Surprisingly fun physics game goes mobile with iPhone

The Science Museum of London has an extremely fun on-line game available on its web site. Launchball has a very simple interface that would work perfectly on a touch-screen - and mobile application developer Bright AI has adapted the game for use on iPhone and iTouch

The game:

This is a great example of a game whose design is really well suited to touchscreen. The entire purpose of the mobile game is to guide a bouncy ball from one part of a level to another. You do this by placing objects like batteries, fans or mirrors on the screen which interact with the level and move the ball around.

Bunsen boils water, steam turns turbine, turbine powers fans, fans blow ball into goal. Elementary, really.

It’s meant to be an educational tool, as you can see from these little information passages that appear at the end of each level.

What’s also interesting about this game is the rigour with which it was tested. I would expect nothing else of a game backed a scientific institute, to be honest. Bright AI was assisted by a games usability expert, Dr. Graham McAllister from Sussex University, as well as performing public testing and feedback.

Bright AI:

This firm seems to be making some waves in England. The Launchball game really merits some attention, and it comes right on the heels of an announcement that Bright AI is developing branded mobile applications for over 80 football clubs in England. Go on!

What we think?

Frankly, most educational games are more boring than crackers with no cheese. Launchball has gone somewhat in the other direction. It’s so much fun that you completely ignore the educational bits and just enjoy the actual gameplay. I hope that the Science Museum and Bright AI manage to monetise this little gem, because it really is a fantastic way to spend some time. There are 41 levels, so you’ll probably get tired of it before you run out levels - which to me is a better way to stop playing a game. There’s nothing more frustrating then really getting into a game only to discover it’s too bloody short.