Ragdoll Fun

The frame rate is not great due to the real-time full screen capture.
The video demonstrates creating a ragdoll in PaceMaker using the default settings. You load a model, adjust the default parameters if required and click a button. The selected joint becomes an anchor. You can anchor or release any other joint in realtime.
Force and torque can be applied to any joint.
The physics information is saved as a custom node in the .b3d file. You will be able to export Blitz source or use a loader function to parse the .b3d file.

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/smiff/blitz/rged2.wmv

Very nice. I thought the FPS is even lower, but it's actually ok. Did i get it right that the physic cycle can be "captured" and saved?

Yes , there will be an option to motion-capture as standard animation however in a more controlled environment. There will be a kind of "Shooting Gallery" where you will be able to simulate impacts to different parts of the body, falls and deaths etc.
For those using physics its just a visual editor.The physics info is embedded in the .b3d file. There is a supplied function that will read this info and then recreate the ragdoll in realtime on demand.

Here's another (3.8mb)

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/smiff/blitz/rged3.wmv

Excellent work, Smiff. Can't wait for you to roll-out your next version of Pacemaker.

By the way can a floor be used to prevent the ragdoll dangling down?

Thanks - Yes there is an adjustable height floor that the doll can "fall" onto !You will also be able to enable/disable gravity or change its direction. Will post more details soon.

What physics library did you use?

I used the JV-ODE lib but I plan to put Tokamak in an as option as well.

yes because ODE isnt good at certain things

Another video with floor collision (wmv 3.01mb)

http://webzoom.freewebs.com\smiff\blitz\robot1.wmv