# Fabulous online physics-based game **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 21, 2008, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233 "2008-07-21T05:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/181 "2008-07-25T03:29:14Z")
I suppose its encouraging for would be hackers of this game that they haven’t actually fixed the physics bug, they’ve just disallowed a use that would easily show the bug. Which I’d guess means there may be other ways to break the engine in interesting ways. ETA: This physics breaker from earlier in this thread seems to still work: [Fantastic Contraption: A fun online physics puzzle game](http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=17022) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/182 "2008-07-25T04:00:39Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] No more rockets: [/QUOTE] Daaaaaaaamn! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/183 "2008-07-25T04:49:50Z")
Mind the Gap - Gravity only > **[Fantastic Contraption: A fun online physics puzzle game](http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=68778)** > > An online flash puzzle game where you build whimsical machines to solve each level. Save your contraptions and share them with your friends. Free! ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/184 "2008-07-25T06:51:07Z")
Never mind. I was going to comment on the fact that the rockets don’t work when I play, but I just read the latest posts about not being able to make rockets anymore, anyway. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/185 "2008-07-25T07:58:49Z")
Here’s one I did for [Tube](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=69989). ---
**Author:** ![Jiminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jiminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jiminator)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/186 "2008-07-25T08:20:01Z")
Finally beat [Unpossible](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=70274). What a great game. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/187 "2008-07-25T08:51:13Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] [Four Balls](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=34313) [/QUOTE] It’s just so satisfying to see such a nice design work. I had thought of something like it but had no idea where to start. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/188 "2008-07-25T09:11:59Z")
> [@](#): > > “Gameplay Change: You can no longer attach a single stick to two points on the same wheel. This is the cause of many of the wacky-physics bugs that occur and also was fairly useless as **the sticks didn’t interact with the terrain anyway**. All previous designs you may have with this kind of setup will break (one end of the rod will fall off when you hit Go).” (bolding mine) I don’t think that’s actually true – they did give the wheels some added traction, due to the corners protruding ever-so-slightly; my solution for [Awash](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=61261) used them for that purpose – it still works, due to the now-flailing rods sorta dragging the machine on, but if you remove them, it’ll tip over while climbing, and it worked perfectly before. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/189 "2008-07-25T14:31:20Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] Here’s one I did for [Tube](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=69989). [/QUOTE] Very clean. [QUOTE=Half Man Half Wit] I don’t think that’s actually true – they did give the wheels some added traction, due to the corners protruding ever-so-slightly; my solution for Awash used them for that purpose – it still works, due to the now-flailing rods sorta dragging the machine on, but if you remove them, it’ll tip over while climbing, and it worked perfectly before.. [/QUOTE] I’m not sure this is right. The wheels have nibs on them already. I think what they add is weight. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/190 "2008-07-25T14:38:59Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] To make things a bit harder… I was just scanning the forum. There’s a group who are building ‘green’ machines - gravity power only, no powered wheels. Every level has been beaten. Here’s one of the green solutions for [\*Full Up](http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=39010). Sweet! [sup]\* by pojo[/sup] [/QUOTE] There’s also an anti-wheel league that has come up with some pretty cool stuff. One guy was successful making wheels out of sticks, but unfortunately with the physics update it doesn’t work any more. I think that will be my next challenge. ETA: proof of concept: [http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=73828](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=73828) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/191 "2008-07-25T15:11:28Z")
Unpossible succumbed to a [rather mundane solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=74168). Fancy it isn´t, but works. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/192 "2008-07-25T15:49:23Z")
[QUOTE=Don’t fight the hypothetical] I’m not sure this is right. The wheels have nibs on them already. I think what they add is weight. [/QUOTE] Might be, but I don’t think [this one](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46163) would work the way it does if there wasn’t some protrusion at the connection wheel/rod. (You can quite clearly see it hobble at that point.) Also, here’s a [green solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=74350) to Down Under – seemed kinda natural to try this one using gravity alone. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/193 "2008-07-25T16:39:52Z")
[QUOTE=Gorsnak] And for your amusement, here’s a brute force solution to Awash. Takes a while, but (usually) gets there. > **[Fantastic Contraption - Launch Level](http://fantasticcontraption.com/?designId=25720)** > > The classic physics puzzle game from 2008. Build whimsical machines to solve puzzles. Now available on Steam with new updates coming soon! [/QUOTE] I took some [liberties](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=75232) with your design. -Kris ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/194 "2008-07-25T16:45:00Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] I took some [liberties](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=75232) with your design. [/QUOTE] That’s the fastest burrower I’ve seen yet. Nice job. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/195 "2008-07-25T16:53:28Z")
[QUOTE=Bosstone] That’s the fastest burrower I’ve seen yet. Nice job. [/QUOTE] I got lucky. I’m trying some of the easiest ones from scratch and… let’s just say I’m no engineer. 😛 -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/196 "2008-07-25T17:22:17Z")
I don’t see the springs or rockets working. They just sit there and jiggle. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/197 "2008-07-25T17:31:23Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I don’t see the springs or rockets working. They just sit there and jiggle. [/QUOTE] [Post 180.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10036954&postcount=180) ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/198 "2008-07-25T17:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I don’t see the springs or rockets working. They just sit there and jiggle. [/QUOTE] Same here. Neither the rocket nor spring machines posted above do anything when I watch them. They just sit there and wiggle. -FRL- ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/199 "2008-07-25T17:55:08Z")
[QUOTE=Ale] Unpossible succumbed to a [rather mundane solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=74168). Fancy it isn´t, but works. [/QUOTE] Wait a sec–those water rods fall through the environment there at the end! They’re not supposed to do that, are they? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/200 "2008-07-25T18:00:16Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] Wait a sec–those water rods fall through the environment there at the end! They’re not supposed to do that, are they? -FrL- [/QUOTE] No, but they get confused occasionally, especially when in chains and at high speed. They can also break. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233.md?page=11)