Super Rub-A-Dub & Fluid Simulation

Scientists at the Materials and Engineering Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University used latest developments in a complex mathematical model designed to simulate how materials behave to create the most realistic flowing water ever seen in a computer game that features a swimming gaggle of ducks! Named 'Super Rub-A-Dub', this soon-to-be-popular game has been developed by Sheffield games company Sumo Digital and is one of around thirty which will be available on Sony's newly launched download site.

In this game a mother duck is guided by the game player, using a 6-axis controller, round an extremely realistic tub of water -- with ripples and reflected light -- in her attempts to free her offspring from the bubbles and lead them safely home, whilst avoiding a range of obstacles.

Much of the initial research work of the Sheffield Hallam group that finally found a way into this game involved development of computer programmes which simulate the way different materials actually behave, enabling much greater understanding of their properties and providing detailed information to aid product development in a wide range of industry sectors. The 'Thinking Water technology' developed by the group is one such programme which offers a highly efficient means of simulating fluid flow. It's a technology which has already been used in work with major companies such as BNFL and Rolls Royce. As their use of algorithms in research became more efficient and games consoles were becoming increasingly more powerful, the research group hit upon the idea of contributing something quite new to the games industry. At that point they approached Sumo for final implementation. And one year later Super Rub-A-Dub is born.

The team members at Sheffield Hallam responsible for the development of Thinking Water are Dr Richard Webster, Dr Ian Halliday and Professor Chris Care. Their background is in mathematics and theoretical physics. They feel happy that the new work has allowed them to use their knowledge of physics to create more realistic games environments for the next generation of games consoles.