It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I figure this is worth writing about, and may indeed kick me into a whole new posting streak.
For the last four months I’ve been bugtesting a new game my friend Colin Northway has been slaving away at. The game just went “public” today.
Fantastic Contraption is an in-browser flash-based physics-puzzle/sandbox game similar to Armadillo Run or The Incredible Machine. You are given a selection of simple tools (wheels and sticks) and have to build a contraption that can overcome an obstacle.
It reminds me a lot of Tinker Toys; it isn’t one of those physics games where you get a million tools. There’s a beauty in the simplicity and it’s not hard to imagine a variety of solutions for each puzzle.
The game allows you to save your solutions or even design your own levels, and offers a handy way to link to them so you can share you designs directly with people. For example, this is my design Flexy Reverso, one of my favorite contraptions. It’s beautifully simple and I love it to bits. Likewise, this is a lumbering walking device made by Alan.
Here’s a screenshot of the interface (and my player-designed level “Shaky Ground”):
Everyone should check it out right the hell now!
Link: Fantastic Contraption
on July 5th, 2008 at 9:59 pm #
I was also able to make A Stripper
on July 6th, 2008 at 8:37 am #
That game is quite the time gobbler. your friend should be very proud. I do find, however, that many of the early puzzles can be solved with very similar contraptions that aren’t really that fabulous.
on July 7th, 2008 at 3:32 pm #
Cool stuff. In the early stages at least, I’m just randomly putting stuff together and doing it trial and error. Even if it doesn’t work out, it’s still pretty fun.
on July 16th, 2008 at 5:02 am #
I find this program to be 10 kinds of awesome and applaud Colin and Sarah’s efforts.