Line Rider

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Line Rider

Developer(s)	Boštjan Čadež
Designer(s)	Boštjan Čadež
Version	Beta 2 - Revision 6.2
Platform(s)	Adobe Flash
Release date	23 September 2006
Genre(s)	Browser game
Mode(s)	Single player
Media	Download, Browser game
Input methods	Keyboard, mouse

Line Rider is a Flash physics internet 'toy' originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež (also known as fšk on the internet), a Slovenian university student.^[1]^[2] Originally appearing on DeviantArt on September 23, 2006, Line Rider quickly became an internet phenomenon.

Line Rider has been featured by several websites, such as Yahoo!^[3], and Time Magazine's website.^[4] 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]

1 Gameplay
- 1.1 Mobile version
2 Community
3 References
4 External links

[edit] 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 "dude" or "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. 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]

On December 19, 2006 , it was announced that InXile Entertainment had gained console rights for the game, legally restricting copies and imitations of the game. On the official site it was stated that there would be Nintendo DS and Wii versions in Spring 2007 which would have new features.^[10] As of May 2008, no such games have been released, however, Line Rider will be released on both systems in Spring 2008. 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. Reports of a glitch making use of the simulation zoom in 6.1, allowing people to zoom in further than thought possible, much further in than 6.2.

A video released by the designers shows that a new version of the game will be released in 2008. This version will include a much larger tool base for creating scenery, the ability to include some colors and layers, stunts and sound. The new version will also allow for situations in which Bosh may be able to reaquire his sled if he falls off, and features a "finish line" which will prevent the track from going on forever. There will also be a number of new "Line-Types", most of which have not yet been released to the public.

McDonalds released a commercial featuring Bosh riding across various things sold in McDonalds, including Dasani water, then eventually jumping over The Golden Arches.

[edit] Mobile version

Line Rider was released for portable devices in October 2007. Gameplay is similar to that of the original revision 6.2, with the addition of a puzzle mode, and has several added features including exploding lines and scenery. Players are able to share tracks with others through a Bluetooth connection and also you can send the files in texts to other phones and to the web.^{[citation needed]}

In this new version the character's name is given as "Bosh", or "Line Rider", as a reference to Boštjan Cadež, the creator of Line Rider. There is also a jeep flyer, and cycle flyer. Theses are made by fans and are many more differnt versions, like zada and "slightly hacked".

[edit] Community

Many fansites have been made because of the phenomenon that is Linerider, such as Linerider.orgor http://iridethelines.com . The fansites usually have a forum so members can share their Linerider creations with each other. People can collaborate and work with one another on a track, grades other people's tracks, or submit their own to be graded.