flOw - student version

flOw is Jenova Chen's MFA thesis game from 2006 about piloting an aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere where players consume other organisms, evolve, and advance their organisms to the abyss. (This version was created in Adobe Flash, so we now have to run it through the Ruffle Emulator here on Itch.io in order to make it available. Because of that, some bugs may exist!)

As part of Jenova Chen's thesis research, flOw inherits an embedded design of active DDA (dynamic difficulty adjustment), players with differing skill levels can intuitively customize their experiences in the zone and enjoy the game at their own pace. “Addicting” is the most common word its fans use to describe it.

Design Features

  • Minimal control opens the door for casual gamer and non-gamer
  • Control the balance between speed and turning leaves space for hardcore player to master
  • Wide range of gameplay from simply swimming around to strategical evolving and intensive fighting for survival
  • Customize flow experience naturally through the core gameplay, swimming and eating
  • Transparent and meaningful choices
  • Small risk, small reward; Big risk, big reward
  • Minimal penalty, no Flow breakers

Publicity

During the first two weeks after flOw was released online, it attracted more than 350,000 downloads. It went on to become thatgamecompany's award-winning first game for the PlayStation 3 and later platforms.

Awards for the student game:

  • flOw won the "Internet Game of the Month" on EDGE magazine, May 2006
  • flOw was invited and presented at the annual Experimental Gameplay Workshop during the GDC 2006
More information