Windosill
{{Short description|2009 video game}}
{{About|the video game|the surface at the bottom of a window|Window sill}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Windosill (Vectorpark)
| image = Windosill screenshot 02.jpg
| caption = Title screen
| developer = Vectorpark
| publisher = Vectorpark
| designer = Patrick Smith
| platforms = Windows, OS X, Linux, browser, iOS
| released = Windows, OS X, browser{{Video game release|WW|May 26, 2009}}iOS{{Video game release|WW|{{Start date|2011|12|15}}}} Switch{{Video game release|WW|{{Start date|2022|11|11}}}}
| genre = Puzzle
| modes = Single-player
}}
Windosill is a 2009 puzzle video game by Vectorpark for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, web browsers, and iOS. The player advances through eleven different rooms by interacting with each level's environmental objects. It was developed by Patrick Smith, an artist who taught himself to animate and program the game in Adobe Flash. He was inspired by a variety of painters and artists. The game was first released for Windows, OS X, and web browsers in 2009, and was later ported to the iPad (running iOS) in 2011, with several added features.
The game received "universal acclaim" according to video game review score aggregator Metacritic.{{r|Metacritic}} Reviewers noted the game's especially short duration, memorability, art style, and emphasis on exploration over problem solving. Windosill has influenced games such as Alto's Adventure, Blek, Donut County, and Monument Valley.
In 2022, the planned release of Windosill as a Nintendo Switch eShop title was announced.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-04 |title=Influential Toy-Like Puzzle Game 'Windosill' Is Coming To Switch After 13 Years |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/11/influential-toy-like-puzzle-game-windosill-is-coming-to-switch-after-13-years |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Windosill for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site |url=https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/windosill-switch/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=www.nintendo.com |language=en-us}}
Gameplay
In Windosill, the player solves logic puzzles to progress through eleven successive rooms. Everything on-screen is interactive. The player experiments with the environmental objects in each room to find a hidden cube, which unlocks the door to the next level,{{r|Slide to Play review}} through which the player guides a toy car.{{r|148Apps review}} Responsive objects in each room include light switches, piles of leaves,{{r|TouchArcade review}} clocks, "a squishy thing with an eye on top", a building that grows legs when spun, a box that grows hair when touched, and a smokestack that can be squeezed to make clouds.{{r|Kotaku: mysterious}} Interactions with these objects reveal subsequent objects and possible interactions.{{r|Kotaku: mysterious}}
{{multiple image |footer=In Windosill, the player interacts with the environment of a room to find a cube that unlocks the next room. |footer_align=center |width=225 |direction=horizontal |align=center |image1=Windosill, first room SD.webm |image2= |image3= |image4= }}
Development
Patrick Smith, a Brooklyn-based artist,{{r|GSW: Interview}} drew, animated, and programmed Windosill by himself{{r|Riccardo}} for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, web browser, and iPad (iOS) platforms.{{r|IndieGames.com: sketchpad}} His collection of interactive animations and games, which he began around 2001, are released under the name "Vectorpark".{{r|GSW: Interview}} Although Edge previously covered and praised Smith's prior work, they wrote that he "is notable for never having made the jump to the mainstream".{{r|Edge: IT Crowd}}
Smith first sketched Windosill level ideas in pencil, and transferred his favorites into Adobe Illustrator, where he added detail, "shapes and colors".{{r|Riccardo}} He then animated and programmed the scenes in Adobe Flash, and incorporated sounds from Freesound. While Smith studied painting at Washington University, he learned to animate and program on his own. He developed his own 3D and physics code instead of using existing software libraries, as he prefers to use code he fully understands.{{r|Riccardo}} When Smith built the game, he considered the "aesthetic and functional aspects holistically".{{r|GSW: Interview}} Smith's main inspirations when creating Windosill were mainly artists and not games: surrealists René Magritte and Joan Miró, metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico, animators Max and Dave Fleischer of Fleischer Studios, cartoonists Chris Ware and Jim Woodring, sculptor Alexander Calder, and Italian Renaissance painters Paolo Uccello and Piero della Francesca. Smith credits the latter painters for his use of flat shapes as 3D forms.{{r|Riccardo}} Windosill was not designed for a specific audience{{emdash}}in fact, Smith designed them for his own enjoyment{{emdash}}but he noted that its "toy-like" qualities and emphasis on discovery were intentional.{{r|GSW: Interview}}
Windosill was originally released in 2009{{r|TouchArcade review}} as a downloadable Flash game{{r|Riccardo}} for Microsoft Windows and OS X.{{r|Indiegames.com: Pick}} In this version, the first half of Windosill{{'s}} was free-to-play and its second half could be unlocked with payment.{{r|Indiegames.com: Pick}} Smith was satisfied with its sales, but said "it will take a long time to fund itself".{{r|GSW: Interview}} An iOS (iPad-only{{r|Kotaku: mysterious}}) port{{r|TouchArcade review}} was released on December 15, 2011,{{r|Slide to Play review}} and added two features: Complex Gravity (which adds "tilt controls") and See-Thru{{r|TouchArcade review}} (which makes the room's elements transparent).{{r|Slide to Play review}} It also includes a 20-piece collection of concept art.{{r|IndieGames.com: sketchpad}} The game was included in the April 2012, Amanita Design Humble Bundle.{{r|Polygon: Humble}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 90/100 (4 reviews){{r|Metacritic}}
