Line Rider
This submission is currently being researched & evaluated!
You can help confirm this entry by contributing facts, media, and other evidence of notability and mutation.
Origin
Line Rider is an internet physics toy. Versions are available for Microsoft Silverlight and for Flash. It was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež (also known as fšk), a Slovenian university student. Originally appearing on DevianArt on September 23, 2006, Line Rider quickly became an internet phenomenon.
(Source: wikipedia. See link)
Gameplay
The basic concept is to draw one or more lines with the mouse on which a boy (referred to as "Bosh" 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.
(Source: wikipedia again)
What instantly provided a broad appeal is the infinite possibilites allowed by that simple game.
There is no real end in it and it allowed all sort of contents to be created, from simple race tracks to high pieces of art.
Spread
The same year it was born, this meme got it own Urban Dictionary's entry.
Then, it featured in nearly every websites talking about flash animation or games (some examples below).
Thank to its growing popularity, it even got its own official website:
Reaching YTMND
Even since the very beginning of its fame, Line ride got parodied on YTMND:
- http://epiclinerider.ytmnd.com/ was the first instance by MkidTrigun the 7th of October 2006.
It led to 5 other variations on YTMND.
As you can see though, it didn't get that popular for the view counts are around 1,000 but it does show that it got featured there.
Youtube: Platform for showing your drawing skills
Following this notorious trend of people playing that game, Youtube became instantly the target of videos showing everyone's original version of their track:
If one checks the view counts, one can see that it can go from 100,000 views to 3 000 000 views.
Getting attention from mainstream media.
In december 2006, just a few months since the release of the first flash game, it was announced that InXile Entertainment had gained console rights for Line Rider, legally restricting copies and imitations of the game. In fact, InXile Entertainment is currently threatening legal action against content providers who host versions of the original game. Nintendo DS and Wii versions were released in Fall 2008, containing new features.
It has also been stated that a story mode featuring new characters Bailey and Chaz will be in the game for DS, PC and Wii. In the story mode the player will compete against Chaz in hopes of winning the ultimate sled and the love of Bailey. This mode will span 40 courses, all of which were designed by TechDawg, a well known track designer. You can also download other people's tracks off of the internet from the game's website. The European version will be published by Koch Media.
Voice Actors starring Tom Kenny (as Bosh),Tara Strong (as Baily) and Fred Tatasciore (as Chaz).
It has been nominated for two Nintendo DS-specific awards in IGN's 2008 Game of the Year awards, namely Best Puzzle Game and Best Original Score.
(Source: Wikipedia)
In 2008, McDonald used the meme in several commercials:
Finally, in october 2008, a portable version of the game was released.
Display Comments