View source for Baked physics

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[[File:Hl2ep2-trainbridge-cinephys.gif|thumb|An example of cinematic physics from the beginning of {{hl2ep2|4}}.<br>(Click to view if GIF does not play automatically).]]
'''Baked physics''', sometimes referred to as "cinematic physics", are baked animations created in an offline animation package that are ''not'' simulated in real-time, typically portraying large destruction events, played back in-game by the Source Engine. Valve used [http://www.blastcode.com/ Blast Code] to create complex physics simulations in Source 1 games, most of which were done by Gray Horsfield. Blast Code is no longer available, however, there are alternatives.
In Half Life 2 : Episode 2, baked physics are often played back in game at specific events, often for narrative purposes. In Source, baked physics animations typically get streamed in from [[ANI]] animation files, which fragment the animation data so it can get loaded on-demand in game.<br>
When creating cinematic physics, it is important to keep the limitations of the target game engine in mind, such as limitation of object count per model, which may require using multiple models for a single effect. In Source, it is recommended to create the model in 3 states : pre-destruction, the actual destruction animation, and a post-destruction model that Source can show after the animation has finished.

{{cleanup|This concept is engine-agnostic and was not introduced with {{hl2ep2|2}}.<br>Baked physics are used in {{goldsrc|4}} as well, with extensive usage in {{czds|4}}.
}}

== See also ==
* [[$animblocksize]]
* [[ANI|.ANI File Format]]
* [[Model Creation Overview]]

== External links ==
* [http://www.interlopers.net/tutorials/29040 Cinematic Physics in 3DS Max] - Legacy Interlopers.net Tutorial for 3DS Max
* [http://rayfirestudios.com/ RayFire Simulation System] - Destruction system for [[3DS Max]]
* [https://www.sidefx.com SideFX Houdini] - Procedural 3D Toolkit including simulation tools
* [http://https://www.blender.org Blender] - Includes primitive simulation tools 
* [https://github.com/scorpion81/blender-fracture Blender Fracture Modifier] - Blender 2.7 build with destruction tools
* [https://the303.org/tutorials/gold_mdl_phys.htm GoldSrc baked physics tutorial by The303]
[[Category:Physics]]