Pong and Beyond

12th game played so far

Genre: Action
Platform: Online
Year of Release: 2006
Developer: Boštjan Čadež
Publisher: N/A

So far we have had serious games, casual games and those where it is questionable whether they can be considered games at all. Line Rider falls easily into the last category.

Although it was designed by a university student (from Slovenia) this game took the internet by storm a few years ago. In fact I greatly doubt that there is anyone who was computer literate in 2006 that did NOT play this game.

This also stands as the perfect game for Christmas seeing how it’s central (doomed) character is on a sledge whilst wearing a scarf… I originally thought him to be a penguin but that’s by-the-by.

Our Playthrough

There  really is not much to do with this game except fart around with different courses and enjoying making our little scarfed boy suffer as he falls headlong into empty space.

Our Thoughts

You are a cruel man. “Yeah, I want to make people slide down lines and be thrown off and beaten in brutal inhumane ways… and then go again!” Wait until we hit GTA… then you’ll see my cruel streak. Don’t worry, I’ve seen quite enough of that already.

Here is the $64,000 question… is Line Rider a game? In the sense that it’s an environment limited by rules (gravity and so on) that you use to enjoy yourself …in a strict sense so is a yo-yo. Not as much an environment as an item, and not so much limited by its own rules as it is with outside ones. But still they are both opportunities to inflict pain… when used correctly.

Seriously though… I actually question Line Rider being a game instead of a physics simulation or toy. It’s certainly more the former and it does remind me a little bit of the simulations we used to use during physics lessons. Back when Java applets were modern. The fact this is done for fun rather than to learn is the only thing pushing it closer to being a game.

I guess, but it reminds me of a K-Nex rollercoaster I got as a kid. Lucky you; something from before my time to be fair, and Lego wasn’t that complicated.

But does it earn its place on the list? I’m not entertained that much by it. Yeah, nice for five minutes, but then you ask yourself what the point is. It’s not my kind of game

Once you’ve made a successful loop-the-loop with a trap door so he can shoot out the other side… you’ve pretty much done it. Yeah.

Final Thoughts

Line Rider is available online for free, so that shouldn’t stop you from trying it out. And it can be fun to try out, especially with a major cruel streak. Don’t expect it to keep you obsessed for hours and days.