Line Rider
Encyclopedia
Line Rider is an internet game. Versions are available for Microsoft Silverlight
and for Flash. It was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež (also known as "fsk"), a Slovenian student. 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, Time Magazine's website and has appeared in several McDonald's
commercials for the Snack Wrap in 2008. Line Rider was also selected by staff and voted by users as the Best Webtoy of 2006 in the Jay is Games polls. A two-page article about the game was published in Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
.
The basic concept is to draw one or more lines with the mouse on which a boy (referred to as "Dude" by the creator) 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. 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-mountain slopes and trees. Tracks are typically shared among users by uploading a video to web sites, such as YouTube
or Google Video
. 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.
On July 1, 2008, the original Flash
version was replaced by a new one written in Silverlight
. 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.
announced that is acquired console rights to Line Rider.
The game was redesigned for the Wii, DS and iPhone platforms, in addition to the standard free play mode, the games featured a story and puzzle modes. All of the art work and sounds have also been redone.
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.
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.
magazine concerning the use of computers in Physics education by members of the Physics Department of Southeastern Louisiana University
. The article uses video captures of Line Rider to explore the physics in the game by use of video analysis.
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running rich Internet applications, with features and purposes similar to those of Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for web browsers running under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
and for Flash. It was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež (also known as "fsk"), a Slovenian student. Originally appearing on DeviantArt
DeviantArt
deviantART is an online community showcasing various forms of user-made artwork. It was first launched on August 7, 2000 by Scott Jarkoff, Matthew Stephens, Angelo Sotira and others. deviantArt, Inc...
on September 23, 2006, Line Rider quickly became an internet phenomenon.
Line Rider is featured by several websites, such as Yahoo!
Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is an American multinational internet corporation headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company is perhaps best known for its web portal, search engine , Yahoo! Directory, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Groups, Yahoo! Answers, advertising, online mapping ,...
but is mainly used on the website Linerider.com, Time Magazine's website and has appeared in several McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
commercials for the Snack Wrap in 2008. Line Rider was also selected by staff and voted by users as the Best Webtoy of 2006 in the Jay is Games polls. A two-page article about the game was published in Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine was a monthly computer game magazine published by Ziff Davis Media, licensing the Games for Windows brand from Microsoft Corporation. It was the successor to Computer Gaming World. The first issue was released in November 2006...
.
Gameplay
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, 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. 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-mountain slopes and trees. Tracks are typically shared among users by uploading a video to web sites, such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
or Google Video
Google Video
Google Videos is a video search engine, and formerly a free video sharing website, from Google Inc. Before removing user-uploaded content, the service allowed selected videos to be remotely embedded on other websites and provided the necessary HTML code alongside the media, similar to YouTube...
. 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.
On July 1, 2008, the original Flash
Adobe Flash
Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
version was replaced by a new one written in Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft Silverlight is an application framework for writing and running rich Internet applications, with features and purposes similar to those of Adobe Flash. The run-time environment for Silverlight is available as a plug-in for web browsers running under Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X...
. It includes a new feature that allows people to send tracks to other people via Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN 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.
IP acquisition
On December 20, 2006 inXile EntertainmentInXile Entertainment
inXile Entertainment is a video game developer formed in late 2002 by Brian Fargo, a founder of Interplay Productions...
announced that is acquired console rights to Line Rider.
The game was redesigned for the Wii, DS and iPhone platforms, in addition to the standard free play mode, the games featured a story and puzzle modes. All of the art work and sounds have also been redone.
Mobile version
Line Rider was released for portable devices in October 2008. The gameplayGameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
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
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
connection and can send the files in texts to other phones and to the web.
A version has been released for the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
called Line Rider iRide. This version includes iPhone specific features such as accelerometer
Accelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures proper acceleration, also called the four-acceleration. This is not necessarily the same as the coordinate acceleration , but is rather the type of acceleration associated with the phenomenon of weight experienced by a test mass that resides in the frame...
based physics and worldwide file sharing.
As an educational tool
Line Rider has been the basis for an article published in The Physics TeacherThe Physics Teacher
The Physics Teacher is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Association of Physics Teachers and includes papers on physics research, papers on the history and philosophy of physics, papers on applied physics, papers curriculum developments, papers on pedagogy, papers on instructional...
magazine concerning the use of computers in Physics education by members of the Physics Department of Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
. The article uses video captures of Line Rider to explore the physics in the game by use of video analysis.