Math in computer game development

10 Jul 2008 · Posted in Computers & Internet, Mathematics 

A common cry in mathematics classrooms is, “When am I ever gonna use this stuff?”

I think it’s a perfectly reasonable question and it is evidence of the learner seeking meaning in pages of mindless algebra.

Well, who uses math and how do they use it?

One field where math is alive, kicking and vital is the multi-billion dollar computer games industry.

I came across this Math and Physics forum in gamedev.net. It gives a fascinating insight into the things that game programmers are trying to achieve in their games and the math that they need to achieve it.

Some recent forum topics:

  • Collision detection (vectors, coordinate geometry, distance formula)
  • Mollweide projection (3-D geometry)
  • Checking if an x,y point is within an ellipse (analytical coordinate geometry)
  • Poker (probability)
  • Angular velocity
  • Matrix operations

I’m always impressed with how people freely give of their time and expertise on such forums.

That forum link again: Math and Physics forum

See also Math in computer games for another example of how math is being used every day in the computer games industry.

Comments

One Response to “Math in computer game development”

  1. 3d4ya on September 16th, 2008 3:25 pm

    Hey there!
    We’ve just started a small 3d model site which would be cool for your game development:

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    We have free real-time models like this:

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    Developers always need model, so we try our best to make as many free model as we can and hope they might help you!
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