That is, targeting a point in 3d space using the 2d gravity model requires some 'close enough' and ultimately scripted behaviour which currently looks odd in some cases. Note this is all speculation on my part, but I think it's pretty much correct.Д¬lick to expand.I remember watching that live, it doesnt change what I was saying in that at present there are a couple of flaws in the model they use to simulate collisions (it seems). It would be nice if this changed in the future but at present it looks like a hardcoded limitation of how the engine is set up. I think they'll be able to smooth this out in the future, at present it can produce some strange looking pathways. When an asteroid reaches the intercept point in the 2d simulation the game 'cheats' and places it into the 3d planetary simulation. In order to cross the boundary into the 3d planetary shell, it needs to be fudged at present using what seems to be an impact script of sorts. That's why an asteroid does not smoothly impact on a designated location, because the celestial view is a 2d simulation and cant calculate an impact onto a 3d point in space or on the surface of a planet. The orbital pathways and bodies corespond to a 3d planet, but they are still separate in reality. One models the oribital pathways in a 2d gravity plane simulation, the other models the planets (and units) in a 3d simulation. I think the chances of the adding 'failed attempts at planetary collision' are slim at this point, but we shall see (aside from planetary defences as seen in the teaser trailer)ДЄt the moment it seems there are essentially two games running in PA. Those would be hilarious features but I dont think we'll see them. For example, having power cut out to halleys mid transit resulting in the asteroid colliding with the sun, missing the target or leaving the solar system. In saying that I would love if the mechanics in the engine were exposed enough to allow for industrious modders to add this kind of granularity to the game for people who want to play Kerbal Annihilation.Д¬lick to expand.Yeah 'it'd be cool' and 'it's feasible' don't always intersect unfortunately, but if they do add a lot more detail to planetary collisions that would be interesting too. I dont doubt they will improve the simulation as it stands, but I dont think it is realistic for them to spend development time worrying about velocities, angles, rotations and all the other necessary components of a truely simulated orbital collision down to the level of worrying about optimal halley placement.

Once intercepted, it appears a 'collision script' takes over which (sometimes quite jarringly at present) moves the asteroid into a position from where it can drop onto specific location the player has selected on the planet. The celestial gameplay is essentially 'fudged' in a lot of ways (at least, it appears that way - I don't know for sure) - it is not, apparently, a 100% accurate simulation (but then no one would expect it to be), the halleys do not solve an accurate solution for collision, but rather have their general orbit adjusted in a plausible way within a certain range of the target in order to 'intercept' the orbital path. Maybe they should create a hardcoded restriction that required halleys to be built touching each other (or at least very close) to avoid such situations. This does look strange when you require two halleys but build them on opposite ends of the planet - the propulsion would be cancelled out you would think.

As it stands, we are just supposed to accept that the Halley is able to solve a trajectory regardless of where they are placed - a little suspension of disbelief is required. Rather they would spend time adding a feature that would benefit essentially no one except a fairly small section of the community. As it stands, the only plausible benefit of simulating this would be having to fight over ideal placement locations, but I dont think this is within the scope of the mechanics as Uber currently envision them. If a requirement of placing the engines in physically plausible locations positively impacted the game by creating fun and challenging gameplay then they might well implement such a feature.

It's essentially a cost and benefit analysis. Well I mean, technically it should matter but I don't think the intention of the game is to create such a detailed orbital simulation, but rather to create an approximate abstraction of the mechanics involved.

Planetary annihilation titan halley