DoneDrinkn Game, Controlling the Drunk with Accelerometer

Those who lived through the Flash games era probably remember that classic where the mission was to make a drunk guy walk in a straight line. When I first tested my iPhone’s accelerometer, that’s what I thought of. The good news is that this idea got a version for the phone: DoneDrinkn.

On iPhone the charm is in the sensors. Instead of the mouse, you tilt the device to keep the character standing. The physics is simple and sufficient to create the feeling of imbalance; each step seems like a small victory. It’s the type of game you open for a few minutes, laugh at the stumbles and try to beat your own record.

The gameplay works better with short movements. Hold the iPhone horizontally, keep the character near the center and avoid sudden tilts that make you overcompensate. With sound on, the effects help get into the mood and stay alert to moments when things go wrong.

Another positive point is the price. It used to cost a few dollars on the App Store, but today it’s available for free. Worth downloading, trying and deciding if it stays. If it’s not for you, just remove it and move on.

As an adaptation, DoneDrinkn succeeds in translating a silly and fun concept to mobile use. The accelerometer gives a charm that the mouse didn’t have and the experience fits short intervals of the day. Light fun, with moderation in theme, of course.