Term Paper Outline: Diablo 3

Term Paper Outline: Diablo 3

Introduction

• Video Game: Diablo 3 (Blizzard Entertainment 2012)

Thesis- Blizzard uses an in-house developed physics engine to add weight and a sense of superhuman power through the clicks of your mouse.

Body Paragraphs

1. A destructible world

• The world around you reacts to your weapon swings, leaps, bow shots, and spell explosions.
• corpse of enemies you've slain remain on the ground to be manipulated by the player using rag-doll physics.
• banners, draped cloth and hair will react to a strong impact of an axe or the shock wave of a fireball

2. A physics style guide enforces the play style of each class

• there are various classes you can play as in the game and each one feels unique. The physics is hand crafted and tailored to that class and helps reinforce the characteristics of that class.
• Objects fly across the screen as the barbarian crushes his way through hordes of demons.
• Enemies freeze and shatter, explode and even teleport as the wizard rains spells down on her enemies.
• Same goes for the other 3 classes.

3. Exaggeration for entertainment

• Everything in this game from the story to art is pushed beyond the limits of the real world and the physics is no exception.
•  A smash of a mace sends multiple bodies flying
• Characters leap 30 feet into the air and cause the ground the crack and walls to crumble upon crashing down
• mpossible physics: many examples where the physics makes no sense but is entertaining to watch.

Conclusion

Physics in diablo 3 is impressive because it is, for the most part, in reaction to the players input. Much of the physics relies on the physics engine that Blizzard Entertainment created and it's clear that their investment was directed at pushing immersion and gameplay.