Line Rider adaptation for Wii, DS
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Dec 19th 2006 at 6:55PM }
Hoping to capitalize on Line Rider's current buzz, inXile Entertainment has snatched up the rights to the Flash-based "toy," looking to release Wii and DS adaptations of the 'student project turned internet phenomenon' in just a few short months (by spring). This move follows Sony's acquisition (and forthcoming release) of another popular Flash project, flOw.While Wii and DS hardware both compliment Line Rider's simple just-draw gameplay mechanic, inXile will have to expand its versions beyond what's offered in the original, which should be playable, for free, via Wii's Opera browser. The developer has confirmed that multiplayer will be added; and we'll assume that enhanced visual and audio effects will be considered. inXile must also include the ability to share Line Rider designs with friends, as this feature is what has propelled the Flash application's success (see YouTube).
Play around with Line Rider.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
chenry @ Dec 19th 2006 7:08PM
and really, there isn't a better system to adapt Line Rider to than the Wii or DS.
silkylove @ Dec 19th 2006 7:09PM
Looks like a match made in heaven
Mr. Khan @ Dec 19th 2006 7:11PM
@ above 2
Took the words right out of my mouth
This is the kind of indie support the Wii needs, and this is where (if from anywhere) that truly great 3rd party support comes up for the Wii
lord hobo @ Dec 19th 2006 7:23PM
awesome im getting a DS for xmas and this when it comes out sounds awesome
Nicholas Sulikowski @ Dec 19th 2006 8:30PM
After just playing Line Rider, I think this game would make more sense to be purchasable through the Wii Shop Channel rather than a retail release. It seems too basic a game to warrant creating discs for it.
Matters @ Dec 19th 2006 8:46PM
Am I missing something here?
I was wondering why I had never heard of this "internet phenomenon" and then I played it and realized exactly why I have never heard of it. There's nothing. It's nothing. You draw a line and watch a guy ride on it. Whoopty fucking doo. If I want draw lines and watch something ride on them I'll play Kirby T&G on my DS.
Did I just not play enough of this or what?
Is there something fun about this? I mean I'm bored as HELL and this isn't even fun to dick around with.
Rodents @ Dec 19th 2006 8:54PM
That was kind of some rude criticism, buddy, watch it if you can, be festive and happy! its the holidays!
Theres an updated version somewhere online where you can pause it in time and have accelleration lines, and lines that are backwards (like once you have enough force and going upside down, your guy might fly through the lines), it also has a checkpoint thing where you can auto load from a certain point on the track, maintaining the speed and other forces with the guy, making it quite fun to make stuff.. Google video line rider, you'll find some pretty impressive videos from such a simple program.
Matters @ Dec 19th 2006 9:52PM
I can be a little less rude but it never seems to get the point across as well :P
I'm a Nintendo fanboy.
I love simple games.
I even love goofy little flash based games like this one.
Remember that puzzle game where you drag all the dots around to untangle the all of the lines (make it where none of the lines intersect)? I loved that game. That's the game I want on my Wii VC.
It's my opinion that this game, where you draw a line and watch a guy slide down it (wheeee), flat out sucks.
10 years ago I would have loved this but only if I could have gotten my hands on the source. When I was learning how to program these kind of games were great.
But right now there isn't much there. If you could make it do something some what interesting or make a point to it then we'll talk.
"Fink" P @ Dec 19th 2006 9:53PM
if you want to really see what linerider can do, I recommend youtube searching "Die at the Slopes"
it is one sick video
David4 @ Dec 19th 2006 10:01PM
This isn't a game at all. Hell you can't even erase the line without erasing everything. it would be an ok $5 VC game, but no point in making a DS cart for it. It will sell as well at Elf Bolwing did for the GBA.
is @ Dec 19th 2006 10:10PM
"inXile will have to expand its versions beyond what's offered in the original, which should be playable, for free, via Wii's Opera browser."
