lane splitter
Latest
TUAW's Daily App: Lane Splitter
You may never have actually experienced this, but here in Los Angeles, every time we head out on the freeways, we face a dreaded threat: the motorcyclist. Not that I actually have anything against these guys (I'm sure they're very nice), but in LA, I've found that they tend to have a set of rules outside of the normal traffic -- even when you're parked on the 405 at a standstill thanks to a traffic jam, the guys on motorcycles are somehow able to split lanes, flying down the dotted line in between two long backups of cars. And that's what Lane Splitter is all about -- you play a motorcyclist rushing down a freeway, cutting in between various cars as you speed on. It's generally a Canabalt-style running game, but using the accelerometer to steer provides a fun driving twist to the game, and pulling a wheelie on your motorcycle can add up some extra points as well. Unfortunately, there's no Game Center integration, though there are global leaderboards, and an update is promised in the future (though it hasn't shown up since December). But Lane Splitter has another bonus going for it on this Friday: it's currently completely free for both iPad and iPhone. If you're down to do some traffic weaving this weekend, give it a look.
Fractiv tells the tale of Project Offset, launches new website
The story of Project Offset doesn't have a happy ending (not yet, at least). Several years ago, Offset Software began developing Project Offset, a fantasy FPS built from the team's impressive, proprietary Offset engine. The technology was so impressive, in fact, that Intel bought the studio in early 2008 with the intention of using Project Offset to showcase its new Larrabee graphics tech. Things were looking good ... until Intel's corporate strategy changed and the company decided to abandon the project and disband the team two years later. Now Intel owns the Project Offset name as well as the Offset engine, putting the Offset team's new company, Fractiv, firmly back at square one. Former Offset Software founder and current head of Fractiv, Sam McGrath, tells the whole story to Big Download -- just make sure you've got your box of tissues handy. Looking forward, Fractiv has released Lane Splitter on the App Store, with an Android version also in the works. The company's next project, an action RPG with a Old West theme called The Gunsmith (pictured), is currently in development for iOS and Android, with PC and console versions "being considered." Read more about The Gunsmith and check out additional screens at Fractiv's new website.
