LineRider
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iGaming news: LineRider and X-Plane
A couple of new games from the wider world have hit the App Store, and fans of both should be excited: LineRider brings an online sensation to the touchable side, and X-Plane brings flight simulation street cred to iPhone and iPod touch users.LineRider (store link) started out as a simple, no-frills sledding Flash game from a Czech Slovenian student and has exploded into an online phenom -- the current version runs in MS Silverlight, and it has spawned over 11,000 videos of courses (including a couple of McDonald's advertisments) and forthcoming versions for the Wii and PC. The iPhone version features the same basic gameplay as the online flavor (build a track, release the sled, crash and burn) along with a course-sharing option to let your friends download your creations. LineRider is $2.99US.At the other end of the gaming spectrum, Laminar Research's X-Plane flight sim has long been acclaimed for its accuracy and flexibility. Now the experience of X-Plane 9 (store link)has been squeezed into your pants with the iPhone version. The portable X-Plane lets you fly four different aircraft around the game's demo area (the skies above Innsbruck, Austria) using the device accelerometer to control your flight, or onscreen touch controls if you prefer. The quote from Laminar on the iTunes store page is illuminating:We here at Laminar Research are still a bit shell-shocked at how powerful this little device is, and how much power in flight simulation can be stuffed into it...That bodes well for future sim development. X-Plane is $9.99US.Thanks to everyone who sent these in.
Line Rider 2 draws up more screens
IGN has a bunch of new screens up for Line Rider 2: Unbound, including some basic shots of the game's playback editor.It's clear that the site has also had some hands-on time with the game -- we know this because an IGN bod has scrawled out the letters "IGN" for their rider to coast along. Predictable, yes, but it's more original than the anatomically wonky genitalia that most of you us will draw upon first getting the title. As we saw in recent footage, Line Rider 2 looks like it will be sticking to the original Flash game fairly faithfully, so it's only reasonable to assume that we'll be experimenting with the same childish drawings in the DS version.Sketch out a line and slide past the break for more shots.%Gallery-21530%
inXile founds SparkWorkz, former Microsoft exec to head
inXile Entertainment, the developer behind 2004's tongue-in-cheek RPG The Bard's Tale, has announced the founding of a new online-focused division called SparkWorkz, with former Microsoft exec David Heeley tapped to call the shots. According to inXile, SparkWorkz will "build an online network and community" for showing off user-generated content.All of this sounds a bit like inXile is attempting to recapture YouTube's lightning in a bottle, as inXile CEO Brian Fargo notes that the company's goal is to create an "online destination for people to show off their creative talents across a number of different game and non-game media environments." Among other things, players can expect to use the network to create and share content created using the company's upcoming Wii and DS adaptations of Line Rider, giving us another reason to look forward to the cult Flash time waster's launch this summer.
Riding lines on the DS is pretty much what you'd expect
If you thought you precious Line Rider experience was in jeopardy of being altered or changed in some way, perhaps turning into something else entirely on the DS, then let those fears disappear. As you can see from the video above, Line Rider 2: Unbound very much looks and plays like Line Rider should. We don't have to tell you how great that makes us feel!Any of you excited for this one?%Gallery-21530%[Via Go Nintendo]
Line Rider creator speaks
While we all sit on our hands, waiting for the DS and Wii version of Line Rider, the game's creator, Bostjan Cadez took time out of making it to conduct a nice interview with GameSetWatch. In it, Cadez talks about spitballing names for the little line-riding dude himself, as well as touching on inXile and how they're handling the development of the Wii and DS game.Now that we finally got to see some screens and video of the game last month, you can say all of the pieces are in place. We have a release date and Line Rider is looking like it won't disappoint.