| rev1 = 148 Apps
| rev1Score = 4.5/5{{r|148Apps review}}
| rev2 = Slide to Play
| rev2Score = 4/4{{r|Slide to Play review}}
| rev3 = TouchArcade
| rev3Score = 4.5/5{{r|TouchArcade review}}
}}
The game received "universal acclaim", according to video game review score aggregator Metacritic.{{r|Metacritic}} Reviewers noted the game's especially short duration, memorability, and emphasis on exploration over problem solving.{{r|Slide to Play review|148Apps review|TouchArcade review}} Multiple reviewers praised the game's art style.{{r|Slide to Play review|148Apps review|TouchArcade review|GSW: Interview}} Nissa Campbell of TouchArcade described the style as "surreal",{{r|TouchArcade review}} and Tim Rattray of Slide to Play wrote that Windosill is "serious" in its attempt to "be 'art{{'"}}.{{r|Slide to Play review}} Critics described Windosill as not just a game but "a toy" in itself.{{r|TouchArcade review|Indiegames.com: Pick}} GameSetWatch selected the game for their "Best of Indie Games" the week of May 2, 2009.{{r|GSW: Best}}
Campbell of TouchArcade wrote that the iOS port was "always meant to be" due to the tactility of the game's puzzles.{{r|TouchArcade review}} Campbell added that iOS multitouch changed how players could interact with the puzzles, though it did not change any of the solutions.{{r|TouchArcade review}} The reviewer wrote that the controls were intuitive and designed for experimenting, as there is no tutorial.{{r|TouchArcade review}} Kirk Hamilton of Kotaku similarly wrote that the game helped him remember "how wonderfully tactile the iPad can be".{{r|Kotaku: mysterious}}
Rattray of Slide to Play described Windosill as "an interactive abstract mosaic" and "absolute thrill ride".{{r|Slide to Play review}} He described the puzzle design and production value as "brilliant", and praised the "fitting" sound effects, "smooth" controls, and "perfect" frame rate.{{r|Slide to Play review}} 148Apps{{'s}} Dan Lee also called the puzzles "brilliant", and described them as "so abstract" as to require unconventional thinking.{{r|148Apps review}} Anthony Burch of Destructoid added that the puzzles were designed such that players would not become "frustrated or bored".{{r|Destructoid: IN}} Lee and Rattray said there was little reason to return to the game after playing through,{{r|Slide to Play review|148Apps review}} apart from a few minutes to experiment with the added iOS features.{{r|Slide to Play review}} While Lee considered this a "niggle",{{r|148Apps review}} Rattray praised its brevity.{{r|Slide to Play review}}
Windosill has influenced games including Alto's Adventure,{{r|Polygon: Alto's}} Blek,{{r|Edge: heartening}} Donut County,{{r|Polygon: Donut|Polygon: Donut name change}} and Monument Valley.{{r|Indiegames.com: Monument Valley trailer}} Smith later made the 2015 interactive alphabet game Metamorphabet.{{r|Wired: wish}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web |url=http://www.destructoid.com/indie-nation-59-windosill-130593.phtml |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Indie Nation #59: Windosill |last1=Burch |first1=Anthony |date=May 1, 2009 |work=Destructoid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133533/http://www.destructoid.com/indie-nation-59-windosill-130593.phtml |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-heartening-story-of-blek-the-ios-game-that-cut-through-app-store-cynicism-with-pure-creativity/ |access-date=July 20, 2014 |title=The heartening story of Blek, the iOS game that cut through App Store cynicism with pure creativity |last1=Long |first1=Neil |date=February 12, 2014 |magazine=Edge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721051959/http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-heartening-story-of-blek-the-ios-game-that-cut-through-app-store-cynicism-with-pure-creativity/ |archive-date=July 21, 2014 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite magazine |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/patrick-smith-of-vectorpark-on-the-it-crowd-toy-boxes-and-his-new-game/ |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Patrick Smith of Vectorpark on the IT Crowd, toy-boxes and his new game |last=Griliopoulos |first=Dan |date=November 7, 2013 |magazine=Edge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111182942/http://www.edge-online.com/features/patrick-smith-of-vectorpark-on-the-it-crowd-toy-boxes-and-his-new-game/ |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/05/best_of_indie_games_window_to.php |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Best Of Indie Games: Window to Your Mind and Soul |last1=W. |first1=Tim |date=May 2, 2009 |work=GameSetWatch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020826/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/05/best_of_indie_games_window_to.php |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/07/gamesetinterview_a_window_into_patrick_smith.php |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=GameSetInterview: A Window Into Patrick Smith |last1=Cameron |first1=Phil |date=July 30, 2009 |work=GameSetWatch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040313/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2009/07/gamesetinterview_a_window_into_patrick_smith.php |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2013/12/trailer_monument_valley.html |access-date=January 1, 2014 |title=Trailer: ustwo's Monument Valley |last1=W. |first1=Tim |date=December 10, 2013 |work=IndieGames.