I’ve just found this game online and am quite impressed with its concept and execution.
We’ve probably all seen puzzle/strategy games like this before - I know I’m feeling a little déjàvu - but for some reason this one seems to stand out. Probably because its visuals are so minimal and elegant in their execution and the contextual tools they provide when certain elements are selected are quite intuitive.
On November 24, London’s “Science Museum” is opening a gallery named “Launchpad”. They describe it as a “hands-on, brains-on” space packed with over 50 interactive physics exhibits, shows and demos. If you’re a local, make sure you pay them a visit and tell the rest of us about it!
To publicise the event, a viral Flash game was commissioned and “Launchball” was born.
In brief, the user is asked to place tiles that perform specific functions to ultimately guide the ball to the goal. As the theme is physics, tools include batteries, magnets, fans etc. It comes with 35 levels of increasing complexity and notably, a level editor which empowers the user to create and share their own levels… satisfying the requirements of creating a viral marketing piece and also spreading the physics love.
These pictures don’t really do the experience justice. The transitions are smooth, the visuals are simple and stylish and the concept is interesting and thorough. It kept me entertained for 10-20 mins… which is about 99% longer than most online games I come across these days.
Get you clicking gear around this:
Link: Launchball
Link: Launchpad
Link: Science Museum
Link: Preloaded (the brains-on people that developed the game)
If you make a level, perhaps you can share it with me? My email: michael [-at sign-] footloosemoose [-period-] com
