Game Science

Scientist Appeal: Why Academics Will Contribute To It

Scientists in many research fields already engage in simulation-building, so gearing their work towards a shared engine will only make things easier. Some of them will gear their work towards being used by the primary game community and take satisfaction at seeing their theoretical research used in daily gaming. Others will use the engine in ways that are purely scientific and unplayable. Many simulations will discover new ways of interacting.

Human Migration Timeline Map

ManyOne is doing all kinds of scientific portals using World Wind code

http://www.crocodile-clips.com/crocodile/technology/s14_2.jsp

Sim Ecology

Plants and nature are an important area to simulate.

Wolf

"Wolf is a very cleverly made animal simulation. When I first played it, I was impressed with the amount of effort the designers had put into the game to make every aspect interesting. The premise is quite simple: You are a wolf, part of a pack. In normal simulation mode, your only goal is to hunt animals for food, avoid humans and interact with other wolves. This wolf interaction will ultimately lead to mating, which is very difficult to achieve."

• http://www.wolfsongalaska.org/wolves_in_games_wolf.htm
• http://www.abandonia.com/games/531/download/Wolf.htm
• http://www.csoon.com/issue3/wolf.htm

SpeedTree

http://www.speedtree.com

Speedtree is a ready-to-use technology middleware solution that integrates with game engines like Unreal to display millions of incredibly realistic 3D plants of all shapes and sizes.

OpenTree?

SpeedTree is proprietary software, making it impossible to use in a fully open-source game. It is possible that an open equivelant technology could be developed to replace it, but a SpeedTree-enhanced Sim Empowerment would require a licensed game. It is conceivable that a SpeedTree-based solution could be optional, like a plugin, with poorer stand-in trees for the open-source version. Or, if a game engine could be purchased for a flat fee rather than a royalty, enough money could be raised to purchase a license for the open game, which would make the

SpeedTree-based code free if not completely open-source. SpeedTree is now integrated into Unreal 3.0 and the XBox 2 platform.

Amazing Scalability

SpeedTree’s most impressive quality is its ability to smoothly scale from detailed close-ups to aerial forests. Trees and grass look photo-realistic as they sway in the wind. From above the trees you can see the forest in dizzying detail. From high above the forest you can see the mountain landscape.