Soft-Body Physics - Learn SpriteBuilder for iOS Game Development - page 325

Figure 10-1 . The final setup of the soft-body player
By far the easiest shape to model as a soft-body is the circle, since every two opposing
bodies on the circle's circumference can be connected with joints, while more joints con-
nect the circumference bodies together to hold the shape in circle form. The joint connec-
tions naturally balance each other out.
Unless the body is meant to be heavily deformable it helps to have a center body which
connects to the circumference bodies with distance joints to prevent the shape from fold-
ing in on itself. And many, if not all of the connected bodies need to collide with one an-
other to distribute the forces properly and again to reduce the risk of the body folding in
on itself. Figure 10-1 shows the finished setup of the soft-body player object you're going
to create in this chapter.
Configuring the Soft-Body Player
You'll create this body in discrete steps so that you can see the effect each step adds. I
hope this gives you a good feel of how the joint connections interact and ultimately create
a soft and wobbly body.