All (action)games I know of don’t have real and proper surface collision detection, except some physics games. Just an example: If my Char hits something or someone the weapon goes straight through without any physical reaction, it just counts the damage I’ve done. Are there any games out there, in which physics are calculated correctly and taken into visual account?!
To add another point to the discussion: a lot (the majority?) of “fake” collision detection isn’t there because of hardware limitations. It’s there by design.
Take a look at 2d platformers. They’re about as computationally simple as you can get. Yet they’re still full of “unrealistic” physics. Coyote time, double jumping, air control, collision boxes that don’t match the sprite, gravity isn’t consistent, you don’t stagger if you slam into the wall or floor, etc, etc. This is on purpose, because realistic does not mean fun. “Realism” is not a magical word that makes games better.
There have been games where, to use your example, your character’s sword bounces off anything it hits, rather than clipping through. The reason most games choose not to do this is because it’s usually pretty annoying. The game’s intended experience is most often to let you play as a badass experienced warrior. The kind of person who doesn’t fumble their blows.
Realism is just another tool in the designer’s toolbox. An example of more “realistic” physics being used deliberately is Shadow of the Colossus. If you swing your sword at a wall, it bounces off, and your character staggers back clumsily. This is because the game is specifically about playing a character who is not a badass, but an inexperienced nobody.
NONE_dc@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Well, you already say it: physics games. They NEEDS to be accurate with their collision detection since they relay on it to the game to be fun. The majority of action games don’t need such accuracy cuz THAT IS NOT FUN. You know how frustrating is to swing your sword in a narrow passage in Dark Souls to it to bounce on the walls?
Also, is a extremely demanding process to calculate such precise collisions.
embed_me@programming.dev 1 month ago
If some geniuses do invent a robust framework for physics based combat which results in realistic sword swings unlike Dark Souls’ bounce/no-bounce mechanic, it will be very fun
The damage could be calculated depending on how powerful the swing was and where it hit the enemy. I fantasize about this often
echodot@feddit.uk 1 month ago
Go play Chivalry then.
It’s fun because of all the extra role playing stuff, the actual combat is slightly frustrating because of how slow it is. Most humans cannot wield a long sword in a very efficient manner. If you swing and miss it takes time to correct, time to compensate for momentum, by which point somebody’s probably stabbed you in the eye with a little knife.
Or you just get by an arrow because the sword is so heavy you can’t move quickly.
skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Exanima does this.
Its a little bit half baked right now but it’s been under construction for the better part of a decade. I think the plan now is to use Exanima as a proof of concept and then pivot that technology into a “real” game. But I find it very fun in its current state and does exactly what you’re asking for.
ArtikBanana@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Check out Exanima.
There’s a nice video of theirs showcasing some complex object collisions - www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9-ihvHJdJE
And some neat cloth physics at about 14:25
NONE_dc@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Sound good, but it would be more suitable to VR games where you can be more precise to where to attack and how.
lemba@discuss.tchncs.de 1 month ago
Maybe you’re right. So, IMHO, there seems to be a niche for a game with a sweet spot between accurate physics and fun?
unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 1 month ago
The niche isnt there because its not really practical. No consumer device can run modern high poly 3D structures with full physics simulation in real time. There is a reason why the only physics sim games are very low poly. And even those are performance hungry despite custom engines.
Realistic physics for realistic looking scenes is something that you give to a renderfarm that will throw 100+ times more compute at it than the most expensive consumer GPU on the market.
NONE_dc@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Maybe games with destructible structures? It depends on which is the main mechanic of the game, if it’s relays on physics, there would be accurate collision detection (or at least as accurate as it needs them to be).