The first video of N+ dev's 'Robotology'

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 5th 2009 at 11:30AM }

In fairness, Metanet Software's first video for Robotology (found after the break) is more physics demo than it is gameplay demo -- or even proof of concept, for that matter. Though considering the pedigree behind the game (Metanet made N+, this week's Xbox Live deal!), we're willing to overlook the less than thrilling minute-plus video in celebration of the sheer tenacity with which Metanet attacks its game development.

In fact, according to the Metanet website, the action in the video represents, "almost 800 lines of code, painstakingly hand-transcribed from graph paper and Flash mockups" -- oh my! Here's hoping it all pays off when the game ships ... eventually. And now, friends, we play the waiting game.

[Via Eurogamer]

Tags: eurogamer, metanet-software, n , robotology, video

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Shiaoran @ Jul 5th 2009 11:37AM

"And now, friends, we play the waiting game."

I hate this game more than The Game... :/

DBuck_Eye @ Jul 5th 2009 11:39AM

You're a dick.

[tre] @ Jul 5th 2009 11:39AM

Which The Game are you referring to?

Shiaoran @ Jul 5th 2009 11:47AM

That lame mind game.

Damian @ Jul 5th 2009 12:31PM

The confused game.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jul 5th 2009 12:49PM

You mean the one we all just lost? or the one he just lost?

I wasn't paying attention to THE GAME I was here AIMing to my friend Candlejack he is pretty cool guy and he doesn't afr

xtremeholymuffin @ Jul 5th 2009 1:30PM

I lost the gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame

Levi @ Jul 5th 2009 2:07PM

half of gaming is waiting for the next cool game to come out though.

Jakka (Dead Space Face Defence Force!) @ Jul 5th 2009 2:35PM

Mr.ESC, if Candlejack kidnaps you when you say his name, how come the comments are still posted? How does th

Jakka (Dead Space Face Defence Force!) @ Jul 5th 2009 2:51PM

Actually, once someone loses a game, the rest is immune for 30 minutes. An official rule to avoid dickwads that bite the bullet by announcing 'YOU JUST LOST THE GAME!' and start a chain reaction.

Timerider @ Jul 7th 2009 10:19AM

"The waiting game sucks, lets play Hungry Hungry Hippos."

Roofie @ Jul 5th 2009 11:46AM

@[tre]

The one you just lost.

AvA (ice~) @ Jul 5th 2009 11:50AM

I believe you lost sir. ;]

DaveTMR @ Jul 23rd 2009 8:38AM

Aww, the waiting game sucks, let's play hungry, hungry hippos!

[tre] @ Jul 5th 2009 12:01PM

I'll call Conan O'Brien, you get the board out.

Rhamsey @ Jul 5th 2009 12:05PM

can i be the blue one?

Shiaoran @ Jul 5th 2009 12:11PM

I'll be the dragpo!

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 12:34PM

Why are the hippo's hungry? Did someone not feed them?
What are the rules again....?

Yaaaaaaaay I like jello!!

[tre] @ Jul 5th 2009 12:36PM

@MystileArmor:

What in the world?

ArchiGamer @ Jul 5th 2009 12:37PM

I rather see the movie.

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 12:39PM

Hungry Hungry Hippo's the movie? That has Uwe Boll written all over it. Well, not so much "written" as more like Uwe Boll thrown up all over it.

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jul 5th 2009 12:51PM

If he can be Conana I call dibs for Chtulu

Jakka (Dead Space Face Defence Force!) @ Jul 5th 2009 2:36PM

Kirby as the Red Hippo!

mike @ Jul 5th 2009 12:15PM

Haha, this is like the first thing people do when they want to learn how to make a physics engine with ragdolls. It's called a ball-and-stick constraint system. Ball and stick constraints are easy to implement (as noted by the low line count for the code), highly stable (doesn't crash or freeze and works reasonably well with any configuration of objects), and adapts well to three dimensions and deformable objects with very little extra effort. The biggest downsides are that it scales very poorly to larger simulations or more complex shapes, and that it starts to break down with heavy objects, fast velocities, and large stacks of objects.

David @ Jul 5th 2009 1:30PM

As a current flash game dev I appreciate comments like these which explain what is going on behind the scenes. Thank you, mike.

WiredKnight @ Jul 5th 2009 2:37PM

I've never heard it referred to as ball and "stick," perhaps you mean socket?

In any case, yes, these constraints are at the core of what they're doing, but it reaches farther than that. As you can see, they've created a two-dimensional character rig using a series of these constraints. There's a lot more to it than just a ragdoll (which would just collapse to the ground), they've also implemented inverse kinematics, and some simple AI to allow the rig to stand on its own and turn around.

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 2:45PM

Well I guess my downvote showed that alot of people do give a shit about you guys' balls and sticks.

Have at it boys.

mike @ Jul 5th 2009 3:44PM

@WiredKnight: Isn't the ball and socket just a type of joint? I've only heard it called the ball-and-stick constraint system since it uses stick constraints for the bones and ball constraints for the joints.

You're right that it definitely has some inverse kinematics going on. I didn't even notice that until you pointed it out.

WiredKnight @ Jul 5th 2009 5:42PM

A ball-and-socket is a type of joint, and a joint is a type of constraint. I've never heard of a "stick" constraint.

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 12:36PM

I stopped reading after the first sentence, cause honestly I don't give a flying rats ass how it works and why.

You really must like balls and sticks a whole lot to put that much effort into a comment... 0_o

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 12:37PM

Why Joystiq, why? Is one push on the reply button not enough? Why must you always need more more more....

Such an abusive relationship, yet I can't walk away.

ArchiGamer @ Jul 5th 2009 12:44PM

More, more, more
How do you like it, how do you like it
More, more, more
How do you like it, how do you like it

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 12:47PM

STOP!

...

..
Hammer time!

ArchiGamer @ Jul 5th 2009 12:54PM

I like big butts and I cant lie!

MystileArmor @ Jul 5th 2009 1:12PM

Tempted by the fruits of anotheeeeeeeeerrrrrr....

Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jul 5th 2009 12:51PM

N+ plus 2D Physics.I dig it.

754Boy @ Jul 5th 2009 1:33PM

N+ finally the deal of the week huh. Time to get it!!

Alex @ Jul 5th 2009 1:51PM

I never saw the fascination with any on the N games. They always seemed boring after the first level after you already sad: 'Oh, the physics are notable...'

james @ Jul 5th 2009 2:02PM

reminds me of sodaplay.

GordoJones @ Jul 5th 2009 5:42PM

So then is this O+ ?

Divine Dirtclod @ Jul 5th 2009 6:46PM

Helloooo Dolly!

MrKlorox @ Jul 5th 2009 6:59PM

Hopefully this game will involve more action than N+. I want fighting vs enemies/players not versus the environment/clock. Something that plays kinda like Megaman or Metroid, except deathmatch or other common multiplayer modes. Also with plenty of ranking up and unlocks to use in the game.