Line Rider coming to PC, Wii, DS this summer
It's been a while since we talked about the cult flash physics game Line Rider. Last we heard, developer InXile Entertainment snatched up the rights to the project, with the intent to release it on DS and Wii. Now, industry newbie Genius Products has announced intentions to publish the game on the DS, Wii, and PC, with all three versions due out this summer.Genius Products has up to now specialized in the distribution of home entertainment products like DVDs. With Line Rider, the Weinstein Holdings company is moving into the game publishing market, hopefully with a hit product. The retail versions of Line Rider will include a level creator mode with the ability to share creations online, but will also feature a single player puzzle mode with, inconceivably enough, a storyline. As Bosh -- the "clever and cunning" protagonist -- players must traverse over forty sled-riding puzzles to reclaim their true love Bailey from the hands of the "sled-stealing scumbag" Chaz (seriously). The pre-made Line Rider levels were notably designed by TechDawg, the #1 Line Rider player in the world. Let's hope this big(ger)-budget, plot-driven version of the freeware classic is still, above all else, fun.[Via DS Fanboy]
Genius Products pencilling in Line Rider for summer
Genius Products is a home entertainment company that seems to focus on DVD publishing. They're expanding into video games with the DS, PC, and Wii retail releases of inXile Entertainment's Line Rider. In the press release announcing the company's new business, Genius revealed that they are planning to release Line Rider this summer on all three platforms.The press release also promises "over 40 mind-bending puzzles created by the #1 Line Rider player in the world, TechDawg" in addition to the abilty (of course) to draw your own puzzles and share them online. Try to upload at least a few non-vulgar ones.[Via GamesPress]
Line Rider riding retail shelves this summer
For those of you who've been anxiously awaiting the DS and Wii versions of Line Rider, know that your wait is almost over. After not hearing a single peep about the game during 2007, this year brings news that not only is the game releasing this summer, but that developers have been hard at work on the game for quite some time. This title isn't going away!Other than a release date, the folks at InXile are keeping their mouths shut. We wouldn't expect any more information, as these folks have proven they're great at keeping their mouths shut about leaking details.[Via Go Nintendo]
Line Rider inspired by Gamasutra
We've exerted our influence on game design a few times before-- and by "a few times" we mean "once", and by "game design" we mean "a subtitle." It hardly compares to Gamasutra's accidental influence on Line Rider.The creator of the Flash game, soon to be a DS and Wii game, didn't know enough about physics, and therefore couldn't make the physics-based game we all enjoy. That is, until he saw an article on Gamasutra with simple physics calculations laid out in pseudocode. He adapted the pseudocode into real code, integrated it with a drawing tool, and Line Rider was born. We love hearing about gaming websites Making a Difference. We'd love to feel useful someday ourselves!
Today's line rideriest video: Line Rider Super Mario Bros. 1 - 1
Lovingly re-rendered in line form, watch the lone Line Rider (could Mario be in there?) as he traverses world 1 - 1. Complete with sound effects, the theme song, and some flips, this isn't your old school Mario, even though the graphics are ultra-retro.[Thanks, Kevin]
Indies and consoles: an imperfect system
According to Gamasutra's Simon Carless, the independent scene is facing an uphill battle when developing for consoles, specifically in the realm of digital distribution. Carless argues that the difficulty in bringing a title across all platforms, both for technological and business reasons.Other than some retro titles (e.g. Joust), a very small number of downloadable title are appearing on both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is one of the few exceptions, and Capcom's Christian Svensson said it required "considerable coordination" to get the titles on both consoles, which indicates to us that less established independent houses would have insurmountable difficulty.Carless notes that Sony's collection, retro games aside, are predominantly first party (though we should note that flOw went to Sony because they actively sought out the independent title). Nintendo has always talked about bringing original games to the Wii, and there have been murmurings of a Game Channel, but so far all the only tangible indication of a non-Virtual Console title is Impossible Mission.Carless' analogy to the film industry (three separate formats for theatre chains), though admittedly ham-fisted, does not account for industry history. It may be unfair to the independent developer, but there hasn't been a time when gaming was controlled by a single format. Sure, development teams are now much larger and require a bigger budget, but that hasn't stopped smaller teams from succeeding with Geometry Wars, Ragdoll Kung-Fu, and Alien Hominid (pictured). The state of indie games isn't ideal, but it seems to be getting better. We say keep on fighting, Simon.
Awesome Line Rider video offers DS fans something to look forward to
What a great way to wind up the holiday! This video shows off what we'll soon be able to do on the go -- draw up entire worlds in Line Rider, the flash game scheduled to make with a DS version. Seeing something as elaborate as this stage, which is an impressive recreation of areas from Stargate Atlantis (someone really loves the Pegasus Galaxy!) makes us think it may be worth dropping some cash on an otherwise-free Flash game after all. The stylus will certainly help in these big projects. What about you? Is the stylus enough to make you consider Line Rider on the DS, or do you already own one of those snappy graphics tablets?
