[DEV] EatIt! The Forgotten Snack Game with a Legacy: My Journey to Recreate a Lost Classic

It began after I unintentionally deleted a sport off my girlfriend’s laptop computer, not realizing it was tied to a deeply private reminiscence. This wasn’t just a few previous sport to her; it had been her go-to consolation throughout one of many hardest instances in her life. As a child, she’d misplaced her beloved pet, who had bravely defended her in opposition to a pack of stray canine, a second that left an enduring mark on her. The grief that adopted was overwhelming, and to manage, she’d discovered solace on this easy puzzle sport.

By deleting it, I’d unknowingly eliminated that quiet supply of consolation she turned to when issues bought robust. Decided to make issues proper, I dove into the sport’s origins, hoping to recreate it. That search turned a deep dive into a bit of gaming historical past that few folks bear in mind.

The sport was referred to as Линия вкусов—Line of Tastes—a unusual, Russia-only snack-themed sport from the early 2000s. Created as a snack firm promotion, it had easy mechanics that made it addictive, however information about it was nearly nonexistent on-line. I used to be pressured to develop my search, digging via boards and websites in a number of languages.

Line of Tastes

However that was simply the tip of the iceberg. Line of Tastes had a a lot deeper lineage; it was primarily based on the Vietnamese traditional Strains 98, created in 1998 for Home windows by Vietnamese developer Nguyễn Hòa Bình. The “98” in its title wasn’t only a random quantity; it was a tribute to Home windows 98! With its easy but infuriatingly addictive mechanics—lining up coloured balls to forestall a board overflow—Strains 98 turned a success throughout Vietnam and Asia, the place it’s nonetheless fondly remembered at present.

Strains 98 – 1998

Strains 98 was, in flip, impressed by Coloration Strains, a Russian sport from 1992 for DOS. Developed by Oleg Demin and Igor Ivkin, Coloration Strains launched a easy but ingenious components: line up coloured balls to maintain the board from filling up. This mechanic captured tens of millions of followers, notably throughout Japanese Europe and Asia, and would go on to affect puzzle video games worldwide.

Coloration Strains – 1992

However Line of Tastes? This descendant of Coloration Strains and Strains 98 was misplaced to time, leaving no hint of its quirky legacy—apart from my girlfriend’s reminiscence and a single screenshot I’d managed to save lots of. Impressed, I made a decision to recreate it from scratch, including just a few fashionable twists. And after sleepless nights coding and designing, my model is lastly right here.

EatIt!

EatIt!, my fashionable tackle this misplaced traditional—full of tasty graphics, excessive scores, and simply the correct amount of frustration to maintain issues fascinating.

It’s lastly up on Google Play if you wish to test it out: 🧀 EatIt! on Google Play.

I’ll be glad to obtain any suggestions from you!