Owen Piette’s Falling Sand Game

Features:
– Explosions! (2 kinds)
– Energy transfer, sandbox temperature
– Load/Save
– Turn boundary walls on/off
– Turn sources on/off
– Many Elements
– Select area size: 320×240 – 1280×1024
– Save/load/modify/add elements and physics
– Up to 200 elements
– Use less than 100% CPU on limited FPS mode.
– Group or hide elements

First of all, mad props go out to the original creator of this game. Great idea. I only wish I could read Japanese… Here’s a link to the original, or at least as close to the original as I can find (Again, without knowing how to read Japanese.) http://ishi.blog2.fc2.com/blog-entry-158.html

Having wasted hours of productivity on the Java verison of the Falling Sand Game, I began to think of improvements that could be made from the original. No source was available for the original, and Java isn’t my choice programming language, that I decided to start de novo with C/C++ and the cross-platform wxWidgets. That’s why I called it “wxSand”, although a lot of people call it “Owen Piette’s Falling Sand Game”.

1. A falling sand game is a genre of video game and subgenre of sandbox games using a two dimensional particle game engine. 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.
2. A while back I built a system that merged GPU falling sand physics, GPU navier-stokes, GPU fluid boundaries, and CPU bullet physics together. The merging is only partial - sand doesn't obstruct fluid (although it could), and bullet sand interactions are only one way, but it was pretty neat as I couldn't find anything similar which managed to handle hole-less falling sand + actual fluid.
3. Bring the popular hopping game to the beach! Using a stick or rock, draw a grid on the sand and use rocks or shells for markers. If the sand is hot, don’t forget your flip flops or water shoes. Required: nothing to bring along other than a bounce in your step. Skills developed: hopping, throwing. “Parachute” Games.

Free unblocked games at school for kids, Play games that are not blocked by school, Addicting games online cool fun from unblocked games 66 Falling Sand Game - Unblocked Games 66 - Unblocked Games for School. A while back I built a system that merged GPU falling sand physics, GPU navier-stokes, GPU fluid boundaries, and CPU bullet physics together. The merging is only partial - sand doesn't obstruct fluid (although it could), and bullet sand interactions are only one way, but it was pretty neat as I couldn't find anything similar which managed to handle hole-less falling sand + actual fluid.

I tend to feel that The Falling Sand Game should be more of a Zen experience than anything else. I also believe that the game should be as cyclic as possible, so that environments can run and evolve for long periods of time. Finally, I recognize the close connection of The Sand Game with the game of Life: Whereby, with a few very simple rules, and some starting conditions, you can create a very unpredictable outcome.

Falling Sand Game Original Unblocked

Of course, the original is pretty sweet. So I’ve make a version with my own rules, and the ability to write your own mods with whatever elements you create. I have implemented many, many more interactions and elements than the original version. Discover them as you play.

Originally, I didn’t want to make this Open Source. I think it takes away from the mysticism of the game. Those of you that are so inclined should be able to see the simple algorithm. Note the close connection with the game of Life. Also note the impossible situations, like unequalized water levels. These aren’t shortcomings of the game, but instead interesting artifacts of the rules of this alternate reality!

Unfortunately I haven’t had time in the last five years to update the game. If programming was my day job, you might see an update. If people donated money, I would release an update. I would probably re-write it in C#, which is what I’m using these days. It might even port to Linux and mac with Mono?

www.fallingsandgame.com
An excellent resource for links to the original, other variations of the game, and neat saved games, is the Falling Sand Forum. Sandman is sponsoring a very active community that involves Sand Game competitions involving some very talented gamers.

FSG Wiki
User-based documentation on how to make new elements for wxSand.

I like to think that this game can be played with a very laid-back approach. Just set up some walls and watch the sand fall… I completely support any other games written in the same style, like the games at SmartMelon Games.

I am an independent programmer and I support other independent programmers. Large publishing companies all too often kill a good game off by making sequel after sequel. Wolfenstein was awesome, but Return to Castle Wolfenstein? Indie game developers introduce new ideas into the gaming world. Go check some out at GameTrove.net.

I always appreciate constructive feedback:

Original Falling Sand Game Original

If you like the game, you can tell me that most effectively by making a small donation for my effort. Of course, I always appreciate any help in paying for bandwidth to host this site too. Since I was listed on digg.com, joystiq.com, and other places, I’ve used 25GB of my bandwidth just for this page!

I use dreamhost.com for my websites, email, ssh, etc. They’ve been excellent and I have no problem recommending that you use them too. Easy maintenance and no nuisance.

The Sandpainting Game, Version 2

Try out Sandpainting Game, version 2, which has several features that differentiate this game from the Original Sand Painting Game, including:

• Try the 'random' option and see what you get
• Try changing the size of your 'brush' for different effects
• Change the amounts of falling particles, or set to '0' if you want to control everything on the screen
• Change the speed of the movement of the various particles
• An easy 'clear screen' option if you want to start fresh

There is no end or goal of the game other than to create interesting patterns and have fun. A good starting point is to use the 'wall' element - which is activated at the start of the game. We put 'C-4' and 'Torch' conveniently next to 'Random' in case you want to quickly destroy what 'Random' gives you!

Just for fun, try our other 'digital sand' activities - our new Sand Painting Art Maker and of course the Original Sand Painting Game!

As you can see by these samples below, you can create just about any type of 'sand art' with this Sand Painting Game! If you want to make a drastic change to your game, either click here to start over or use the 'C-4' along with the 'fire' element to clear your game area and start with new elements!

If you would like to share your 'Sand Art' with us, take a screenshot, save it as a jpeg, and send it to us so that we can add it to our Sand Painting Art Gallery!

⇦ Check out all of the Artsology Art Games, starting with Page One here!

Click or tap on the image below to learn about Navajo Sand Painting as a healing ritual.