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The gaming gimmicks of 2008

How videogames will grab your attention this year

Words: Ben Richardson, GamesRadar UK

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The New Havok

Physics? Pah! You know not of physics. This year, a new generation of physics engine will add new levels to the fun of banging boxes off of people's heads. The Euphoria "motion synthesis" engine comprises of a simulation of a person's skeleton, muscle and nervous system. Which sounds a little dull, until you put it into videogame terms - thump someone in the face and they'll crumble realistically from the impact, reaching out arms to break their fall or grabbing onto nearby objects to save themselves. It's physics with personality, animation with emotion.

Rockstar are using Euphoria for Grand Theft Auto IV. Nico Bellic's enemies will try to keep their balance in fights by twisting or turning their bodies. Each bullet that hits a target will have a distinct and visible impact on the particular body part, throwing people's legs out from under them, say. And fatal wounds won't merely result in slumped bodies, but in cartwheeling, somersaulting corpses, depending on the force applied by the projectile.

LucasArts is also bringing the procedural animation engine to its games, starting with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Like GTA IV, enemies will tumble and fall with believable grace (or a lack of it) and react satisfyingly accurately to your attacks. But your Force powers will create some tragi-comic moments, too. Hoist a Stormtrooper skywards along with a bundle of crates and he'll desperately try to cling to the heavier object for stability, or attempt to grab the environment and anchor himself like a five-year-old in a doorway. Ahhhh, bless. Crush him! (The Stormtrooper, that is...)