, it is both difficult, expensive and time consuming to create all these models with breakable, dentable parts.

And lastly, it's resource intensive. Crash more than 3 or so cars togever and even top end gaming PC's drop down to the 30fps or so mark. Current consoles put bluntly, don't have a damn chance.

[vortis]

You took the post right out of my fingertips.

Consoles struggle with simple physics of exploding glass and barrels, there's no way they can run a full game based on physics-based destruction.

The closest thing we'll get to that is Flatout. But hopefully when the new consoles arrive we can have fantasy racing games like the softbody physics demos.

[cannon8800]

If you guys are eager to try a game that uses this type of physics download this game

http://sourceforge.net/proj...

here's a video of the game in action if you want to see first before you download.

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Der_Kommandant]

Next gen is gonna be amazing!

[OhMyGandhi]

The last racing game that I got really excited for was "Split Second". I could only imagine how even MORE badass that game would be if it had incorporated a new physics engine.

[Hazmat13]

there is this thing called the "rigs of rod" i think or something like that it a this but with big rigs and even big planes its cool. or is this the same?