We’ll be presenting our new favorite project (you guessed it - the Red Bull Soapbox Racer) at Flex Labs organized by the Adobe Flex User Group Berlin tonight.

If you’re in Berlin you should sign up to the User Group here

From my own experience - it’s not just about the Flex framework but all things related to the Flash Platform and RIA in general.

This week’s edition is about overcoming this admin’s lonesome summer. The bad news first: Unfortunately, the announced Scooby Doo interview has to be postponed due to an urgent surgery. Scoob is just getting a respiratory tract transplantation. Could this be a result of a long media carrier? I will ask him about that, when Mr. Doo is back on top. At least, he seems not to share a doctor with Michael Jackson.

What has happened so far? It’s summer time at the Less Rain office, everybody enjoys the summer outside. Execept me. While the upper floors are dark and empty, there’s still that gloomy well-known shining on the walls. While the telephones are softly covered with dust, my desk is covered with empty pizza boxes, RedBull tins and take away coffee cups, forming a strange yet interesting castle around the screens and keyboards.

So this is my state-of-mind while I am writing this post; the creepy conclusion in the back of mind, the shining screens in front. The only thing left to me is the chance to answer the fantastic question: “Where would I go if I could as I please?”

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Red Bull Soapbox - kids of all ages in self-made cars, racing down a steep hill. An extremely popular event, held throughout the year across the globe. The cars are powered by gravity only, no engines allowed but all dreams and colors.

And now it’s online! All of it, the cars, the race, the place to meet and challenge your friends. We call it Red Bull Soapbox Racer and racing you will.

Race first, think later

One single click on “Race now” and you find yourself on top of a steep road, pointing downhill. While the countdown is running, please be reminded that the game is based on a realistic physics simulation and you should not not not smash into one of those nice obstacles. Do collect cans for an extra speed boost and don’t forget the spanners. With ultra speed comes maybe damage.

If you didn’t win instantly the first time, maybe it was the wrong track. We have tracks for everybody, Wildwest, Night Ride, Turkish Riviera, Waterland, Alpenglück - many more will be added. Or was there a problem with the car?

Another car, another race

Red Bull Soapbox Racer lets you build your own car in 3D. Just draw the outline with your mouse. It’s really that simple and everything you draw will have an effect later in the game. The rounder the wheels the better, reconsider materials, use more stickers, paint, use colors, use more colors than your opponents, use every tool you have at least once. And winning races will get you even more of those. (THERE IS A NAILGUN!)

Give it some love, cars will be rated by who-knows-what so make sure there is no doubt. You may also browse through all existing cars for some inspiration.

The Challenge

After tinkering and test driving for a while there comes a point in time where you are quite sure to have the best car ever built on this planet. Challenge your friends! Invite them by E-Mail or simply click on the name of your long-time-rival in the so-called friends list.

A challenge works like this: Start the challenge and you have three attempts to race your best time. After that your opponent will be notified and offered three rounds to beat your time.

And after that, there is the highscore list for everyone to see.

Steeper, faster, harder

It’s even better to challenge somebody on your own surprise track. Give it a try, it’s simpler than building cars. Draw with your mouse where the street should go, done. Then, if you like, adjust the downward slope with some gusto and remember the guideline: The steeper the faster. Place obstacles and power-ups as you see fit, some recommend at least one can of Red Bull.

Red Bull Soapbox Racer is the latest addition to our creative online communities. Make your race times heard, we sure will try to beat you. See you on the circuit!

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