I love, love, love Fourth of July fireworks. As a little teaser for this weekend’s festivities, I decided to see what was out there for online build-your-own display games, and how easy they were to use. Here are some of the top Google results, and how they rate …
Bored.com
All you have to do it click! Only gives you the traditional umbrella-kind of fireworks, but you can choose from some exciting backgrounds like “Grand Finale at the Carnival” and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Also filed in the “Dumb” section of bored.com, so maybe there’s no coolness bonus points.
Usability: 5 out 5
Realism: 4 out of 5
Customization: 2 out of 5
Sharing Ability: 0 out of 5
Overall Score: 55%
Maylin.net
Another click to shoot. Again,there’s only one kind of firework, but the response time (click to boom) is very quick. Especially considering the game was posted in July of 2002, like, pretty much dinosaur times for the internet.
Usability: 5 out 5
Realism: 3 out of 5
Customization: 2 out of 5
Sharing Ability: 0 out of 5
Overall Score: 50%
Good for kids – you just pick from three different fireworks and the display is cute and cartoony. I’m pretty sure the sound effects were pulled from a firing range, not a fireworks display, but with so few guns in England (and no Fourth of July), I guess we have to cut them some slack on the realism.
Usability: 5 out 5
Realism: 2 out of 5
Customization: 3 out of 5
Sharing Ability: 0 out of 5
Overall Score: 50%
Not for the faint of heart. Engineering degree is helpful. You can set fuel amount, explosive force, particle decay and bursting charge, as well as wind shear and gravity (you know, in case your digital display is set on the moon). It’s a bit challenging to get a good end result – I’m pretty sure 90% of my show would have ended up in the crowd of innocent bystanders.
Usability: 3 out 5
Realism: 5 out of 5
Customization: 5 out of 5
Sharing Ability: 4 out of 5
Overall Score: 85%
So I had to register in this one, and may or may not have signed up for a year’s subscription to Better Homes and Gardens in the process. BUT, I got to pick six types of fireworks (bouquets, streamers, etc.) and a city backdrop. The sounds effects were pretty realistic,and you could email to a friend with a personal message, which may or may not sign them up for a year’s subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. Clearly a lead generation tactic, so I suppose that’s the point.
Usability: 3 out 5 (for the required sign up)
Realism: 3 out of 5
Customization: 4 out of 5
Sharing Ability: 5 out of 5
Overall Score: 75%
