Interview with Rick Ellis, software engineer at Valve

zerodamage · Dec 12, 2003, 09:15 PM

Here is an interview with Rick Ellis of Valve. The interview is interesting.

You can read it here: HL2source.com

Skull · Dec 12, 2003, 09:37 PM

interesting santa beard on the page

Skull · Dec 12, 2003, 09:38 PM

Hoaxer: In movies we have seen a lot interesting moments, such as breaking of wooden objects. Question is how you make objects to be destroyed so... naturally - is there number of predefined sequences, or it is done with physics system? If so, then how it is implemented on entities level - some hierarchy of objects?

Rick Ellis: Each entity in the world is made out of a "material" that specifies various attributes of that entity. Things like what gibs to spawn when broken, strength and weight of the object, whether it can float, etc. Each gib becomes a physics entity that is then simulated as it falls to the ground, bounces, etc.

To make complex objects like doors made from wooden planks, several props are put together and parented to something (a door in this case) so they all act as a unit when the door is opened or closed. Since each piece is a separate entity, breaking it causes the desired result: You see the plank fracture into wooden gibs and fall out of the door while the remainder of the door stays intact.

Mazuko · Dec 12, 2003, 10:19 PM

An interesting interview, but to those of us that have done level design on any of the newer games lately there is really not a whole lot being introduced there that is revolutionary or "previously unknown". Still a great interview though

-={420}=- · Dec 13, 2003, 12:50 AM

Max Payne 2 it already using a pretty good physics system. Not as good as the video of HL2 but pretty close.

Skull · Dec 13, 2003, 01:02 AM

nice interview and website, like the design actually too. As for content, nothing really new in it.

Dec 12, 2003, 09:15 PM	#1
zerodamage HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 3,478 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Interview with Rick Ellis, software engineer at Valve Here is an interview with Rick Ellis of Valve. The interview is interesting. You can read it here: HL2source.com

Dec 12, 2003, 09:37 PM	#2
Skull Boney Admin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 659 Rep Power: 57	interesting santa beard on the page __________________ How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!

Dec 12, 2003, 09:38 PM	#3
Skull Boney Admin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 659 Rep Power: 57	Hoaxer: In movies we have seen a lot interesting moments, such as breaking of wooden objects. Question is how you make objects to be destroyed so... naturally - is there number of predefined sequences, or it is done with physics system? If so, then how it is implemented on entities level - some hierarchy of objects? Rick Ellis: Each entity in the world is made out of a "material" that specifies various attributes of that entity. Things like what gibs to spawn when broken, strength and weight of the object, whether it can float, etc. Each gib becomes a physics entity that is then simulated as it falls to the ground, bounces, etc. To make complex objects like doors made from wooden planks, several props are put together and parented to something (a door in this case) so they all act as a unit when the door is opened or closed. Since each piece is a separate entity, breaking it causes the desired result: You see the plank fracture into wooden gibs and fall out of the door while the remainder of the door stays intact. __________________ How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!

Dec 12, 2003, 10:19 PM	#4
Mazuko DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,008 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	An interesting interview, but to those of us that have done level design on any of the newer games lately there is really not a whole lot being introduced there that is revolutionary or "previously unknown". Still a great interview though __________________ E-bay feedback: http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...me=STRK:ME:UFS

Dec 13, 2003, 12:50 AM	#5
-={420}=- DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	Max Payne 2 it already using a pretty good physics system. Not as good as the video of HL2 but pretty close. __________________ [COLOR=red]My eBay Auctions[/COLOR]

Dec 13, 2003, 01:02 AM	#6
Skull Boney Admin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 659 Rep Power: 57	nice interview and website, like the design actually too. As for content, nothing really new in it. __________________ How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!