krougeau

0 comments by krougeau on Nov 3rd, 2012

The Floor is Lava is a classic children's game in which the players imagine that the floor or ground is made of lava and must avoid contact with it by standing on furniture or other elevated objects. Players aren't allowed to remain still for any lengthy period of time and must continually hop from one article of furniture to the next, without touching the floor, until they reach the goal point. According to KnowYourMeme.com, the earliest known variation of the game can be found in the 1948 short story 'The Wish' by Roald Dahl, which features a child who imagines the carpet as red hot coals and dangerous snakes.

"'Oh, the floor's lava!' That's the lava game, when you pretend that the floor is lava and you climb up on all the furniture. I see some of you don't get that. I don't care, that's OK. You might have called it something else, but it meant the same thing; you were poor. I'd tell my mom, 'I want a Nintendo!' and she'd say, 'Oh, the floor is lava!' ...'Oh my God! Whats wrong with our house? Why can't we afford better carpeting?'" - Daniel Tosh

The Video Game: In my upcoming video game version of "The Floor is Lava!", you'll take on the role of a young boy stuck at home on a rainy day with nothing but his imagination to occupy him. The game begins when you hop up onto the first piece of furniture and yell "the floor is lava", after which an imaginary lavaflow will rise up out of the carpet. To avoid a fiery death, you'll have to jump from one item to another, each of which will begin to sink into the lava when you touch it.

At the moment, the game is a simple prototype and is still very much in it's infancy, though a demo level is currently available for play on the QuixoteSoft website (see the link below). The current artwork and animations are also prototypes and will be evolving further as the game comes together. The current demo level is intentionally simple, short and not particullarly challenging, as it is just meant to show off the general game concept. I will be updating it regularly as new elements are added to the game.

Try the current prototype demo here:
Quixotesoft.com

 
In the near future, the furniture obstacles will "float" on the surface of the lava, swaying as if on waves. Larger objects (couches, tables, etc) will not only sink, but tilt one way or the other depending on where the player is standing. Additional game mechanics will also be included, such as swinging, crouching, and sliding. I will also be adding obstacles that must be avoided (lamps, photos, vases, etc.) lest you break them and incur the "wrath of Mom!"

Future levels of the game, each with it's own unique challenges, are also in the planning stages including The Playground, Grandma's House, The Laundry Room, and several more.

When completed, The Floor Is Lava! will be made freely available for play on both Windows and Mac, as well as online at the QuixoteSoft website. I will also be adding it to other game sites such as IndieDB.com and cNet's Download.com website. I expect to have a full working game ready before Christmas of this year.

Special Thanks To These Great People:

• Bucky Thomas
• marcss
• The Bathyscaphist