Physics Manipulation

Physics Manipulation is a video game concept

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EDIT BLURB SUBSCRIBE page last edited on Aug. 9, 2008

Physics play an important part in this game in solving puzzles and/or combat. Notable examples include the Gravity Gun from Half-Life 2, and the Force Powers from Star Wars: Force Unleashed.

Overview

Physics Manipulation is a concept recently used in games as a result of improvements in processing power and the development of physics engine technology. This allows the user to combat enemies and solve puzzles by manipulating the laws of physics, specifically that of gravity, to their advantage. The first game to make use of active physics manipulation was Jurassic Park: Trespasser.

Noteable examples

The gravity gun from Half-Life 2.

The zero-point energy field manipulator, or gravity gun, from the Half-Life franchise - This weapon allows the user to pick up almost any object in the game and either place it or throw it at an enemy. Half-Life 2 and its sequels use Valve 's in-house developed Source Engine, which fully integrated the HAVOK physics technology to great effect. While Trespasser was the first game to actively make use of physics manipulation, the industry failed to take notice due the game's poor sales and reviews. Valve succeeded in creating new standards of design with their physics implementation, and subsequently any first-person shooter released after Half-Life 2 that failed to implement physics manipulation was seen as being behind the times.

The force powers from Star Wars: Force Unleashed - These powers manipulate physics by letting you pick up objects and characters and letting you throw them around in full 360. Because of this and other force powers, the game has been described by some as a 'physics toolbox'.

Garry's Mod - This 'game' gets a special mention for being a literal physics toolbox. You have full control of the laws of physics, able to manipulate gravity, spawn in objects, freeze objects in mid-air, and pick up anything not an NPC using the physics gun, similar to the gravity gun. You can also set things on fire. That should be enough.

The TK device from Dead Space - This functions similarly to the gravity gun. Not much is known about it.

Bionic Powers from Mass Effect - Bionic powers are force powers in all but in name. You can pick up enemies and toss them around like ragdolls.

