Whether it evokes good childhood memories of internet games from the zero’s or nightmares about the constant updates, almost every computer user still knows it: Flash Player.
After 25 years and a warning three years ago, software developer Adobe is finally throwing the computer program into the trash today. Flash was used less and less and regularly faced security problems.
For years, Flash was one of the most important so-called plugins for online videos, games and other moving elements on the internet. The first version, then still Macromedia Flash Player was released on New Year’s Day 1996.
70,000 games
Originally the program was intended for animation and online design, but not long after, game developers decided to use the software as well.
“Flash is where it all started,” says game journalist Len Maessen. “It was a catalyst: suddenly it was easier to make games.” According to Maessen, Flash games have laid the foundation for the further development of Indie games. “They were the inspiration for many of today’s games.”
Many older internet games therefore also run on Flash. And that means that as of today, thousands of those games will be difficult or impossible to play at all.
A group of hackers are trying to counter this and started a non-profit project in early 2018 to archive Flash games and keep them safe to play. So far they have done that for more than 70,000 games. The Internet Archive website has also archived more than two thousand Flash elements.
A well-known Flash game is Line Rider from 2006:
Perhaps the most iconic Flash game is Alien Hominid from 2002, which was later also released on various game consoles. Originally the Flash game was developed for games website Newgrounds, which has now developed an alternative itself so that their internet games can still be played.
The Iconic Alien Hominid Game:
Another Flash internet game that was also big in the Netherlands during the zero’s is Habbo Hotel. For years, thousands of young people could be found on the Dutch version of the platform at any given time.
Habbo still exists, but game developer Sulake’s game started a quiet retreat years ago. And the forced move to a replacement for Flash (called Unity) could well be the final end of Habbo can mean. The hashtag #SaveHabbo was already trending in various European countries this week, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.
A look back at Habbo on Twitter: