Physics Games and Physics-Based Game Downloads

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Power Shovel, developed by Taito and published by Acclaim, is a power shovel simulator released in 2001 for the Sony Playstation. The game is split up into various wacky game modes where players are given tasks ranging from digging holes to pouring spicy curry into bowls of rice. At first glance it seems like a childish game, and it is to a degree, but it can get very complicated with its unforgiving controls and time limits.

Mechanical Advantage

The main gameplay mechanic in Power Shovel is mechanical advantage. Most of the gameplay modes revolve around digging holes in dirt, and loading the dirt into some vessel, and since each joint of the power shovel’s arm is controlled by a button on the controller, it’s up to the player to manipulate the arm segments in order to scoop up the most dirt. It takes some time getting used to the controls, and even then, getting used to them is only half the battle. The real challenge comes in when determining the best way to bend all of the arm’s joints. The idea is generally to extend the arm, lower the shovel, and then drag it back in order to dig the most. The dirt is physically simulated, so you have to adjust your technique with each scoop, as the level of the dirt gets lower and lower. Also you have to be careful not to spill any dirt or bump any objects with the shovel, as points are deducted for such violations.

Many Game Modes

While the most physically interesting gameplay is found in the digging-related modes, there is an abundance of other gameplay modes. There’s an obstacle course, a math game, and a few modes based around destroying buildings or cars. In one game mode, there is a pile of dirt, and you have to level out the top of it by knocking dirt off with the shovel. There is an extensive amount of unlockable content, including new game modes, videos, a music gallery, and even a level editor for the obstacle course.

(Power Shovel Game Screenshots)

Overall

The game is somewhat rare, especially since most video game stores have stopped carrying original Playstation games. It took nearly 6 months of fevered searching for me to find a copy. Ultimately it’s a pretty cool game. It has a bit of a learning curve, but if you can get over the game’s first hurdle of mastering the complex controls, there’s a lot of fun to be had. From its zany music and hilarious gameplay modes to its plethora of unlockable content, the game is simply addictive fun. And it’s fun that will last a while. Even after you’ve mastered all the game modes, you’ll still find yourself wanting to come back for more. A sandbox mode where the player could dig holes or make dirt piles to his/her content would have made the game last for much longer, but it’s still a fun game on as it is. With its various game modes and unique challenges, there is a lot to do if you can get your hands on a copy.

Andrew Caldwell is a Journalism major at Youngstown State University.

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If a “game” is defined as a simulation that gives the player a goal to work toward and a “toy” as one that just gives the player stuff to tinker around with, DAN-BALL’s Powder Game is definitely the latter. Specifically, one of the “sandbox” variety. I mean that literally, as it’s a clear descendent of d_of_i’s World of Sand browser game. What Powder Game, also playable in a browser, adds to the formula is fluid dynamics.

A Crowded Sandbox

This sandbox contains a variety of elements which the player can scatter at a mouse-click. Ice, water, fire, the titular “powder” (which serves as the sand). The heart of Powder Game is the way these elements interact. Water that touches ice will freeze. Ice that touches fire will melt. Drop a seed onto some powder and a plant will sprout. Water the plant and it will grow. Touch a flame to it and it will catch fire and burn.

The other key element that defines Powder Game is wind. Powder stacks in neat piles, but a click of the mouse (a right click by default, but this can be changed) sends it spiralling into the air. Currents coalesce, rub against each other, create eddies in the air. Fire creates wind, as does exploding gunpowder. Wind turns ice into snow, creates rivers of particles in the air. When the background effect is set to “BG-shade,” it becomes entrancing to watch.

Just Add Water

Powder Game is not for players looking for direction. To get the most out of Powder Game, one has to be comfortable creating one’s own entertainment. Players who are willing to tinker will find a lot to tinker with. Here are some things to try: create a fountain by positioning fans over a pool of water. Make a sculpture with ice and bubbles (which turn into whatever they touch). Build an arena and populate it with fighters - tiny pixel people who jump and flip around, trying to kick each other. Set the background effect to “BG-shade” and paint a curtain of SuperBalls.

(Powder Game Game Screenshots)

Powder For All

Powder Game is Java-built and playable in a web browser. It’s neat to tinker with, mesmerizing to watch, and totally free. Similiar and similiarly worth playing is DAN-BALL’s earlier project, Liquid Webtoy - one of a surprisingly few webtoys to simulate the phenomenon of precipitation.

Play Powder Game (Java Required)

Ancil Anthropy is the associate editor of The Gamer’s Quarter magazine and a practicing space invader.

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I’m sure many of you have played either Bowmaster or its prequel, Bowmaster Prelude. These games contributed hugely to the recent trend in “Tower defence” games, which involved fighting back hordes of vicious attackers in order to defend a village. Many recent games have tried to replicate this experience. In my opinion, however, one has risen above the rest in its class: Momentum Missile Mayhem.

Momentum Missile Mayhem, created by DimonZerg and sponsored by Armorgames.com, is practically unique in its approach to this theme. You control a “Gravity Launcher”, capable of firing many different projectiles. It works in a manner very similar to a slingshot: pull the bullet back and let go to fire, with the angle and distance of the bullet from the turret determining the overall velocity. However, there is one big difference, and this is the way in which enemy units are destroyed. In many games of this style, a weapon is instantly perishable; it is destroyed on contact with other objects. In Momentum Missile Mayhem, however, bullets will ricochet and move enemies, causing them to crash into each other or the walls.

Finally, a Tower Game with Strategy!

As the game progresses, you soon realise that tanks can cause more damage than bullets. This means that a larger proportion of the game is spent working out the most efficient angle of a shot. If there is a close line-up of enemies, one well-placed hit will have a domino effect on all of the tanks, and this is tremendously important when trying to destroy larger boss tanks or when energy reserves are running low. This adds a breath of fresh air to what is generally quite a stale genre. Different bullets require different strategies too - for example, various bullets have different collision properties. This means that some will bounce away with no change in speed, whilst others will slow down and eventually stop after many collisions.

Stability and Bullets

An interesting element of the gameplay is stability. If a bullet is to be fired at too high a velocity, it may become unstable and explode before it can be fired. The chance of this happening is indicated by a bar at the bottom of the play area. This adds an extra element of strategy to the game - do you fire a fast shot which will knock the tank into many others, or fire it slowly in order to guarantee that it will remain intact as it leaves the tower?

As the game progresses, many upgrades can be purchased, which make projectiles more stable and even add new bullets and abilities to your roster. Each bullet has its own special ability, level of damage and level of stability, further adding to the depth of strategy in the game. For example, the pink bullet is more stable than the blue bullet, but uses more energy. In contrast, the yellow bullet sticks to enemies in order to cause huge amounts of damage, but is far less stable than many of the alternatives.

Other abilities include a Gravity Gun which can be used to throw tanks at each other and at walls, and Implosion, which pulls tanks towards each other to cause crashes.

(Momentum Missile Mayhem Game Screenshots)

Let the Mayhem Commence

Unfortunately, there is only one field which can be played on, but with gameplay options varying between a linear quest-style game and an all-out “Armageddon” mode which throws you in directly at the deep end, this game is definitely worth a shot for everyone who enjoys defence games, or just wants an excuse to blow things up. Being a Flash game, it’s completely free to play, so there’s not much excuse not to give it a try!

Play Momentum Missile Mayhem (Flash)

(Be warned: The game’s creator suggests that quality settings should be lowered on older systems or laptops. I would recommend the downloadable version (7.8 MB) for such systems.)

Jeremy Wilkinson is a student in the UK, currently studying for his A-levels