Physics Manipulation games Edit

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Name	Platforms	Developer
inFAMOUS	PS3	Sucker Punch Productions LLC
Warhound	PC, X360	Techland Sp. z o.o.
FUEL	PC, PS3, X360	Asobo Studio
Half-Life 2: Episode Three	PC, X360	Valve Corporation
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 released on Oct. 29, 2009	PSP, PC, PS2, PS3, WII, X360	Konami, Inc.
Killzone 2 released on Feb. 27, 2009	PS3	Guerrilla Games
Darkfall released on Jan. 22, 2009	PC	Aventurine SA
Red Faction: Guerrilla	PC, PS3, X360	Volition Incorporated, Reactor Zero
Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon released on Dec. 1, 2008	X360	Sandblast Games
Tomb Raider: Underworld released on Nov. 18, 2008	PC, PS2, PS3, DS, WII, X360	Crystal Dynamics, Inc.
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts released on Nov. 11, 2008	X360	Rare, Ltd.
LittleBigPlanet released on Oct. 27, 2008	PS3	Media Molecule
Portal: Still Alive released on Oct. 22, 2008	XBLM	Valve Corporation
Fable II released on Oct. 21, 2008	X360	Lionhead Studios Ltd.
Dead Space released on Oct. 14, 2008	PC, PS3, X360	EA Redwood Shores
World of Goo released on Oct. 13, 2008	PC, MAC, WSHP	2D Boy
Fracture released on Oct. 7, 2008	PS3, X360	Day:1:Studios, LLC
Crysis Warhead released on Sept. 17, 2008	PC	Crytek GmbH
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed released on Sept. 16, 2008	IPHN, PSP, PS2, PS3, DS, WII, X360	n-Space, Inc., Krome Studios Pty Ltd., LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC, Krome Studios Melbourne
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky released on Sept. 15, 2008	PC	GSC Game World
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty released on Aug. 21, 2008	PS3, PSN	Insomniac Games
Alone in the Dark released on June 24, 2008	PC, PS2, PS3, WII, X360	Eden Games S.A.S.
The Incredible Hulk released on June 5, 2008	PC, PS2, PS3, DS, WII, X360	Amaze Entertainment, Inc., Edge of Reality, Ltd.
Boom Blox released on May 6, 2008	WII	EA Los Angeles
Penumbra: Black Plague released on Feb. 11, 2008	PC	Frictional Games
Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 released on Jan. 24, 2008	PSP, PC, PS2, PS3, DS, WII, X360	Konami Corporation
Alpha Prime released on Nov. 8, 2007	PC	Black Element Software
Crazy Machines II released on Oct. 15, 2007	PC	FAKT Software GmbH
The Orange Box released on Oct. 10, 2007	PC, PS3, X360	Valve Corporation
Half-Life 2: Episode Two released on Oct. 10, 2007	PC	Valve Corporation
Portal released on Oct. 9, 2007	PC, PS3, X360, XBLM	EA UK, Valve Corporation
BioShock released on Aug. 21, 2007	PC, PS3, X360	2K Australia, 2K Boston, 2k Marin, Digital Extremes
The Darkness released on June 25, 2007	PS3, X360	Starbreeze Studios AB
Crayon Physics released on June 1, 2007	PC	Kloonigames
CellFactor: Revolution released on May 8, 2007	PC	Artificial Studios, Inc.
Penumbra: Overture - Episode 1 released on March 30, 2007	PC, MAC	Frictional Games
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl released on March 20, 2007	PC	GSC Game World
Crackdown released on Feb. 23, 2007	X360	Realtime Worlds Ltd.
Garry's Mod released on Nov. 29, 2006	PC	Team Garry
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic released on Oct. 25, 2006	PC	Arkane Studios SA, Kuju Entertainment Ltd., Floodgate Entertainment, LLC
Destroy All Humans! 2 released on Oct. 17, 2006	PS2, XBOX	Pandemic Studios
FlatOut 2 released on Aug. 1, 2006	PC, PS2, XBOX, MAC	Bugbear Entertainment Ltd.
Prey	PC, MAC, X360	Human Head Studios, Inc., Venom Games
Half-Life 2: Episode One released on June 1, 2006	PC	Valve Corporation
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion released on March 20, 2006	PC, PS3, X360	Bethesda Softworks, 4J Studios
Plasma Pong released on Jan. 20, 2006	PC, MAC
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast released on Oct. 27, 2005	PC	Valve Corporation
Destroy All Humans! released on June 21, 2005	PS2, XBOX, XBLM	Pandemic Studios
Advent Rising released on May 31, 2005	PC, XBOX	GlyphX Games, LLC
Phantom Dust	XBOX	Microsoft Game Studios
Half-Life Deathmatch: Source released on Jan. 1, 2005	PC	Valve Corporation
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch released on Nov. 30, 2004	PC	Valve Corporation
Half-Life 2 released on Nov. 16, 2004	PC, XBOX	Valve Corporation
Second Sight released on Sept. 21, 2004	GC, PC, PS2, XBOX	Free Radical Design
Counter-Strike: Source released on Aug. 11, 2004	PC	Valve Corporation
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy released on June 14, 2004	PC, PS2, XBOX	Midway Games
Gish released on May 10, 2004	PC, MAC	Chronic Logic LLC
Armed & Dangerous released on Dec. 2, 2003	PC, XBOX	Planet Moon Studios
Half-Life: Generation 3 released on March 22, 2002	PC	Valve Corporation, Gearbox Software LLC
Stretch Panic	PS2	Treasure
Red Faction released on May 21, 2001	PC, PS2, MAC, NGE	Volition Incorporated
Black & White released on March 25, 2001	PC, MAC	Lionhead Studios Ltd.
Half-Life: Adrenaline Pack released on Dec. 19, 1999	PC	Valve Corporation
Half-Life released on Nov. 19, 1998	PC, PS2	Valve Corporation
Trespasser: Jurassic Park released on Oct. 28, 1998	PC	DreamWorks Interactive L.L.C.
Metal Storm released on Feb. 1, 1991	NES	Irem Corp.

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Physics Manipulation General Information Edit

Concept Name:	Physics Manipulation
Appears In:	67 ga