THUS.SPAKE.Z  The download, whether via MacUpdate or directly from the developer's website takes forever.

It started with time remaining at just a few minutes and then kept increasing to a half hour, then one hour. When I went to the kitchen for a repast and returned an hour later, the downoad still showed over two hours remaining!! And I've got a fast DSL internet connection.

So I stopped the download, put it in the trash and went on my merry way.

Most downloads of 52mbs, the size of this one, take just a few short minutes but this POS is very constipated.

Dunno what's up with that, but I don't need the aggravation.  
(Version 1.5.2)

STEVEN P.  The most ridiculous way to distribute an open source game!

The downloaded disk image contains 3 nameless files that are only labeled by text embedded in the background image. The nameless file labeled "Readme" has the icon of a text file but actually is an application which "launches" a hidden text file. The nameless file labeled "Install Neverball" has the icon of an installer package but actually is another application which "launches" a hidden installer package. And yes, even the nameless file labeled "Website" has the icon of a web link but actually is another application which "launches" another hidden file. See a pattern emerging here? This is supposed to be open source software but it even hides its ReadMe file?!? Why the hidden files?!? Why an application for a web link or to view a ReadMe file?

But the horror does not end there - the installer package requires root privileges to run and turns out to be a metapackage containing 7(!) separate installer packages, two of them just to install a folder icon for 2(!) INVISIBLE folders! Yep, you hear that right - game data is kept in 2(!) invisible folders in your home directory (~./neverball and ~./neverball-dev) - but at least the uninstaller (which is an installer metapackage again) remains visible in your home folder (~/Uninstall Neverball.mpkg). Oh, and there's another folder '/Library/Application Support/Neverball Data' (note that this is system-wide, not user-domain) that gets a nice folder icon too - not that anyone would ever look in there. And here comes the highlight: The game itself comes with 2 applications that get installed in /Applications separately - without a common folder, without folder icon - just two separate apps in your applications folder.

I don't know what (or if) the developers were thinking when they put this together, but this probably takes the crown for the worst software distribution in history!

My advise: Immediately delete this abomination!  
(Version 1.5.2)

JAMMNROSE  Neverball v1.5.1 has been released (http://neverball.org/). The version here is shown as 1.5, but the download link seems to work correctly, downloading v1.5.1.  
(Version 1.5)

CORPSECORPS  I found these in my applications folder recently, having forgotten i'd even installed them. The package must not have allowed installation in a location other than the Applications folder, because i normally reserve that for serious work software, installing games in a secondary Applications folder.

Since Neverball and Neverputt are packaged together, i'll save my full review until i've experimented more with Neverball.

It looks like i'm going to be the voice of dissent regarding NEVERPUTT. I like the concept and while not chock full of eye and ear candy, the UI is straight forward, has great clarity and is simple to use. No real complaints there.

That being said, i have pretty serious problems with BOTH the physics and hole designs. The ball collisions are too elastic and friction too slight.

As far as the level designs, i disagree with the claim that the beginning course has a smooth learning curve. In general holes have too many gaps, tricks, and overly steep ramps.

That could potentially be good and all appears interesting enough, but when you put the boingy physics together with the traps and steep ramps, it adds up to annoyingly pedantic play requirements.

Some examples:

1 - A ramp simply rises to a higher platform. Given the physics a shot which seems to have enough power to make it up the ramp, will typically cause the ball to bounce at the base of the ramp instead of rolling up, greatly reducing it's speed so it doesn't make it. A harder hit will then get the ball to the top, but with enough of a bounce that unless the platform at the top is wide (a rare occurrence) the ball will retain enough bounce to fly off the world for a penalty stroke.

2 - Lots of platforms turns corners and ascend ramps. Because a ball will bounce off the base of a ramp, bouncing around a corner with enough speed to have any chance of ascending the ramp will bounce the ball off the world.  
(Version 1.5)

INTELLECT INSIDE  Sloppy packaging!

Downloaded it, opened disk image, double-clicked installer, and...

ERROR MESSAGE

"no such file"

Same thing when I try to read the Read Me file. These are actually just scripts that are calling files by the wrong names, and thus don't work.

I had to use Houdini to find out the name of the .mpkg file so I could find it with EasyFind and launch it from there. What a chore.  
(Version 1.5)

AGRAUMANN  One of the best games out there. Simply love to play it whether on my old linux machine or no on my Macbook.

