Movies Make Good Websites

So, for this hopelessly overdue blog entry, I am looking at a movie website for a Korean movie called "hansel and Gretel" (although I think it will have a different name in the US release), and a really addictive little game called "Shift".

I found the movie website while on some YouTube stint looking at trailers for different Asian horror films. Hansel and Gretel popped up and I found the website very entertaining. (http://www.lovehansel.com/)%20WhileWhile it lacks the "flash" of big American movie sites, it manages to evoke both a compelling and eerie feeling. Even more intersting is how it manages to make you feel that way, even without words, since the whole site is in Korean. While I don't know anything about the content of the site, the feelings that it manages to portray are enticing enough that I can't wait to see this movie (although a translation will help).

I imagine that the programing of this site is not really all that complicated. Given time, I can actually see how most of it is done. It makes liberal use of mouse scrolling, and does an especially good job of given debth to the scene by slowing the movement of the objects and scenery that are farther away.

Adding further to eerie feeling of this site are the subtle movements of objects and light sources. These movements occur both independent of the mouse or as a result of a mouse-over. The motion is subtle, so much that you may not notice it the first time you scroll over the scene. Of course, clicking on many of these objects will bring you to other pages, which I'm sure are full of great movie information - if I read the language. As it is, I'll just have to stick to the pictures.

What I really like that this site illustrates is how much you can do with the tools we already have - regardless of how long it would take us to produce it...

The game that I am STRONGLY recommending everyone take a look at is called "Shift" http://armorgames.com/play/751/shift. Word to the wise, check this site out AFTER you've finished your final project. It's terribly addictive. This game is graphically about as simple as you could hope. Black & White, Squares & Triangles - and one little guy - that's you. The object is to get to a door thought a black and white two dimentional maze. There are keys in the maze, which move little platforms, which may save you from falling on the triangular spikes as you make your way through the maze. The "shift" allows you to flip your character from the black part to the white part - at which point your character's color goes from white to black. If that description makes sense to you, your better than I am. Better yet, give it a try - but make sure you've got time to burn.

This is one of those rare games that is brilliant in its simplicity. As far as creating it - probably a bit beyond me :o), but I'd love to see the code. Even without amazing graphics and any sound effects whatsoever, the game is entertaining, addictive and actually makes you think.

I think both of these sites are, in different ways, studies in simplicity. The movie site uses rich graphics and relatively simple code to create something effective and compelling, while the game uses simple graphics and more complicated code (and a lot of clever thought) to make a game that's downright addictive.

Oh yea, there's a Shift 2, also. Have Fun.