Daniel Stafford: Take It Easy and Skip Stones With Time Waster 'Pebble'

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Take It Easy and Skip Stones With Time Waster 'Pebble'

Forget last year's obsession with using spasmodic flailing as a way to control video games. It's far more interesting for developers to subvert the classic D-pad and buttons that we've been tapping away at for years. The one-button game perfectly realizes this by forcing both developers and players to think laterally without resorting to fancy new technology. Play 'Canabalt,' and then check out our week-long one-button showcase.

'Pebble' recreates the simple joys of skipping stones on a quiet afternoon. What the game may lack in heart-pounding excitement is more than counterbalanced by its ability to provide contemplative reflection. The single-button control scheme further aids the game's relaxed pace, allowing you to sit back and lazily toss a smooth stone with just a tap of the spacebar. For the goal-oriented gamer, daily leaderboards let you test your stone-flicking skills against other savvy skippers. At the end of the day though, this is the kind of game you play to unwind from other, more taxing endeavors. Who cares about the points?

Gallery: Pebble