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200054/http://indiegames.com/2013/12/trailer_monument_valley.html |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2011/12/windosill_for_ipad_now_availab.html |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Revisiting Vectorpark's Windosill: iPad Release and Cross-platform Sale |last1=Polson |first1=John |date=December 21, 2011 |work=IndieGames.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144917/http://indiegames.com/2011/12/windosill_for_ipad_now_availab.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://indiegames.com/2009/04/indie_game_pick_windosill_patr.html |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Indie Game Pick: Windosill (Patrick Smith) |last1=W. |first1=Tim |date=April 28, 2009 |work=IndieGames.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214155701/http://www.indiegames.com/2009/04/indie_game_pick_windosill_patr.html |archive-date=December 14, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5904945/the-wonderful-windosill-turns-your-ipad-into-a-mysterious-toybox |access-date=March 8, 2015 |work=Kotaku |title=The Wonderful Windosill Turns Your iPad Into A Mysterious Toybox |last=Hamilton |first=Kirk |date=April 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402102238/http://kotaku.com/5904945/the-wonderful-windosill-turns-your-ipad-into-a-mysterious-toybox |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/windosill/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Windosill Critic Reviews for iPhone/iPad |work=Metacritic |access-date=March 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326032913/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/windosill/critic-reviews |archive-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/11/8021781/altos-adventure-ios-snowboarding |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Get ready to feel some snowboarding emotions with Alto's Adventure |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=February 11, 2015 |work=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306145418/http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/11/8021781/altos-adventure-ios-snowboarding |archive-date=March 6, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/8/3476056/indiecade-selection-kachina-has-shades-of-katamari-damacy-and-one |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=IndieCade selection Kachina has shades of Katamari Damacy and one intriguing hole |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=October 8, 2012 |work=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816100423/http://www.polygon.com/2012/10/8/3476056/indiecade-selection-kachina-has-shades-of-katamari-damacy-and-one |archive-date=August 16, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/11/5992923/donut-county-kachina-ben-esposito |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=Donut County is like a reverse Katamari inspired by Bruce Springsteen and fake Peter Molyneux |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=August 11, 2014 |work=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503013915/http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/11/5992923/donut-county-kachina-ben-esposito |archive-date=May 3, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/4/19/2960519/botanicula-humble-bundle |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title='Botanicula' offered in name-your-own-price Humble Bundle |last=McElroy |first=Griffin |date=April 19, 2012 |work=Polygon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041929/http://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/4/19/2960519/botanicula-humble-bundle |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.riccardogiraldi.com/the-many-talents-of-mr-patrick-smith.html |access-date=March 8, 2015 |title=The many talents of Mr. Patrick Smith |last1=Giraldi |first1=Riccardo |date=2009 |work=Riccardo Giraldi, Creative Director at Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311033443/http://www.riccardogiraldi.com/the-many-talents-of-mr-patrick-smith.html |archive-date=March 11, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite web |url=http://toucharcade.com/2012/01/13/windosill-ipad-review/ |access-date=March 8, 2015 |work=TouchArcade |title='Windosill' iPad Review - A Brief Trip Into Surrealism |last=Campbell |first=Nissa |date=January 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330163112/http://toucharcade.com/2012/01/13/windosill-ipad-review/ |archive-date=March 30, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/02/wish-games-weird-guys-interactive-alphabet/ |access-date=March 25, 2015 |title=I Wish More Games Were as Weird as This Guy's Interactive Alphabet |last1=Vanhemert |first1=Kyle |date=February 12, 2015 |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325083039/http://www.wired.com/2015/02/wish-games-weird-guys-interactive-alphabet |archive-date=March 25, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}
}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
- {{official website}}
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{{Portal bar|Video games|border=yes}}
Category:Flash games ported to consoles
Category:Single-player video games