Inside Social Games

A month ago, the social distribution platform for the iPhone, OpenFeint unveiled its “Developer Spotlight” in which it would show off select iPhone apps making use of its service. Of the three that were shown, we decided to take a look at Finger Physics from PressOK Entertainment. With its simple, yet fairly addictive game play, this balancing puzzle game quickly justified the attention.

Finger Physics is a puzzle game. However, the puzzles are based around a “physics engine,” a type of computer program that simulates physics variables like friction and velocity. In this game, the objective is stacking objects of varying shapes and sizes so that they remain standing for five seconds. Truth be told, it isn’t the first of its ilk (i.e. Perfect Balance) but PressOK hardly lets that work against them.

The game includes light-hearted and colorful visuals paired with upbeat sound and music, but beyond this style, the game comes with a range interesting puzzles. 81 levels exist in Finger Physics. 81. Frankly, that alone is well worth $0.99, as this is a game that is going to last you a very long time.

If there is any one complaint, it is that the game, at times, feels a bit easy. Yes, if you have to deal with circular pieces, the game gets a bit tricky, but remember, the tower only has to remain standing for five seconds. That timer doesn’t start until the last block is placed, and once it is, the timer continues even if the tower you created is falling apart. You just have to keep pieces off the ground for five seconds. It didn’t say anything about how structurally sound your solution had to be. This, unfortunately, tends to make some of the later levels, that are intended to be tough, a little too effortless.

Luckily, some of the ease is mitigated by some special blocks and levels meant to show off the physics capability. For example, some levels are underwater and allow certain objects to float; others might contain explosive blocks that go off if they are not kept separated, or magnetic pieces that can both attract or repel. These make for refreshing changes, and really do add a bit more thought and planning to the game.

As a matter of fact, another fun and thought provoking aspect of Finger Physics doesn’t quite use stacking at all. Instead, players have to move a colorful-looking egg into an field goal shaped objective. The trick is that players must remove certain obstacles and let the physics engine move the egg. This means that they will have to remove them in a certain order and with a specific timing in order to solve the puzzle. Again, it’s not an idea that hasn’t been done before, but it is still a lot of fun.

Overall, Finger Physics is well deserving of its OpenFeint spotlight. It isn’t the most original game, in terms of design, but the puzzles are still a great deal of fun. Furthermore, with the shear amount of puzzles to be had, the game is more than worth the measly dollar it costs. And heck, if you don’t want to spend a buck, there is always Finger Physics Free. Granted, it doesn’t offer as much, but you might end up hooked and buying the full version anyways.