Falling-sand game explained

A falling-sand game is a genre of video game and a sub-genre of sandbox games which typically utilize a two-dimensional particle or cellular automaton based game engine to simulate various materials interacting in a sandbox environment.

In falling-sand games, the user can interact with (e.g. place and remove) particles on a canvas which can interact with other particles in various ways, which can lead to complex emergent behaviour.[1] As sandbox games, they generally have an emphasis on free-form gameplay, relaxed rules, and minimal goals.[2]

Despite the name, falling-sand games typically contain a multitude of materials besides sand, often called "elements".

History

TitleYearPlatformDetails
Down fall1993Atari ST2 player falling snow[3]
Falling sand game2005JavaAlso called "Hell of Sand" or "World of sand"[4]
wxSand2006WindowsThe first standalone version[5]
Powder Game2007Java, HTML5, Android, iOSMulti-platform with liquid simulation[6]
This is Sand2008FlashAdded changing the colour of the sand[7]
The Powder Toy2010Windows, Linux, OS X, AndroidHas liquid simulation and Newtonian gravity[8]
The Sandbox2012Flash, Windows, Android, iOSA series of games, including some 3D versions[9] [10]
sand:box2015Android, iOS, Linux, WindowsFalling sand game with advanced digital circuit simulation.[11] [12] [13]
Sandspiel2019HTML5Popular web-based version[14]
Noita2020WindowsA hybrid of "falling sand" style game with a Roguelike[15]

The first known popular example in the "falling-sand" genre was a web-based Java applet on the Japanese Dofi-Blog in 2005[16] [17] which was later expanded and rehosted as the "Falling sand game", which kick-started the genre as a trend and gave it its name.[18] [19]

The genre is not limited to free play canvas-style games; games such as the Powder Game contain additional mechanics, such as pressure based fluid simulation allowing for example water equalisation, and RPG elements such as controllable characters.

Noita blends the traditional sandbox physics with Roguelike RPG mechanics, with sophisticated playable characters and enemies.[20] [21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: bittker . max . making sandspiel . maxbittker.com . 2021-01-05 . 2020-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201107230316/https://maxbittker.com/making-sandspiel/ . live .
  2. Web site: The History and Theory of Sandbox Gameplay . www.gamasutra.com . 16 July 2009 . 6 January 2021 . 26 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210126033310/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132470/the_history_and_theory_of_sandbox_.php . live .
  3. Web site: Down fall. Atari mania. 2024-03-29.
  4. Web site: Welcome to the World of Sand. GameSetWatch. 2005-12-24. Carless, Simon. 2011-06-21. 2011-09-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20110926061423/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2005/12/welcome_to_the_world_of_sand.php. dead.
  5. Web site: Falling Sand: The Sequel. Joystiq. Quilty-Harper, Conrad. 2006-02-15. 2011-06-21. 2021-01-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210108091136/https://www.engadget.com/2006-02-15-falling-sand-the-sequel.html. live.
  6. From falling sand to Falling Everything: the simulation games that inspired Noita . Rock, Paper, Shotgun . 10 October 2019 . Cox . Matt . 5 January 2021 . 15 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191115005845/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/10/10/from-falling-sand-to-falling-everything-the-simulation-games-that-inspired-noita/ . live .
  7. Digital Play: This Is Sand . Wired . Donahoo . Daniel . 2021-01-06 . 2021-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109235547/https://www.wired.com/2012/08/this-is-sand/ . live .
  8. Web site: Explosive fun for students . edgalaxy.com . 3 September 2010 . 2021-01-06 . 2021-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210107090539/https://www.edgalaxy.com/journal/2010/9/3/explosive-fun-for-students-with-the-powder-toy-a-great-scien.html . live .
  9. Web site: the sandbox . metacritic.com . 2021-01-06 . 2022-09-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220923142800/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/the-sandbox . live .
  10. Web site: The Sandbox gaming platform receives $2.5m investment. finance.yahoo.com. 28 May 2019 . en-US. 2019-10-06. 2019-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20191006234914/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sandbox-gaming-platform-receives-2-120031549.html. live.
  11. News: Corcobado . Miguel Ángel . 2018-01-24 . Ciencia divertida a través del móvil . 2024-05-13 . El País . es . 1134-6582.
  12. Web site: Hasan . Mehedi . 2021-07-17 . 10 Best Sandbox Games For Android To Make Your Own Fun . 2024-05-13 . UbuntuPIT . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2023-11-27 . みんなペイントマーカーは持ったな！アメリカ発祥のスポーツ「ペイントボール」を体験できるFPS登場―採れたて！本日のSteam注目ゲーム3選【2023年11月27日】 . 2024-05-13 . Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト . ja.
  14. Web site: SandSpiel by max bittker - Experiments with Google . 2022-05-22 . experiments.withgoogle.com . 2022-05-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220530020352/https://experiments.withgoogle.com/sandspiel . live .
  15. Web site: Sand Physics Go Wild in Noita . techraptor.net . 14 December 2019 . 6 January 2021 . 8 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210108185908/https://techraptor.net/originals/coverage-club-noita . live .
  16. Web site: DOFI-BLOG どふぃぶろぐ. ishi.blog2.fc2.com. 2009-05-04. 2008-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20081220094651/http://ishi.blog2.fc2.com/. live.
  17. Web site: Overview . Falling Sand Game. https://web.archive.org/web/20090423105358/http://fallingsandgame.com/overview/index.html . 2009-04-23 .
  18. Web site: Time Killer: The Sand Game (It's Great Fun) . PC World. https://web.archive.org/web/20081028195233/http://blogs.pcworld.com/tipsandtweaks/archives/002429.html . 2008-10-28 .
  19. Web site: Falling Sand Game . boredhumans.com . 2021-01-05 . 2020-11-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201118065821/https://boredhumans.com/falling_sand.php . live .
  20. Web site: Noita: a Game Based on Falling Sand Simulation . 80.lv . 5 April 2019 . 6 January 2021 . 10 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210110021213/https://80.lv/articles/noita-a-game-based-on-falling-sand-simulation/ . live .
  21. Web site: Noita wiki - Falling Sand Game . gamepedia.com . 2021-01-06 . 2021-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109143721/https://noita.gamepedia.com/Falling_Sand_Game . live .

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