Souptoys Toybox, also known simply as Souptoys, is a physics-based sandbox video game and "desktop toy" program for the Microsoft Windows systems. It was developed by a group of friends known as the Soupboys, based in Western Australia.[1] Initially made available for purchase sometime in early 2006, Souptoys was released as freeware on July 14 of the same year.[2] A number of updates have been released that add new toys to the game, although the game's official website is no longer accessible.
| Souptoys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Souptoys Pty Ltd |
| Publisher(s) | Oberon Media |
| Platform(s) | Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Sandbox game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Gameplay
editSouptoys includes a variety of physics-based objects which can be dragged from the "toybox" window onto the desktop, with the ability to be thrown and moved around with a computer mouse. Some objects, such as balls, cannons, gears, titling platforms, and colored wooden blocks, allow for level-building and the construction of Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, which could then be saved as a "playset" file and uploaded to the Souptoys website for others to download.[3] Several pre-made playsets are also included with the base game. While Souptoys overlays itself directly on to the player's screen, there is also an option to turn on a background which hides the desktop and any open programs with a blue checkerboard pattern.
Toys are divided into themed categories; Sports, Make & Break, Ted's Castle, Souper Six, Bumble Party, Pirates, Astrobots, Soup Labs, and Christmas Toys.
Reception
edit| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| CNET (Download.com) |   [4] |
The game was received positively, with PC World describing the game as "amusing", although noting that the game can "eat up a lot of time if you're not careful."[3] Lifehacker praised the game as a "nice stress reliever for adults", but similarly mentioned "the potential to be the biggest productivity killer of all time."[5] Download.com editors' review compliments the number of pre-included playsets and verdicts that "the whole point of the game is experimentation".[4]
External links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Souptoys - New News and Featured Playsets". 2011-07-28. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ "Fun-Motion » Souptoys Released for Free". Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ a b "Free SoupToys Toybox Turns A Desktop Into a Playground". PCWorld. 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ a b "Souptoys - Editors' Review". Download.com. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
- ^ "SoupToys Is Endless Desktop Fun for Your Child, May Decrease Your Productivity". Lifehacker. 11 April 2010. Retrieved 2021-09-30.