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Re: [Phys-l] _Physics for Game Developers_



I have a copy of the book and it is no more than what the title says: Physics for Game Developers (I picked it up for 14.95 off the discount shelf). It would make a stunningly lousy physics book or a very poor learn-to-program book.

It serves the purpose of showing someone who knows some physics AND has competence as a programmer how to create simulations of common physical situations. I've used it twice to find advice on how to code a situation. For its purpose, it's well enough written.

It would be interesting to take or teach a course where the focus was creating a computer models to simulate topics in physics, but where would you get all of these programmers? I could see the course bogging down immensely in teaching object oriented programming.

Just offer a course in _playing_ video games better using principles of physics. That should increase enrollment - perhaps an order of magnitude!

Scott






*******************************************
Scott Goelzer
Physics Teacher
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Northwood NH 03261
sgoelzer@coebrownacademy.com
*******************************************


On Mar 23, 2006, at 12:14 PM, John Denker wrote:

There exists a book:
David Bourg
_Physics for Game Developers_

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0596000065?v=glance

There are 27 customer reviews on the amazon page, most of them 4 stars
out of 5.

There exist other books in the same genre, more or less advanced.

I haven't seen any of these books, and I know the proverb about judging
a book by its cover, so I won't comment on any particular book.

However, the very idea of books on this subject is rather amusing.
In particular, suppose the course catalog lists both
-- Ph 321: Classical Mechanics
-- Ph/CS 331: Physics for Game Designers

I wonder which will attract more sign-ups?
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