What type of simulation would we use? danske has suggested some options here. Here are some options that I have thought of:
option | pros | cons |
---|---|---|
First person or plan view? Do we see the game from the point of view of the driver with the driving wheel, dashboard and view through the windscreen? | First person makes the player feel more like they are driving the car. | |
Render using OpenGL or DirectX or simulate by animating a 2D view? | ||
Model the physics or use simple rules? | ||
Use time step integration (as explained on this page) | much simpler, current frame depends only on last frame and state information. | Inaccuracies build up over time |
Model all variable as a function of time | ||
Model the car as a rigid body | cant model damage caused by a crash | |
Model movement around the track | we need to constantly check for collision with barriers and other cars | |
Model engine and transmission | Needed to generate sound output. Needed to accurately model the torque and therefore the acceleration available. | |
Model the aerodynamics, wind resistance, etc. | ||
Model interaction with the road. | ||
Model friction | ||
Model Suspension using spring-mass-damper |
We can now look at how we might implement these things in more detail