Line Rider as Artist Exploration

Line Rider was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan Čadež, a Slovenian university student, as a part of his Masters thesis. Originally appearing on DeviantArt on September 23, 2006, Line Rider quickly became an Internet phenomenon. Visit http://linerider.com/play-line-rider-online, and use the Beta 2 version if you have Flash installed. If you have Silverlight installed you can launch the game from the home page.

The basic concept is to draw one or more lines with the mouse on which a character (sometimes referred to as "dude") 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 creator, Boštjan Čadež, refers to Line Rider as a toy rather than a game, since there is no goal to accomplish, nor does it require an ending.

The basic tools for creating the sled track include a pencil, a line, and an eraser. You can also create different types of lines. They include regular, acceleration, and scenery. The regular, and acceleration lines are used to create the sled track, while the scenery lines do not interact with the sled.

Line rider was originally created using Flash, but has since opened up to other formats that include console games for Nintendo DS, and Wii. On December 19, 2006, it was announced that InXile Entertainment had gained console rights for the game. In July of 2008 a new internet version was launched using Microsoft’s Silverlight that will enable layers, colors, and new line types.

Line Rider can be saved as a video and many have been shared on You Tube. Here's a link to see one of the more popular Line Rider videos. Versions have been created for mobile devices, like cell phones, and iPod Touches.