[PC Browser game][mid 00's, played in about 2008?] Game about defining chemical interactions to solve puzzles
Platform(s): Browser/PC I think Flash, but could have possibly been a Java applet
Genre: Chemistry themed puzzle game
Estimated year of release: Not too sure, I found it on StumbleUpon in about 2008, but it could easily be a lot earlier
Graphics/art style: The gameplay area was two main parts, one was a window with load of atoms of different types (different coloured circles) bumping in to each other like a 2d gas. The other part was a series of drop down menus that were used to define reactions, though they may have been behind a second menu, I can't clearly remember. The style of it was basically the same as a windows form and could have looked at home on Windows 95
Notable characters: Game didn't feature any characters unless you count coloured circles with a letter in them as characters
Notable gameplay mechanics: Each 'level' would be a different goal, like "Make chains of 5 of the same atom" or "make a loop of atom a enclosing atom b" eventually culminating in making a sort of self replicating cell with some dna and a cell wall. The reactions would be defined in terms of breaking and making bonds depending on what atoms came in to contact with each other, and entering 'meta states', like you'd do A1 + B1 bonds to become A2:B2
Other details: Nothing too helpful springs to mind, I think there was a level where there were like these little buzzsaws flying around that would undo any bonds not formed of a particular atom. I'll update if any other specifics come to mind. When I get a chance later today I'll post a mockup of my vague recollection of the interface, but it'll probably be wrong and I don't want to risk prejudicing people the wrong way yet.
Edit: Sort of solved, there is a sort of equivalent game on Android that plays like a pared back version. I'd still be interested in finding the original, assuming it still exists, but I've got a much stronger position to search from now. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.org.livingphysics.app.livingphysics_full
Posted Jul 3, 2018, 7:57 AM UTC · edited