Line Rider
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Line Rider is a Flash game originally created for exam purposes by Boštjan Čadež (currently of InXile Entertainment). Also known by his username fšk, he is a Slovenian university student. Line Rider became an Internet phenomenon in October 2006. In the week ending on 16 October 2006, it was the seventh quickest gaining keyword in Google.[1]
The basic concept is to draw one or more lines with the mouse on which a small character with a sled can ride. The game includes a physics simulation, 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.[1] In spite of its simplicity, many complicated tracks have been created, which include loops and other stunts. The game is now popular for its scenery created by its advanced users. Some tracks are even set to music and include hand-drawn scenery such as mountain slopes and trees. Tracks are typically shared by uploading a video to web sites, such as YouTube or Google Video.
Line Rider has also recently been on the front page of Yahoo! (featured on November 9, 2006), gaining even more publicity. It was only November 8, 2006 that it had been downloaded for its one-millionth time from deviantart.
On December 20, 2006, it was announced that InXile Entertainment gained console rights for the game, legally restricting copies and imitations of the game. On the official site [2] it is stated that there will be Nintendo DS and Wii versions in Spring 2007 which will have new features. [2]
Imitations
Several copycat or hacked versions of the original game have been made. Some of these, like Line Flyer, (which rides on a BMX bike) alter visual elements of the game, while others alter the programming to make playing the game easier. Others include Jeep Flyer (which rides on a jeep), Line Boarder (which rides on a snow board), and Chair Flyer (which rides on a wheel chair). The legality of these versions is questionable. Čadež had called these actions theft in his news post on deviantART and planned to prevent hacks in future versions of Line Rider. Some of these include different functions, such as: Change the colour of lines, draw Straight lines, and an eraser. There are countless other imitations such as Oineflyer, Chairflyer, Boardrider, etc.
Techniques
Even without options incorporated into the game, several people have discovered how to create straight lines in the Beta version of Line Rider. This can be done by starting a line, then right clicking with the mouse, followed by a left click at the place he/she wants the straight line to end, basically "stalling" the mouse. This technique is quite effective, but may be slow.
Another method used by experienced players is one based on creating a near flawless curve, a Bézier curves. The start of the process is to create a rough angle, with no curve. Starting at the beginning of the curve, a line is added slightly lower than the beginning of the fall. The line would stray slightly from the base line and would end up a small amount past it, connecting to the other base line. The process is repeated, adding on to the last line made, moving farther down the second of the base lines. This method creates a web like appearance, and is extremely effective in creating the smoothest of all curves.
Official Versions
- Beta
The original version of Line Rider was released on 23 September 2006. Line Rider beta uses a very limited tool set. A pencil tool is used to draw lines, a left to right stroke forms floor lines, while a right to left stroke forms ceilings. It also includes a trash can icon to erase your current track. The beta includes the ability to save tracks and reload them later.
- Beta 2
InXile released a new version of Line Rider on December 19, 2006 and then a couple more bug fixes and the target were added on December 24, 2006 The new version of Line Rider includes numerous additions. Numerous bug fixes, hack prevention, as well as a number of other features designed to make it easier to play the game.
Beta 2 Features
A number of features have been added, as of version Beta2. Listed below are these, in addition to many of the original controls.
- Pen: The pen is the original drawing tool, used to draw tracks for the linerider to sled on.
- Line: (New) A tool for creating straight lines, as opposed to freehand. In the past a glitch was used to achieve the same effect. Holding down shift will swap the ceiling/floor, so that a floor can be created moving any direction. Holding down S will disable another new feature, line snapping. This would normally attach the new line to any nearby end, within a few pixels.
- Line Colors (New)
- Blue: Regular lines.
- Red: Acceleration lines.
- Green: Scenery, the linerider will ignore these.
- Eraser: (New) Erases whole lines.
- Magnifying Glass: (New) You can zoom in and out of the track, to achieve more detail for example, when drawing.
- Hand: Grab the track, and drag it, so you can add more.
- Play: Start the track. The linerider begins at the target.
- Stop: Stop running.
- Flag: (New) If pressed while in play, a flag will be placed where the linerider was. This will remain in editing, to show you where the linerider was in play. If you play the track again, the linerider will start from this flag moving in the same direction, at the same speed as when the track was stopped. Pressing while the track isn't running will remove the flag. Only one flag can be placed.
- Save: Used to save the track. Flags are not saved, and will remain for the next track until removed.
- Trash: Deletes the entire track on screen. Flags will remain.
- Target: (New) The target marks the location the linerider will start at. When editing, the target may be dragged to a new location.
- HELP: H may be pressed in the game to read the instructions supplied by the game's creator.
References
- ^ "Google Press Center: Zeitgeist Archive". Retrieved 2006-11-26.
- ^ "InXile Entertainment aquires console rights to hit internet game Line Rider!". Retrieved 2006-12-20.