**When a Glitch Became Legend: The Story of Rocket Jumping** Every gamer knows that sometimes, the best features aren’t designed—they’re *discovered*. One of the most famous examples of this is **rocket jumping**, a mechanic that started as a **bug** but became a **core feature** in games like *Quake* and *Team Fortress 2*.  ### <br>**The Accidental Discovery** Back in the early days of *Quake*, players realized that firing a rocket at their feet while jumping would propel them into the air. This wasn’t intentional—it was a side effect of the game’s physics engine. Normally, explosions were meant to damage players, but the knockback effect allowed for **unexpected mobility**. Developers could have patched it out, but players *loved* it. It added a new layer of skill, allowing for **daring escapes**, **flank routes**, and **flashy kills**. Instead of removing it, id Software *embraced* it, refining the mechanic in later games. ### <br>**Code Behind the Chaos** In simple terms, rocket jumping works by applying explosive force to the player’s velocity. Here’s a basic pseudocode example: ```python def rocket_jump(player, rocket): distance = calculate_distance(player, rocket.explosion_origin) knockback = rocket.explosion_force / distance # Inverse square law player.velocity.y += knockback * JUMP_MULTIPLIER player.take_damage(rocket.damage * DAMAGE_REDUCTION) ``` This code shows how force diminishes with distance, rewarding precise jumps while punishing sloppy ones with self-damage. ### <br>**From Bug to Esports Staple** Rocket jumping evolved into a **competitive skill**, especially in *Team Fortress 2*, where classes like the **Soldier** and **Demoman** relied on it for advanced movement. Top players could chain jumps to reach insane speeds or pull off mid-air kills. What started as an unintended quirk became a **defining trait** of FPS games. It’s a perfect example of how players can shape a game’s evolution—sometimes, the best features aren’t planned, they’re *unleashed by accident*. Would you believe something so iconic began as a **mistake**? That’s the magic of gaming. 🚀