The Flash Era: How Developers Single-handedly made World Masterpieces

We’ve already talked about indie studios and games that developers have created alone. I received a comment that entire epochs have been missed, including the era of Flash games. Thanks for the idea!

In 1996, the FutureSplash Animator platform appeared, which opened up new opportunities for creating games and animation. On the one hand, the developers got a convenient tool; on the other, the results they made could be used directly in the browser without the need to download.

Largely thanks to this technology, a whole separate industry of “indie games” was launched. From the simplest ones, like the viral Dancing Bush and BaffOtron, to such masterpieces as Crush the Castle (the same approach was reinvented in Angry Birds), and the arcade Sonny. The developers fantasized using Flash to create completely different mechanics — changing the direction of gravity, controlling different parts of the body, and classic Prince of Persia-style platformers.

But we will talk specifically about games created by one person. Except, however, for the composer in one of the examples as the second member of the team.

Terry Kavanagh and VVVVVV

What should I do if I want to create a game, but I can’t draw? Why not create an Atari-style retro platformer, which will eventually be recognized as the best indie game of 2010, and which will then hit the Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android and PlayStation Vita.

Terry Kavanagh has developed several games including VVVVVV, Super Hexagon and Dicey Dungeons. Although, another person was responsible for the music — composer Magnus Pollson.

The essence of the first and most famous game, which he made alone, lies in the mechanics with no jumps, but with the possibility of changing the direction of gravity. First you walk on the floor, then on the ceiling, then choose either of the two walls. And with this skill, you must control Captain Viridian to save the team members after a strange accident.

Adam Saltzman and Kanabalt

Definitely a remote flash game, Canabalt is an invaluable runner. The player, using only one button, the jump button, must run across roofs, run through breaking windows, and bypass various obstacles. It is important to walk as far as possible before falling or hitting a wall.

Kanabalt was the first game by designer Adam Saltsman. He later worked for Red Company, including Koto Fiji, Last Chance Media, Kittehface Software and semi-secret

Brad Bourne and The Fancy Pants Adventures

Brad Bourne released the first part of his game The Fancy Pants Adventures in 2006. Later, in 2011, together with Over the Top Games, he worked on a version for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. In 2012, the game got into the Apple App Store.

Bloodthirsty pirates kidnap a Cutie Pants girl. Her brother Fancy Pants runs, jumps, swims and fights pirates — in general, does everything possible to save her.

Perhaps this is one of the most striking success stories of an indie developer. Born created the game in his spare time, and eventually implemented a project that became famous all over the world and even attracted investors from Electronic Arts to launch the third part of the platformer.

Have you ever played this game with children on your smartphone? If yes, write in the comments!

Foddy Bennett and QWOP

One of the sensations of 2010, with the active development of social networks, was the flash game QWOP released in 2008. It was based on Ragdoll physics and had very complex mechanics: the player had to control individual muscle groups of the runner’s legs using the keys Q, W, O and P. Separately — the hips of each leg, separately — the calves.

And at the same time, it was necessary to run a hundred meters at the Olympic Games. The game is extremely sticky and very difficult. There was no leaderboard, and the developer explained why: “Some people think they won if they ran five meters, others if they moved slowly along the track for an hour. If I added a leaderboard or score to the game, all these people would most likely leave disappointed, and only the most determined and masochistic players would remain in the game.”

And in QWOP or its sequel for two 2QWOP players, you could safely play with friends and colleagues in a state of continuous hysterical laughter. Although one of the Indian players passed all 100 meters in 51 seconds and got into the Guinness Book of Records with this result.

QWOP is the fruit of procrastination. Foddy developed it during the completion of his dissertation in philosophy. Thanks to this game, the number of views on his website has grown to 30 million per month.

Mike Bitell and Thomas Was Alone

In 2010, Mike Bitell released a platformer with puzzle elements Thomas Was Alone. You control one or more rectangles or squares of different colors and sizes. Each figure has its own characteristics — for example, the ability to stay afloat.

For several years, the game was supplemented and ported to Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, Linux, iOS.

Mike Bitell released another “in the same timeline as Thomas Was Alone” in 2015 — the stealth action Volume.

It is important to say how and why this person started developing games: at school, the history teacher allowed him to make a point-and-click game instead of an essay and was satisfied with the result. After that, Bitell was allowed to continue presenting games instead of essays.

And which flash games do you consider the most iconic and interesting? Write in the comments which games were “stuck” the longest!