Writing a High Quality Particle System

[X Abstract X]

Hey guys. I want to write a particle system for use in a 3D RPG-type game capable of generating simple but cool effects for spells, auras, explosions and weather. I'm sure you guys have seen hundreds of particle systems that just throw out a bunch of particles of uniform color, acceleration and life time. I'm lost on what features give the particle system the ability to generate realistic effects that I could use for my needs.

So basically if people could just pitch in ideas and features that make a good particle system, it would be really helpful. Also, what sort of attributes should the particle data structure have? Mine currently has a lifetime, max lifetime, position, velocity, acceleration and color.

Thanks for reading.

[XianForce]

Well with most of the particle systems you've seen, you've probably just seen rectangles, or pixels. To add more of an effect, you can use small textures. But even with this, the actual particle system itself is mostly the same.

[Arce]

^ What he said.

For "advanced" engines and particles, like you see in professional games, they are much the same. Some things to maybe consider:

- particle texturing
- transparency
- color fading/dimming

Download Unity3d sometime and take a look at how they implemented theirs. There are examples of everything from advanced fire to some to plasma/electricity effects, all easily implementable with rectangular particles.

Also, consider an advanced "particle emitter":

- variable shape (not one point)
- configurable random velocity delta
- particle forces
- particle density
- spray frequency