ragdoll physics
Floppy body mechanics
Ragdoll physics is a video game animation technique where a character's body goes limp and responds to physical forces rather than following scripted movements.
When a character dies or gets knocked out, the body collapses and tumbles realistically based on gravity, momentum, and collisions with the environment.
The term comes from the way bodies flop like a child's ragdoll: The explosion sent enemies flying with satisfying ragdoll physics.
Exaggerated physical humor
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- flailingUncontrolled limb movement
- ragdollingLimply tumbling uncontrolled
- blooperEmbarrassing recorded mistake
fumble · tumble · goofy · silly · absurdity · faceplant · flop · boneless
Lacking firmness or rigidity
- floppyLacking rigidity, bending easily
- loose-limbedFlexible in movement
- bendableAble to curve
- hingedConnected by pivot joint
pivoting · unconstrained · dangling · boneless · yielding · pliable
Finding when objects intersect
- hitboxInvisible contact detection boundary
- kinematicsStudy of movement itself
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
- gravityMutual mass attraction
inertia · mass · friction · velocity · acceleration · impact · rigid body · death animation
Resembling the real thing
- believabilityCapacity to seem true
- body weightPhysical mass of person
- muscle relaxationSoftening of contracted fibers
- immersionState of being submerged
convincing · authenticity · fidelity · body mechanics · motion capture · anatomical · organic movement · plausibility
slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor
- pratfallComedic fall on buttocks
- flailingUncontrolled limb movement
- ragdollingLimply tumbling uncontrolled
blooper · fumble · tumble · goofy · silly · absurdity · faceplant · flop · boneless · wacky
limp
Lacking firmness or rigidity
- floppyLacking rigidity, bending easily
- loose-limbedFlexible in movement
- bendableAble to curve
hinged · pivoting · unconstrained · dangling · boneless · yielding · pliable
collision detection
Finding when objects intersect
- hitboxInvisible contact detection boundary
- kinematicsStudy of movement itself
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
gravity · inertia · mass · friction · velocity · acceleration · impact · rigid body · death animation · game engine
lifelike
Resembling the real thing
- believabilityCapacity to seem true
- body weightPhysical mass of person
- muscle relaxationSoftening of contracted fibers
immersion · convincing · authenticity · fidelity · body mechanics · motion capture · anatomical · organic movement · plausibility · responsive
explosion
Violent burst of energy
catapult · debris · crash · wreckage · shockwave · dismemberment · gibbing · scatter · environmental hazard
- game developmentgame engine, game design, game engines, game designer, rendering
- physics simulationfluid dynamics, rigid body, collision detection, momentum, friction
- Flash eraActionScript, Miniclip, Happy Wheels, tower defense, Club Penguin
- Simulationscomputer simulation, virtual reality, flight simulator, VR, fluid dynamics
- gamer humor
- physicsmomentum, atom, acceleration, gravity, force