The Phun 2D Physics Sandbox
Phun is a physics sandbox toy and educational tool. Using its simple tools and powerful physics engine, you can build complex machines or just have fun!
This video should give you an idea of what you can create in Phun:
Phun is not open source, but can be downloaded for free. You will need to have hardware accelerated graphics to play it.
Visit the download page and download the
Linux version. Extract the archive anywhere you like, and double click the file
phun to run it. No installation is necessary.
[update] GetDeb now has an Ubuntu package for Phun.
Phun isn’t difficult to figure out on your own, but here are some pointers to get you started:
- In the options window, select
Enable shadersto dramatically improve the graphics. - Click and drag the right mouse button over the background to pan, or over an object to rotate it.
- Hinges can do more that let an object rotate on a point. You can set up a motorized hinge that are controlled by the arrow keys. Find these options in the object’s right click menu.
- Phun includes a fluid simulation! Turn an object to water by right clicking
on it and selecting
Geometry Settings->Liquefy Selected. - You can load the included scenes from the
File->Load Scenemenu.
There’s a tutorial on the Phun’s website that goes over all the tools. Have fun!
Archived Comments
Wikzo
I found this game some weeks ago. It is indeed very fun with lots of opportunities, if you have the creative mind for it. It is a bit like the LittleBigPlanet game for the PlayStation 3 :)
Marius Scurtescu
Doesn’t seem to run on Gutsy or earlier.
Needs a library called libglew, version 1.5, and that’s only in Hardy :-(
Tom
It runs fine in Gutsy for me, Marius. Phun seems to include libglew in the download. Just cd into the directory before running it so Phun finds the library.
Marius Scurtescu
You are right, libglew is there.
I am running linux64 version, maybe that one is somehow not packaged properly. Will try on a 32 bit system. Thanks.
Maxo
I’ve been playing with this for about a month. It is soo much fun, and the kids
love it too.
The FAQ says he plans on open-sourcing it once it gets out of beta.
Tom
Whenever I click on phun.bin it says ‘Could not display etc’ no application installed for this file
Tom
Tom:
You need to click the file “phun” instead of “phun.bin”.
Anonymous
When I click it nothing happens :(
davidi
thanks you very much for your information
markie boi
I couldn’t get the Linux version to work so I installed the windows version using Wine after enabling executables and it runs fine. I’m using a not massively fast laptop and performance is good.
Aaron
Wow, that is awesome looking. I’m so glad it is available for Linux.
*runs off to play jumpy and squealing for joy*