3d physics environment as an alternative approach to creating 3d computer games

3d computer games are often criticized for looking realistic but feeling static - just like "walking through a 3d scene" with limited interaction. Even if these games utilize physics simulation in some aspects, overall they present inconsistent, unconvincing interactions and behaviors.

3d physics environment addresses this by introducing alternative approach to creating computer games, where the application development model is built around physics simulation instead of around rendering or scene graphs - this model eliminates entire classes of bugs and enables the creation of unified, emergent, consistent worlds that feel more real and more dynamic.

Let’s break given statement down in a way that makes the approach based on 3d physics simulation and physics-driven technologies unmistakably clear.

Most traditional game engines use:

• a scene graph for rendering
• a physics world for simulation
• a navigation graph for AI
• a skeleton graph for animation
• a UI tree for interface

These systems are separate, and their integration always causes problems.

Unlike the traditional approach, 3d physics environment forces everything to share one unified model based on 3d physics simulation and physics-driven technologies. We would like to point out that such solution is extremely difficult to design but eliminates entire classes of bugs.
No more:

• physics/rendering desync
• jitter from transform copying
• AI navigating outdated geometry
• animation fighting physics
• gameplay logic not cooperating with simulation

In 3d physics environment everything is driven by the same physical truth.

 Trying to bring closer the essence of programming in 3d physics environment, we would use the statement "programming rooted in physics simulation".
You simply define:

• physics objects and their properties
• physical materials and their properties
• constraints and their properties
• forces
• collision guidelines
• environmental properties
• controllers with logic

and then let the game world behave according to those rules.

Instead of scripting every possible interaction, developers focus on tuning the simulation parameters, adding tools/mechanics that interact with physics simulation, and designing interesting starting conditions or goals. It is worth noting that in such a way the creation of procedural or player-driven content becomes much easier as well as emergence plays the foundational role.

Therefore, 3d physics environment naturally supports emergent gameplay and emergent behaviors.
Worlds created in the environment naturally produce:

• dynamism
• unexpected interactions
• player‑driven solutions
• systemic behavior

3d physics environment produces consistent, believable worlds because everything obeys the same rules:

• objects behave predictably within the established simulation parameters
• interactions feel natural
• the world feels coherent

This is extremely hard to achieve in traditional game engines.

In the approach based on 3d physics simulation and physics-driven technologies:

• rendering uses physics transforms
• audio uses physics positions
• AI uses physics simulation queries
• UI are just regular physics scenes
• gameplay logic emerges from physics

This unification is elegant and powerful as well as significantly simplifies 3d game programming.

In summary, 3d physics environment as an alternative approach to creating computer games produces:

• more consistent worlds
• more emergent gameplay
• more realism
• more systemic depth
• fewer bugs

postulating a shift from common statement "designing a game and adding physics" to "designing a physical world and letting the game emerge from it".

That is why Matali Physics, as an implementation of 3d physics environment concept - in its new meaning introduced by Komires Sp. z o.o. company in 2020 - stand out from other solutions. It embraces a design philosophy that most other solutions avoid because of its difficulty, not because of its weakness.