Path: chuka.playstation.co.uk!scea!greg_labrec@interactive.sony.com
From: "Nathan Miller" <nmiller@igalaxy.net>
Newsgroups: scee.yaroze.freetalk.english
Subject: Collision Detection Shortcut Update
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 13:18:08 -0800
Organization: SCEA News Server
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Well, after a few responses I felt that I had been talking out of my *%&@
and needed to apologise to everyone for my last post on collision detection.
I was thinking up an algorithm to detect collision and was oblivious to what
spherical collision detection is!  Although I agree in the speed aspect of
the sphere method, I am a little concerned about the accuracy.  I have two
examples:

1)  3D Action (Mario 64) Game- If using spherical detection when the
character jumps onto a platform wouldn't the detection be true before he/she
ever reached the actual platform?  And if you use spherical detection only
as a preliminary step, all other variables for any other form of detection
must be tracked, so wouldn't it be easier to use a more accurate fom of
detection even if it takes a little more computing power?

2) 3D Fighting (Virtual Fighter) Game- If your character is composed of
separate parts being animated by a skeleton system the spherical system
works fine.  If you have a solid mesh and you deform it in real time then
the system fails.  you can place spheres all over the model, but their
location has to be tracked through translation (although the rotation
doesn't need to be tracked) so again isn't it easier to use a different
system?

I am trying to understand all of this because obviously it is not my
stronger point.  If I am not making any sense then I would appreciate an
explination of which one I should use.  I am currently working on a game
engine that I will post when it is done, so I would like to use the best
system possible to please anyone who uses my libs.

Thanks for the help,

Nathan Miller
Ryu-Ki Software
nmiller@igalaxy.net