Fig 8.

By: Derek Yu

On: August 21st, 2009

Fig. 8 is a new browser game from Intuition Games (Dinowaurs, Effing Hail) where you control a bicycle through a city displayed as a technical diagram. I really enjoyed it – it gave me a great reminder of how relaxing it is to ride a bike through a suburban neighborhood (something I haven’t done in a long time). Somehow this wouldn’t have worked without the graphics, audio (great music), and the way the bicycle’s wheels leave tracks.

I’m not sure if it was the right idea to add highscores and combos to this game, however – it’s a lot more fun to do loops and draw pictures on the ground than to maintain a straight line or “grind” edges. Similarly, I think the checkpoints put too much emphasis on finishing rather than simply enjoying the biking.

In the end, I guess I’m uncertain whether it should have been a race at all. I got more enjoyment out of the game once I dropped that pretense. Otherwise, it’s a really wonderful experience.

TIGdb: Entry for Fig. 8

Effing Hail

By: Derek Yu

On: April 10th, 2009

Intuition Games, the creators of the multiplayer strategy game Dinowaurs, have released a nifty new browser game called Effing Hail. Apparently hail is actually formed the way it is in the game, starting as frozen rain drops that get bigger as updrafts keep them afloat. Thankfully, the largest hailstone ever recorded IRL is still only (!) the size of a volleyball.

I wonder if, when that volleyball-sized hailstone hit the ground, some deity somewhere was like “FUCK, I could have made that so much BIGGER!”

TIGdb: Entry for Effing Hail

Age of the (Fucking) Dinosaurs

By: Derek Yu

On: March 21st, 2008

1up review of Flashbang Studio’s Off-Road Velociraptor Safari, featuring Mr. Scott Sharkey and Mr. Cesar Quintero. Gotta love how aggro (i.e. drunk) Scott is!

Testing the long-necked, small-brained physics for Flashbang’s next game, Jetpack Brontosaurus. Be sure to check out the new concept art on the site, as well!

Dinowaurs – 2d dino on dino combat. Wear helmets, fire rockets, and command helpless cavemen to do your bidding (or kill them)! Coming soon.

And finally, Dino Run, a new single and multiplayer online platformer from the creators of Gamma Bros.!

Proof positive that, though dinosaurs may not rule the Earth any more, they still rule… our hearts_. Now if only the mainstream game industry follow suit and make a new Rage">Primal Rage game! (Dead serious here.)