BallDroppings

BallDroppings (2003) by artist/designer Josh Nimoy
work: jtnimoy.net

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For Android
For Mobile Java
For Windows
For Mac
Java Applet
Javascript
Silverlight

Note: When you run this program, your screen will turn completely black. Start clicking around. Make sure the computer's sound is on. Press Escape to exit.

T Shirts for true addicts.

BallDroppings source code signed limited edition CDs are on sale at a design store in Manhattan East Village. Compact-Impact store.

MORE REVIEWS

Christmas is over now. The kids have played with all the toys, they're full of sugar, restive, grumpy. Grandpa is hung-over, grandma has run out of kindliness, Mom has post-traumatic hostess stress. Dad put on seven pounds and he is facing horrific credit-card bills... The family is bored, itchy, feckless, ready to fling themselves at each other's throats...

And then they discover Josh Nimoy's BALL-DROPPINGS! Oh my gosh what a brilliant, subtle, pleasing, soothing little game. Anybody can play, even Luddite Grandpa (after his hangover fades). Hey Dad, hook that web-toy up on broadband to the big new family flat-screen.
Harmony is Restored! Excellent and very addictive. I tried to create rhythms and recorded the result with the WireTap application.
        -- Bruce Sterling, Wired magazine

The piece is great. My kids love it. Very intuitive interface, so they could get right into it with no problem.
        -- Mark Napier, Artist

Josh Nimoy's 'BallDroppings' was the only way I got off my crack habit.
        -- James Clar, EyeBeam

© 2003,2004 JOSH NIMOY

Additional Key Controls for the interface.

Hygiene

SPACEBAR	clears the lines and balls
SHIFT+SPACE	clears only balls
CTRL+SPACE	clears only lines
0 (yes zero)	resets all adjustables to default
DELETE, BACKSPACE, or E	deletes the line currently under the mouse.

Context

F11	toggle fullscreen window
S	saves the world into a fixed settings file.
O (not zero)	opens the settings file.
CTRL+Z	undo key for line editing.
P	pause balls (lines remain interactive)
T	enable TCP/IP stream. (info)

Adjustable Factors

- and +	adjust ball release rate
F and f	adjust air friction
G and g	adjust gravity
R and r	adjust sound (pitch) range of balls
B	press this to place the ball producer where your mouse is.

Technical Info for OnScreen Version.

BallDroppings uses physics simulation of elastic masses to make a controlled metaphysical musical system with simple rules that mimic nature. The software is written in C++ using GNU GCC, GLUT, OpenGL, and fmod on all platforms.