Neverball

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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/