And to my mind, thats exactly why the browser has been delayed and what the 'trial version' will not support. It just makes too little sense for nintendo to cannibalise its sale stratagy of simple games for wii to allow free versions of the same games to be played thru opera.
stoykish @ Dec 19th 2006 10:24PM
yep, its good news for ds an wii owners such as myself. i have been enjoying the wii alot and this is just more great news considering prince of persia and all the new internet channels coming to it. the wii is shaping up to be a nice sustem so far, much like the 360.
http://gobloggit.com/?p=19
killgays @ Dec 19th 2006 10:32PM
@Matters
Kirby Touch n Go doesn't exist. It's Canvas Curse, you prick. Looks like it doesn't take you much to get so pissed off that you can't even spell things right.
I spit on your mother's corpse.
SuperTuna @ Dec 19th 2006 11:51PM
Nice - I am a terrible artist so I will be leaving this game to my little brother who will be able to make it enjoyable. The PC version is still great fun to mess with!
http://official-linerider.com/
Video of the best Line Ride :D
jchensor @ Dec 19th 2006 10:59PM
Yeah, at first when I tried this thing, I thought to myself, "Hrm. I definitely don't get this yet." But when I followed a few links and ran into this page:
http://official-linerider.com/movies_page.html
I found out that I just have no imagination or something. Some of those are incredibly cool. I recommend for anyone trying to figure out what is so "internet phenomenon" about this thing watch those videos.
That being said, I would love to see this as a Wii thing more than a DS thing. The DS will be okay, but awfully lonely... how can you show friends your creation? But the Wii will be so much nicer if you can send videos of your creation to friends overnight and such, whether their Wii is on or not. I think that would be really neat.
WedgeTalon @ Dec 20th 2006 1:16AM
Ha, I was playing around with a Line Rider mod (Line Rider ZaDa) while this article was being posted. :)
I for one am looking forward to seeing the game realised on the Wii/DS. Should be a fun little gem, especially if it hits the right price.
Paul Gale @ Dec 20th 2006 3:00AM
This is cool news for Wii and DS. Line Rider is a pretty fun game and I've seen some amazing videos of it. The more for Nintendo, the better.
Paul Gale
1up.com
Rob @ Dec 20th 2006 9:13AM
Anyone remember that Mac game DirtBike? This is very similair in terms of it's simple approach, except your not driving. Anyway great little flash game, very fun!
crono141 @ Dec 20th 2006 9:58AM
I haven't played, or heard of, or seen video's of this game.
But I agree that fun flash style games should be available on the Wii Shop Channel. Remember, there are 2 paths on the main screen, VC and Wii Apps. There's nothing in Wii Apps yet except a page explaining that the opera browser will be located there eventually (Friday). Other software like this should show up over there.
And they should make some of it cheap, like 100 or 200 Wii points so we have something to do with our VC Wii change (I had 500 Wii points laying around waiting for a decent NES VC game).
ackmondual @ Dec 20th 2006 11:14AM
I've played this once before. Fun, but don't know how much long term appeal it would have. Online scores would be great in addition to the user distributed maps.
The greatest game similar to Line Rider I've played would be Bike Or Die for Palm OS
http://bike.toyspring.com/
-and-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bike_or_Die
This game rocks for many reasons:
-fierce online high score competition
-watch replays of games which the game saves
-it's easy to get into
-You can play it for years and keep getting better at it
-even though it's over 2 years old, it runs on lower end Palm PDAs that came out 6 years ago with 20MHz (twenty) processors at only several hundred KB. However using a handheld with more buttons, faster processor and higher resolution is optimum
-unlike flash games that require a laptop (which are still bulky) and internet connection, you can whip out your Palm and play for a few minutes instantly while waiting in line, etc.
On the game's site, ppl have suggested he port the game to DS, and it is under consideration. On the DS, the top screen could be used for maps to show where one needs to go to collect the next flag while bottom screen is where the action happens close up. Touch screen could be used to scroll around on the bottom screen as well. Heck, Bike Or Die could also be ported to GBA. A button to toggle between map and gameplay, and the joystick+shoulder button could be used for scrolling/looking around
ackmondual @ Dec 20th 2006 1:15PM
Also note that Bike Or Die has a HUGE following for a platform that isn't primarily considered for games