I hope the developers keep up the great work!  
(Version 1.4)

REPEAT2341  This game is excellent with potential. I LOVED MonkeyBall on my friend's console and was envious until today. Neverball has awesome graphics, great music and endearing voice work, and an n-like collection of levels. Give it a try, it's free, and e-mail the developer suggestions! (It IS too sensitive with a mouse - play Neverputt and stay on the first few levels until you get better control or a better controller.) WE DEMAND ONLINE SCORES and replays! And a level editor! user levels hoorah, five levels BOO!!

Great game!  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  Frustratingly sensitive - it should be possible to change the sensitivity - I barely moved my mouse (is the movement accelerated?) and the ball was all over the place. This would be frustrating for my daughter.  
(Version 1.4)

AET  For the curious with one of the newer model Powerbook G4s that has tilt-sensing, check out this article about someone writing an app that lets you control Neverball by tilting your computer.

http://kernelthread.com/software/ams2hid/  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  A great great game! Keep up the great work!  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  One of the most addictive games I've ever played ... An excellent game at an unbeatable price.  
(Version 1.4)

GRAEME PROVAN  Fantastic, mind you I can't get to grips with the controls at all.

I prefer the putting game which is great.

With Neverputt, are you going to include a high score table? Also, a course designer would make me shell out good money for it.

Graeme  
(Version 1.4)

RICH  It doesn't run because of permissions on the executable. Do this to fix it:

1. open the Terminal app from Applications/Utilities.

2. type "chmod a+x " (space at end)

3. drop the Neverball app onto the Terminal window.

4. hit Backspace to squish the space at the end and continue typing this:

"/Contents/MacOS/Neverball"

...and hit return.

You should be able to run it now.

[Suggestion to the author: use a gzipped disk image .]

Oh, btw: great game :-)  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  neverball (1.3.6) hasn't worked for me since the last Security Update (2004-09-07 v1.1). This new version (1.3.7) still doesn't run on my iBook running 10.3.5.  
(Version 1.4)

RIP  Doesn't even start up. One bounce, and that's it.  
(Version 1.4)

MAASGARID  The control system is VERY tetchy and requires some getting used to, but once I oriented myself it was a lot of fun. Can't beat the price either! =)  
(Version 1.4)

BRILDENLANCH  Won't open for me on 10.3.5  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  os x 10.3+ is all that's supported  
(Version 1.4)

NBALLAHOLIC  Neverball has changed my life! It's all I think about and that is GREAT! Thank you RLK and the whole team!   
(Version 1.3.6)

ANONYMOUS  Neverball works under 10.2.8 except the mouse motion seems reversed.  
(Version 1.3.6)

ANONYMOUS  Neverputt seems to work just fine in Jaguar (10.2.8). Now I just need to figure out how to get past level 16.  
(Version 1.3.6)

ANONYMOUS  I am very impressed, one of the best shareware/freeware games in a long time! As for the comments, both camera follow and mouse sensitivity can be set. But you have to edit the neverballrc file that is in a folder called .neverball in your home directory. The period means the folder invisible. You can get at the file by using Finder's Go to folder function and entering ".neverball" when you are in your home directory. Then just edit the file called neverballrc in TextEdit, the settings you need are mentioned on their website.  
(Version 1.3.6)

STARMANTA  I think I'd enjoy this game a lot more if:

a) there was a mouse sensitivity option (I'm on a trackpad, so having to move my finger across the pad several times is far too slow)

b) there was a way to keep the camera from constantly turning to follow the ball... maybe this is an intentional gameplay challenge, but i honestly found it confusing and annoying.

This is a good game that's just shy of being great :)  
(Version 1.3.6)

EAGLE  I enjoyed Neverputt, however it seems as though there is some kind of an invisible wall on hole 16, which made it impossible to the complete the hole and the game.  
(Version 1.3.6)

MACAHOLIC  Sounds cool, but can you make it for 10.2.8?

I can't afford panther.

:)   
(Version 1.3.6)

FRANZ  really nice and great game...

im a gree with "Billy".. its necesary a lot of inspiration!

great!  
(Version 1.3.6)

BILL  Simple idea but very effective graphics. Looks easy, but requires a lot of tenacity. Well done!  
(Version 1.3.6)