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Line Rider is an internet physics toy. Versions are available for Microsoft Silverlight and for Flash. It was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež (also known as "fšk"), a Slovenian university student.[1][2] Originally appearing on DeviantArt on September 23, 2006, Line Rider quickly became an internet phenomenon.
Line Rider is featured by several websites, such as Yahoo! but is mainly used on the website Linerider.com,[3] Time Magazine's website[4] and has appeared in several McDonald's commercials. Line Rider was also selected by staff and voted by users as the Best Webtoy of 2006 in the Jay is Games polls.[5] A two-page article about the game was published in Games for Windows: The Official Magazine.[6]
Gameplay
The
Line Rider character, "Bosh"
The basic concept is to draw one or more lines with the mouse on which a boy (referred to as "Bosh" by the creator[7]) on a sled can ride after the player presses the "Play" button. The game includes simulated physics, which means the track must be sufficiently smooth to prevent the character from falling off the sled. The author has said that he prefers the description "toy" to "game," as there is no goal to accomplish, nor does it have an end.[8] In spite of its simplicity, many complicated tracks have been created, which include loops and other stunts. New tracks can consist of unrealistic tricks such as "flings" and "manuals" both on and off the sled. Some tracks are even set to music and include hand-drawn scenery such as mountain slopes and trees. Tracks are typically shared among users by uploading a video to web sites, such as YouTube or Google Video.[9] Revision 6.2 of Line Rider was released in August 2007, and was optimized to run more smoothly, and to have a higher-powered zoom tool. The game does allow created tracks to be saved, and shown to the public (only if creator wishes to do so). The storage is not on the Line Rider website, but on the user's hard drive, therefore allowing maximum storage implication and quicker access to stored tracks. In order to allow public viewing, the user must be logged into the website server.
A new version of the game has been released to buy. This version includes a much larger tool base for creating scenery, the ability to include some colors and layers, stunts and sound. The new version also allows for situations in which Bosh may be able to reacquire his sled if he falls off, and features a "finish line" which will prevent the track from going on forever. There are also a number of new "line-types". New types of lines are the "trampoline lines," which causes Bosh to bounce against the line; "trapdoor lines," which are erased when Bosh rides over them; "slow lines," which slow down Bosh when riding; "trigger lines," which can either be used to zoom in on Bosh and/or make him do a trick, and "breakable lines," which allow Bosh to go through them and explode when they are touched. The "Trampoline lines" were used to make bouncers for the pinball track in TechDawg's alpha preview. The game is titled Line Rider 2: Unbound. This version is available for purchase on the personal computer, Nintendo DS and Wii, marking the first time the series has been released beyond the computer.
On July 1, 2008 the original Flash version was replaced by a new one written in Silverlight 2 Beta 2. It includes a new feature that allows people to send tracks to other people via Windows Messenger.On October 23 2009 this was replaced by Beta 3 which has the option to use dual players, a camera, trapdoor and deceleration lines.
Line Rider 2: Unbound
Main article: Line Rider 2: Unbound
Mobile version
Line Rider was released for portable devices in October 2008. The gameplay is similar to that of the original revision 6.2, with the addition of a multiplayer puzzle mode, and has several added features including different vehicles, exploding lines and scenery. Players are able to share tracks with others through a Bluetooth connection and can send the files in texts to other phones and to the web.[citation needed]
A version has been released for the Apple iPhone called Line Rider iRide. This version includes iPhone specific features such as accelerometer based physics and worldwide file sharing.
As an educational tool
Line Rider has been the basis for an article published in The Physics Teacher magazine concerning the use of computers in Physics education by members of the Physics Department of Southeastern Louisiana University.[10] The article uses video captures of Line Rider to explore the physics in the game by use of video analysis.
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