Stargate Atlantis lovingly rendered in Line Rider
The unassuming webtoy created by Bostjan Cadez, Line Rider, has inspired thousands of creative gamers to construct unique/crazy/inane tracks for the tiny sledder to skate through. This latest video from YouTube member unconed shows a surprisingly detailed track based on Stargate Atlantis. It's also one of the most impressive theme-based Line Rider worlds we've seen to date. The stage makes extensive use of the background drawing tool while the sledder's path runs smoothly through isometric scenery. We barely have the patience to draw a successful half-pipe, let alone decorate dozens of screens with background art. Check out a more abstract and artistic video after the jump.Line Rider is a free Flash game anyone can play around with, and publisher inXile recently announced it will bring the game to the Wii and DS systems later this year.
Featured Friday Video: Line Rider does Super Mario Bros.
Ever since the announcement of Line Rider for the Wii and DS, we haven't heard much else on the title. As such, our eager fanboy minds turn to speculation, as we imagine how big the lines will be and how awesome the riding action will look. Since we're only left to imagine how this title is to be, we turn to the internet for more videos on the game. The included mash-up of Line Rider and Super Mario Bros. past the post break does a good job of calming us down and putting a smile on our face.
DS Daily: From PC to DS
We've spent a some time in our daily feature talking about games themselves, and what better topic for a Monday morning? Specifically, we want to know how you feel about flash games heading to the DS, like Cake Mania and Line Rider. These, and others, are still available to play online, so some gamers don't see much reason to bring them to the DS. Of course, portability is a plus, and some games -- particularly Line Rider -- will benefit from stylus-based controls. So how do you feel about the pros and the cons? Are these tempting titles for your DS, or will you pass?
2007: the year of the DS (again)
2006 was a banner year for gamers, particularly DS gamers. We've got it all: a rainbow of system colors, an incredible library of games, and powerful studios clamoring for a piece of the action. Our favorite handheld consistently rocked out, thundering over the competition -- all the competition -- for the entire year. The DS avalanche of awesome can't possibly continue at this rate ... and yet, when we look at the forthcoming year and the incredible parade of titles set for the year, it seems that the DS will, in fact, continue to dominate global gaming. And we're totally okay with that. Just so you know. If you're still scrambling to finish some of the titles from the latter half of 2006, play harder -- no matter who you are or what you like, you're sure to find at least ten games this year that are must-haves, and that's just among the games we know about right now. What's worse (or is that way, way better?) is that most of them are slated for the next few months. So run through Portrait of Ruin and put aside the hard rockin' Elite Beat Agents (your fingers will thank you for the break), and check after the jump for a few of the games that will drain your free time in 2007.
Line Rider to hit DS and Wii
In looking to bring the fun and quirky Flash-based game to Nintendo's gaming systems, inXile Entertainment is hoping to exceed the success of the game on the internet. They plan on releasing the adaptation by spring including some sort of multiplayer aspect, but one must ask exactly what they are planning on doing to justify the cost of the title beyond that?Considering one could just access the student-created application online whenever they want, why would DS and Wii owners, in their right mind, purchase inXile Entertainment's adaptation? Also, considering that the Wii browser's free trial starts very soon, why wouldn't Wii owners just play it that way?[Via Joystiq]
Line Rider adaptation for Wii, DS
Hoping to capitalize on Line Rider's current buzz, inXile Entertainment has snatched up the rights to the Flash-based "toy," looking to release Wii and DS adaptations of the 'student project turned internet phenomenon' in just a few short months (by spring). This move follows Sony's acquisition (and forthcoming release) of another popular Flash project, flOw.While Wii and DS hardware both compliment Line Rider's simple just-draw gameplay mechanic, inXile will have to expand its versions beyond what's offered in the original, which should be playable, for free, via Wii's Opera browser. The developer has confirmed that multiplayer will be added; and we'll assume that enhanced visual and audio effects will be considered. inXile must also include the ability to share Line Rider designs with friends, as this feature is what has propelled the Flash application's success (see YouTube).Play around with Line Rider.
