flOw

Game Share!

http://www.jenovachen.com/flowingames/flowing.htm

screen shot of game

I was reminded of one of my favorite games the other day when I was in the lab with the students. I had given them "Free Time" to chose games to play and one of these kids discovered a download of flOw. This is a game in which you are a micro-organism and it is your job to survive . . . which is the basis of life. 


You grow as you find food, which is basically anything you can overcome in your travels. You control the game by pointing the mouse wherever you want to go and at whomever you want to eat with your wide open mouth.  Some organisms go down in one gulp and others you must battle. Be careful because some of the creatures, such as the jelly-fish, are very hard to overcome and they are more likely to overcome you!


You move through the game in several ways. Usually most of the action and food is close to two items . .  a blue organism which brings you up a layer and a red organism which brings you down a layer in your puddle of life . . . For instance if you wish to go to a deeper level, look for the red wave and head toward it where you will find a small organism with a red dot inside . ..  eat it and you go down .  . easy!


And the deeper you go the darker it gets. Eventually you reach the bottom where you find a creature that looks like you . .  this is the final boss and you battle this guy to the death . .


The boy, who found the download in my lab, loved it so much that he came back later looking for it . . . but . . . he couldn't get to the computer that had that game and he couldn't find it anywhere else on any of the other computers. He started to weep in frustration and it was a teaching moment for me as I tried to convince him that there were other great games to play . .  but oh no! . . . it had to be flOw or nothing . . .


Here is a link to what Jay is Games said about this game:
http://jayisgames.com/archives/2006/03/flow.php
also with a little more explanation on game play . . .


One final suggestion . .. the game has beautiful sounds and music and also a feeling of serenity (especially if you avoid the jellyfish) when you just swim around looking at things and eating just a few items to see how you grow and gain wings . . . it can be a peaceful, playful time or . . .a battle to the death . . . its your choice . . .


ENJOY!

P.S. The game is difficult to find as a download but I found it when I clicked "play" and then the "download" on that page . . . 

Diversion /// Time for Games

http://www.ferryhalim.com/orisinal/

This is a quick little stop to share one of my favorite game sites. All these visually beautiful games were created in flash by Ferry Halim .. .. a very nice guy who lives with his family in California . .. . and maintains this site for your pleasure . . . and his . . . ENJOY!

Some Music and a Game!

Album cover . . . for "Memories" by Van Syla

 Some Favorite Music of Mine:

I don't want to brag or anything, but a friend of mine used one of my sea pictures for her album . . . OH and the music is especially good . . .

My Review: I always look forward to a new album by Van Syla. Her music builds up my mood and I need her brand of musical sunshine in the depths of winter.

In this little album its hard to pick out a favorite because the songs are all so unique. I love "Memories" for its sentiment and drama . . . the strings are expressive and fulfilling . . . they give the wings to fly up and find the dream . . . this one is just plain beautiful . . . maybe this one is my favorite . . . hmmmm . . .

"Weekend" is a happy ride with a lilting guitar . . . just like I feel about the weekend coming up after a long hard week at work. Also, it has its contemplative moments . . . and makes me feel like not only is there happiness and anticipation . . . but planning and hope . . . lovely! Could be this is my favorite of the three . . . let me see . . ..

The beautiful piano in "Grandma's Song" seems simple . . . but has a complexity that tells a story . . . I hear a little of Van Syla's unique signature beat dancing through in this one . . . this one may be my favorite . . . I just can't seem to chose!

If I ever chose which one is my favorite . . . I will let you know . . . but I think they are all my favorites . . .
 

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

I have also been enjoying a couple of other lovely albums today:

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

And another artist I am especially fond of is Dom the Bear. Check out his offerings :

Royalty-free music for professional licensing 

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A Favorite Game of Mine:

Wall paper from the game of "Drifts"

http://www.bobblebrook.com/games/drifts

Everyone needs to break away from the herd, now and then . . . and here is a way to do so, through relaxed and easy play . . . The game is called "Drifts," by bobblebrook and it is simply beautiful, a little challenging, and very relaxing . . . I like to play it with the sound turned off and listening to Jamendo music . . .

I love the way the administrators of the game gives everyone the chance

to be in the highscore list, as the high scorers are removed weekly . . . and the best part is the fact that the game uses my favorite color combination . . . even though the purple bubbles are the enemy. . . they don't chase your red/orange bubble . .. so they aren't that bad!  My only complaint is that there is no pause button .  .. but . . . oh well!

I was number 1 for a day!

OK - you ask: "What have games got to do with art? Isn't this a blog about art?" 

My answer: "ummmm . . . there is an "art" to creating the perfect game . . . and besides "drifts" is very artistic as the shadowy painting in the background is very eye appealing. OK?"

So . . . occasionally I will drop by to share a favorite Internet game of mine .  .  . and I will try to make sure that it is artistic . . .

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