# 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:** 6
**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 23, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/101 "2008-07-23T14:39:42Z")
[QUOTE=garygnu] How I got past Four Balls: …I created a static ramp, then suspended counter-clockwise wheels above with paddles attached to push the target balls along… [Link](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=33256) and [Down Under](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=33342) [/QUOTE] Paddles? We don’t need no stinking [paddles!](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46344) ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/102 "2008-07-23T14:42:35Z")
This game is utterly brilliant! And like somebody said, totally reminds me of “The Incredible Machine”. I’m afraid I haven’t saved any of my contraptions though, so nothing to add in that department. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/103 "2008-07-23T15:36:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bayard] I’m pretty happy with my solutions to [Awash](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=39179) and [Handling](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=45076), but Down Under and Unpossible are still giving me fits. [/QUOTE] Ooh, that “Handling” is very nice. I didn’t like that level because it seemed like a lot of the solutions were essentially just luck in getting it to spin or bounce _just so_. Here’s my brute force solution to Awash: [Fantastic Contraption - Launch Level](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46983) ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/104 "2008-07-23T15:59:24Z")
Here’s my solution to [handling](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=42527). It just barely works, but it does use fewer pieces than the other solutions I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/105 "2008-07-23T16:50:55Z")
You know, everytime I click on a link to someone’s solution, I just get to the loading screen. Very annoying, as I want to see what you guys have come up with! ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/106 "2008-07-23T16:54:05Z")
[QUOTE=Mtgman] Don’t see many people using reverse wheels in their designs, so I’m looking for simple, elegant solutions, [using only reverse wheels](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=43174). I may go back and put an anchor or brake on it so it doesn’t go off the island. [/QUOTE] Here ya go,\*\* Mtgman\*\*. I spent two flippin’ hours last night trying to get it to go off the left side and land on a peg and bounce into the goal, or use a backwards wheel to catch the bottom wheel and pull itself into the goal… no dice. And then I spent an hour this morning trying to get [this one](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=47811) to stop without falling off, but I couldn’t, so I changed it back to the basic design. The triangle is just there for balance… it’s easier to fine tune than moving the wheels. ---
**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 23, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/107 "2008-07-23T17:23:46Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] Here ya go,\*\* Mtgman\*\*. I spent two flippin’ hours last night trying to get it to go off the left side and land on a peg and bounce into the goal, or use a backwards wheel to catch the bottom wheel and pull itself into the goal… no dice. And then I spent an hour this morning trying to get [this one](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=47811) to stop without falling off, but I couldn’t, so I changed it back to the basic design. The triangle is just there for balance… it’s easier to fine tune than moving the wheels. [/QUOTE] [Here](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=42603)’s something similar, with two backwards wheels. The forward wheel is not driven, its just a static element so the timing works out; it could have been a static ‘blue’ wheel. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/108 "2008-07-23T17:29:39Z")
Yea, I had to do some fine tuning [on mine for “around the bend”](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=43463) to meet those criteria. I made it too hard on myself though, I never noticed that you can move the ball around within the workshop. So I left it in the starting position and built around it. :smack: Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/109 "2008-07-23T17:48:39Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] [Here](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=42603)’s something similar, with two backwards wheels. The forward wheel is not driven, its just a static element so the timing works out; it could have been a static ‘blue’ wheel. [/QUOTE] Well, if you’re going to go [that route…](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=47811)😛 Just kidding, I like the way it uses the other ball at the end. ---
**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 23, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/110 "2008-07-23T17:49:54Z")
[QUOTE=squeegee] [Here](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=42603)’s something similar, with two backwards wheels. The forward wheel is not driven, its just a static element so the timing works out; it could have been a static ‘blue’ wheel. [/QUOTE] I love that! What great timing. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/111 "2008-07-23T18:01:00Z")
I finally, barely, got [Down Under](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=48588). Now I can get on with my life. ---
**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 23, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/112 "2008-07-23T18:26:52Z")
[QUOTE=Sage Rat] Ooh, that “Handling” is very nice. I didn’t like that level because it seemed like a lot of the solutions were essentially just luck in getting it to spin or bounce _just so_. Here’s my brute force solution to Awash: [Fantastic Contraption - Launch Level](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46983) [/QUOTE] Wow, that tractor is a thing of beauty. [My solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=48921) for Awash is a little cruder. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/113 "2008-07-23T18:58:52Z")
[Byyyaaahhh!](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=49301) No idea how this 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 23, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/114 "2008-07-23T19:12:39Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] [Byyyaaahhh!](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=49301) No idea how this works! [/QUOTE] Awesome! It seems to go up quite high, too… And then comes down threshing, flailing and twitching. I think I’ll have to back of from this for a while… I’m not sure I can out-do my [two-piece solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46628) for The Wall. It’s all about balance! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/115 "2008-07-23T19:22:03Z")
[QUOTE=brewha] [Byyyaaahhh!](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=49301) No idea how this works! [/QUOTE] On my computer, it doesn’t. It gets all the way out of the light-blue “starting zone,” but then twists up and falls. [QUOTE=Half Man Half Wit] AI think I’ll have to back of from this for a while… I’m not sure I can out-do my [two-piece solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46628) for The Wall. It’s all about balance! [/QUOTE] Wow. Just wow. I love the simple, elegant solutions, and that definitely is one. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/116 "2008-07-23T19:25:49Z")
[QUOTE=Half Man Half Wit] I’m not sure I can out-do my [two-piece solution](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46628) for The Wall. It’s all about balance! [/QUOTE] That is brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/117 "2008-07-23T20:32:02Z")
My solution for “Back and Forth”: [Rollie FTW.](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=42005) I spent several days finetuning this, and I’m pretty pleased with it. Unpossible, on the other hand… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/118 "2008-07-23T20:42:37Z")
[Back and forth](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=50498) took me forever! The ramp was kind of a lark–I had no idea it would work as well as it did. Daniel ---
**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 23, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/119 "2008-07-23T20:52:39Z")
I found Back and Forth to be almost harder than Unpossible… I had everything: car going backwards, then reversing, self deploying bridge, tethered hook; but then I threw out all that crap and was able to [streamline](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=46711) the design a bit… 🙂 [QUOTE=InvisibleWombat] On my computer, it doesn’t. It gets all the way out of the light-blue “starting zone,” but then twists up and falls. Wow. Just wow. I love the simple, elegant solutions, and that definitely is one. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=barnyard] That is brilliant! [/QUOTE] Thanks! Makes the time I spent working out the balance almost worthwhile… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233/120 "2008-07-23T21:07:17Z")
Took me awhile to settle on this solution to [Handling](http://FantasticContraption.com/?designId=12188). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fabulous-online-physics-based-game/457233.md?page=7)