Hello,
I am creating a space game and I plan on accelerating the ship via the built in physics system. Here are a few of my questions about the physics system that could not be answered by reading the manual or searching the forum.

1. Mass, etc in space: Should I set my spaceships mass to 0 in space? I think not because it still has mass, just not weight. (Because no gravity) Friction theoretically should be set to 0 but I think you need it in a game otherwise controlling would be difficult. What do you think?

2. Thrust: I'm using
to apply thrust to my ship. Now my question is, should I be executing the rotational thrusts in that same addforce? Or should I put in different addforce's to simulate an jet firing at the wing tip to turn the ship, etc.

I would also like to just get your ideas for how I should be accelerating this ship throughout space as well as rotating the ship how it would actually be done in space.

Do not set the mass to 0. That would make it a fixed entity. Mass is mass, which is not weight, so set mass to your approximated value. Make sure you set friction and gravity to zero though. Since there will be no global gravity and no air friction.

Use the force+torque options to carefully rotate the ship. If you want it to be more arcade like then either A) Don't use physics B) Add a somewhat complex controlling system that adds and subtracts torque and velocity as necessary to balance the ship.

Yeah,... if you want to create a simulation you have to use mass!!!.

Take a look in to

2_D Spaceshooter

In this little program i also use mass.
I also created two planets. One planet with gravity and one with anti-gravity. Maybe you'll find what you are looking for.

here u can watch my 3d version of the spaceshooter:





cheers
Marcel

oh ! It's very nice but I can't down load the demo !
Any one would help me ?