Something Orisinal

Iain Simons

Published 03 October 2008

SFTW - 'if Raymond Briggs went into casual web-games they would probably look at bit like this'. Iain Simons chooses some fabulous games for you to while away a few hours with. Enjoy wisely...

We’ve had physics games, rhythm games, toolset toys - today I thought it might be nice to point you towards a collection of work by Ferry Halim - the frighteningly talented American designer who makes flash games on his site Orisinal. Halim’s games are often very similar to any other one-click flash game out their on the web in their design, but they’re elevated above the masses by their exquisite production design.

Making unrestrained use of pastel shades, cute (but not sickeningly so) character design and endless loops of atmospheric ambient music, Orisinal has become a collection with a clear signature. The hand-made aesthetic is one that has been used many times before but often ends up rather over-stating the presence of some ‘humanity’ in the software. Orisinal gives you the clear feeling of being created by a human, but without compromising any of the artistry - if Raymond Briggs went into casual web-games they would probably look at bit like this.

There’s lots on Orisinal to choose from, but here’s a few to get you going…

Starry Night (bounce a star around the sky with a bubble)

The Crossing (bounce deer across a river)

Wake up call (small fat mouse floats own on leaf and fires water at butterflies to release from chrysalises)

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About the writer

Iain Simons

Iain Simons writes, talks and tweets about videogames and technology. His new book, Play Britannia, is to be published in 2009. He is the director of the GameCity festival at Nottingham Trent University.

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