Physics used in Game Design - Partner Exercise
Directions: Pick a partner in class. Each start by playing a game either from the STEM Fuse Arcade or on
another arcade site. Play it for a few minutes and really notice how everything moves and how the game
really works. Then use the Physics Vocabulary & Formula sheets to help you answer the following questions
about your game. When you are done with your game – play your partner’s game and complete the same the
worksheet on their game. Then compare and see if you got the same answers – if not discuss why your
answers are different. Hand your worksheets in together as a team to your teacher.
Your Game ___________________________________________
Name of game
Question 1: Does your game follow the rules of gravity (Y/N)?
Explain:
If not, why is that okay for this game?
Question 2: Do the characters in your game follow Isaac Newton’s 1st & 3rd Laws of Motion (Y/N)?
Question 3: Explain how at least one character follows one of Newton's laws.
Question 4: Do the characters use acceleration (Y/N)?
If yes, describe:
Question 5: Does the game accurately use force to determine realistic movement, crashes, etc. (Y/N)?
Explain:
Question 6: Does speed have any impact in your game (Y/N)?
Explain:
Question 7: Did the characters or objects possess the same speed they might in real life (Y/N?)?
Question 8: Was the concept of trajectory used in any way in your game (Y/N)?
Explain:
Explain:
Question 9: Did the physics programmer design this game so that everything moves in a consistent and
predictable manner for the player (Y/N)?
Question 10: Did the physics programmer design the game according to how things would react in “our
world” or did characters and objects behave different than they would in our world?
Question 11: In either case above, do you think it matters as long as the game sticks to its rules and the
player is able to control the game?
Question 12: Could you find any mistakes or inconsistencies in your game (Y/N)? If yes, what was it?
Your Partner’s Game ___________________________________________
Name of game
Question 13: Does your partner’s game follow the rules of gravity (Y/N)?
Explain:
If not, why is that okay for this game?
Question 14: Do the characters in your partner’s game follow Isaac Newton’s 1st & 3rd Laws of Motion
(Y/N)?
Question 15: Explain how at least one character follows one of Newton's laws.
Question 16: Do the characters use acceleration (Y/N)?
If yes, describe:
Question 17: Does the game accurately use force to determine realistic movement, crashes, etc. (Y/N)?
Explain:
Question 18: Does speed have any impact in your partner’s game (Y/N)?
Explain:
Question 19: Did the characters or objects possess the same speed they might in real life (Y/N?)?
Explain:
Question 20: Was the concept of trajectory used in any way in your partner’s game (Y/N)?
Explain:
Question 21: Did the physics programmer design this game so that everything moves in a consistent and
predictable manner for the player (Y/N)?
Question 22: Did the physics programmer design the game according to how things would react in “our
world” or did characters and objects behave different than they would in our world?
Question 23: In either case above, do you think it matters as long as the game sticks to its rules and the
player is able to control the game?
Question 24: Could you find any mistakes or inconsistencies in your game (Y/N)? If yes, what was it?