Fugdale’s Funhouse

Object: Find 5 differences between two images.

Review: We’ve all seen this game before. Spot the differences between two almost identical images. Sometimes these games have easy differences to spot, sometimes they have more challenging differences to spot. This version of the classic genre, gives the idea a completely fresh face-lift. Using the tools of the modern computer age, the designer of this game has really gone to town. The images he has created have a fresh, unique and elegant design. In addition to that, they feature subtle animations. Clouds roll by in the background. People in the images move, float, read, shift their weight, etc. The same animations and actions take place in both images at the same time. The animations don’t just stay static either, the image sometimes changes permanently as you play. For example, on one screen, an artist, paints a painting while you continue playing the game.

The differences you must spot vary from the typical (reversed object, missing item, items with different colors) to the more unique (different words, misspellings, background detail, etc.). On each screen, as you click on a difference in either image, one of the differences will magically change to match the other. Also, somewhere on each screen a number will count down from 5 to 0 as you discover each difference. The placement of the number shows up in unique places. Because of the obvious production value and time spent on each of the images, the game plays the same each time through. So you won’t find a lot of replay value, but that doesn’t matter. The game has several levels and you will definitely enjoy playing it through the first time and rediscovering the joy of spotting differences in an entirely new arena. The creative touches applied to this classic game give it a huge fun factor and propel it to the top of my list. The game is simply beautiful.

Nutshell: Bizarre animated Flash movies by Larry Carlson.

Review: Animator and Blogger, Larry Carlson, has created a huge assortment of some of the most wonderful and bizarre flash animations on the web. His style reminds one of Terry Gilliam’s Animations for the “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”. Both colorful and twisted, these short films truly exemplify a creative mind at work. The Dali-esque artwork and detailed graphics provide many moments of awe-inspiring fun.

With over 60 animations on this site, you will certainly have a butt-load of entertainment to watch. You can also view Carlson’s amazing works of still art, video art and unique digital images and even purchase his “Dark Star Transmissions” DVD on his truly amazing site.