Line Rider
A physics-based toy where you draw sledding tracks.
Line Rider is a browser-based software toy created by Slovenian student Boštjan Čadež in September 2006. Originally released on DeviantArt, it quickly became an internet phenomenon and received coverage from outlets such as Yahoo! and Time Magazine. It was named Best Webtoy of 2006 by Jay is Games users and staff.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Boštjan Čadež
- Publisher
- inXile Entertainment (remake)
- Genius Products (DS)
- Deep Silver (remake, Europe)
- Platforms
- Microsoft Silverlight
- Adobe Flash
- Nintendo DS
- Wii
- Microsoft Windows
- Android
- iOS
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The player draws lines with a mouse, and a boy named Bosh on a sled rides along them after pressing Play. Simulated physics require the track to be smooth enough to keep the character on the sled. The creator prefers calling it a toy rather than a game, as there is no goal or end. Despite this simplicity, users have created complex tracks featuring loops, flings, and manuals both on and off the sled. Many tracks are set to music, such as one timed to the entire self-titled album by This Will Destroy You, while others incorporate hand-drawn background art. Tracks are typically shared via video uploads to sites like YouTube or Google Video. Revision 6.2, released in August 2007, improved performance and added a more powerful zoom tool. Tracks can be saved locally on the user's hard drive, and public sharing requires logging into the website server.
History
Boštjan Čadež, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Slovenia, conceived Line Rider in 2005 as an art project for his illustration class. He had prior programming experience with VJ sets, Flash games, and Advanced Visualization Studio presets. His initial idea combined pre-coding with traditional frame-by-frame animation, allowing users to animate by drawing. He incorporated drawing and mouse control mechanics from Anderas Gysin's program Cronodraw. A sketchbook page of a small man sledding on a tilted line reminded him of childhood doodles, becoming the project's basis. Development took over a year, totaling four months of work, during which Čadež learned physics and vector mathematics from tutorials by Metanet Software, the developers of N+. He deliberately omitted an eraser feature, stating that mistakes should remain. InXile founder Brian Fargo named the main character Bosh, though Čadež initially proposed Sanka.
As an educational tool
Line Rider has been used in physics education, with an article in The Physics Teacher by members of Southeastern Louisiana University's Physics Department analyzing video captures to explore in-game physics.
Remake
It features gameplay similar to revision 6.2, adding a multiplayer puzzle mode, different vehicles, exploding lines, and scenery. InXile Entertainment gained console rights on December 19, 2006, legally restricting copies. A story mode with characters Bailey and Chaz spans 40 courses designed by TechDawg, where the player competes for the ultimate sled and Bailey's love. Tracks can be downloaded from the game's website. Voice actors include Tom Kenny as Bosh, Tara Strong as Bailey, and Fred Tatasciore as Chaz. An iPhone version, Line Rider iRide, includes accelerometer-based physics and worldwide file sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who published Line Rider?
Line Rider was published by inXile Entertainment (remake), Genius Products (DS) and Deep Silver (remake, Europe).
What platforms is Line Rider available on?
Line Rider was released for Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Flash, Nintendo DS, Wii, Microsoft Windows, Android and iOS.
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