Virtual object appearance control

An apparatus arranged to execute a computer game and control the appearance of an object in a virtual environment of the computer game, in which the computer game is arranged to move the object within the virtual environment, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing:
• (a) data associating with the object a three-dimensional array of nodes, the data comprising, for each node, data defining a position of that node in a coordinate system for the object;
• and
• (b) data defining a first shape of the object by associating each of a first plurality of locations on the object with a respective predetermined position relative to one or more of the nodes;
• and
• a processor comprising:
• a collision detection module for detecting a collision of the object with an item in the virtual environment;
• an adjustment module for adjusting the position of one or more of the nodes to represent the collision, thereby adjusting the first shape of the object;
• and
• an image output module for outputting an image of the object based on the adjusted first shape of the object.