Comments on: Sand-boom-box

Sand-boom-box

anthill — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:54:31 -0800

Flash Sunday: Particle-based (explosive) sandbox - another fun toy to play with! Besides the classic earth, water, fire, and plants, this version has air pressure-based physics for wind effects. A mesmerizing tinker-toy. (requires java) (previously) (via)

By: anthill

anthill — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:55:08 -0800

Who can make an ice bomb? A volcano? A flamethrower? A gas turbine? A snowblower? A garden hose? Have fun and post challenges / screenshots.

By: CitrusFreak12

CitrusFreak12 — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:28:15 -0800

I was all set to be like "oh this is nothing new" but then I made something explode and WOW and thank you and wow.

By: leahwrenn

leahwrenn — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:40:30 -0800

I liked making lots of the "tree" stuff...and then setting it on fire. It's amazing how quickly a little speck of fire can consume a whole big amount of wood. Nifty!

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:41:42 -0800

This is honestly the most fun I can remember having on a Saturday night. No, my Saturday nights usually aren't anything to call home about, but still, this is damn fun.

By: zardoz

zardoz — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 19:42:42 -0800

Simply awesome. I played with this in its earlier versions, it looks even better now. Only thing I need is a bigger version.

By: H-Bar

H-Bar — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:17:52 -0800

I just set up a never-ending battle between water and ice. Put two fans near the bottom corners, and ice at the top corners. Rain in a bunch of water, and watch. It's mesmerizing.

By: stoneegg21

stoneegg21 — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:18:51 -0800

How on earth do you grow a tree? I can't figure it out!

By: dhartung

dhartung — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:41:48 -0800

Water and seed, same as farmers.

By: H-Bar

H-Bar — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:58:50 -0800

You also need powder as a base, but once a plant starts growing all it needs is water to continue. You can set up some neat effects using gunpowder to create pressurized chambers. I made a simple fountain, but I'm sure inventive minds could do a lot more.

By: puke & cry

puke & cry — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:14:49 -0800

Is it just me, or does this thing stop responding if you put too many things in the scene?

By: MissNefertiti

MissNefertiti — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:00:43 -0800

I thought I was the only one. I usually just start over. Oh well.

By: MythMaker

MythMaker — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 07:51:41 -0800

There is a maximum number of particles that it lets you have simultaneously. Just use the "erase" to get rid of some particles you don't want to add more of the ones you do. There is actually a particle counter at the bottom that shows how many you have left. This is surprisingly fun.

By: Keith Talent

Keith Talent — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:37:17 -0800

This is the best thing since the invention of fermentation.

By: anthill

anthill — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 10:02:26 -0800

My finds: - Turning off "Lines" makes the whole thing look much nicer, and lets you keep track of where the gunpowder's drifting. - Pressing "Stop" lets you set up some really explosive situations without time pressure. - "Erase" and "Clear" wipe out particles and blocks, respectively. Glad to hear people are liking it - 1:1 favorites to comments ratio is always good.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:26:12 -0800

Is this like the antithesis of Spore? Why is it that tinkering with this thing only made me long for Spore?

By: Freen

Freen — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:43:45 -0800

I want a seed source, or a water source, something that continuously produces water, power, gunpowder or seed.

By: CitrusFreak12

CitrusFreak12 — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:45:34 -0800

Zach, thank you for figuring out why I couldn't stop thinking of Spore today. Am I the only one who checks the wikipedia article to see if the release date has been changed?

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 14:51:47 -0800

Nope.

By: anthill

anthill — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:06:25 -0800

New discovery: Seed might just be the only material that can power a paddlewheel turbine! The key is that a spinning wheel turns plants into powder, which can react with new seed to make more plants. If you set up a fan+wheel arrangement with a clear smokestack for the flames, get it running with seed, then prime it with a little shot of powder and flame, it'll run nice and steady! Screenshot

By: anthill

anthill — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:46:15 -0800

A modified version of the above is burning 225 dots/s.... as an environmentally conscious engineer, I still feel dirty. You can even feed it about 10% gunpowder for extra kick - any more and it backfires.

By: anthill

anthill — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 21:53:35 -0800

450 dots/s... augh, bedtime.