Simple to learn, hard to master, a lifetime to kick the habit. This applies to a lot of computer games, but the T-rex Runner game for Chrome and its various online versions are particularly insidious. So much so that the game drove one couple to build a real-world version of the digital game.
For those not familiar with the game, it’s a simple side-scroller where the goal is to jump and duck a running dinosaur over and under obstacles — think Flappy Birds, but faster paced. When deciding on a weekend hackathon project, [Uri] thought a real-life version of the game would be a natural fit, since he was already a fan of the digital version. With his girlfriend [Ariella] on the team, [Uri] was able to come up with a minimally playable version of the game, with a stepper motor providing the dino jumps and a simple straight conveyor moving the obstacles. People enjoyed it enough that version 2.0 was planned for the Chrome Developer Summit. This version was much more playable, with an oval track for the obstacles and better scorekeeping. [Uri] and [Ariella] had to expand their skills to complete the build — PCB design, E-Paper displays, laser cutting, and even metal casting were all required. The video below shows the final version — but where are the pterosaurs to duck?
Real-world jumping dinos aren’t the first physical manifestation of a digital game. As in the cyber world, Pong was first — either as an arcade version or a supersized outdoor game.
If there is one rule I live by here in Arizona — I avoid jumping over cacti. YMMV
If there is one rule I live by here in Arizona — I avoid letting my dinos loose. YMMV
If there’s one rule I live by when I visit Arizona — I avoid failing to anticipate the cleverness of the clever girl.
“Offline T-Rex Game”
I thought you GOT the T-Rex game when you WERE offline.
But this is obviously MORE offline than normal!
Pretty cool! It worth to watch the behind the scenes video.
So long as it doesn’t have that lady who seems terrified of the thing…
Hero of Alexandria could’ve done this with a camel rope and pulleys and a real cactus
DOH! I red the headline and my mind said: There’s going to be nitroglycerin fueled jump stilts and some idiot wearing a crash helmet!
That would have been more interesting
i’m a dinosaur and cannot jump cacti. imagine how let down i am by this.