Pong meets fluid dynamics in this stunning variation on the world’s first video game. If you like creative takes on gaming classics, or just want a fun two player game to play with friends, this game is worth checking out.

Named the best indie games of 2007 by Wired Magazine, Plasma Pong  is a twist on Pong, adding a mind-bending liquid surface and stunningly colorful visuals to the time-tested gameplay. Development ultimately stopped after Atari took legal action, but you can still find Plasma Pong around the net if you want to play. It works on Windows and Mac computers and is a great game for casual players.

It’s a shame so many great games are being shut down by lawyers, but it’s awesome that the Internet tends to make them available anyway. Let’s check out this great free game and figure out where to download it.

Playing Plasma Pong

Pretty much everyone knows how to play pong, the two-dimensional tennis game featuring two sticks and a square “ball.” Plasma Pong follows the same rules, with a twist: everything is happening on a liquid surface, which players can manipulate by pushing liquid out or sucking liquid in.

There’s a two player mode, wherein you and your friend share a keyboard and do battle. If you’re alone, though, don’t worry: a mouse-driven single-player game gives you ample opportunity to practice with an AI opponent.

Despite being simple, this game is an experience. The music and the visuals are perfect for each other, making the game way more fun than it should be. Don’t believe me? Check out this video:

See? It’s an epic game.

The visuals are a highlight; check out this collection of screenshots to see what is possible to see. Want to create you own such screenshots? Try out the sandbox mode, which allows you to mess with the fluids without actually playing pong. It’s a deserving distraction.

Messing With Physics

Don’t like how the game plays? Tweak it. Plasma Pong allows you to fine tune the laws of physics to your liking, making the game completely customizable:

Tweak the rules and try playing: you’ll be amazed how different things can feel. See what you can create and share in the comments below.

Want the game to go back to normal? There’s a default settings button for just that reason, so experiment freely.

Download Plasma Pong

Ready to play? Here are the download links I managed to find.

Download Plasma Pong for Windows or, if your prefer, download Plasma Pong for Mac; Intel and PPC are both supported. Have a lot of fun!

Sorry Linux users: you’ll have to try Wine or sit this one out.

Conclusion

This gem of a game didn’t need to be buried. Atari shut down a game people were enjoying, and hasn’t put out anything remotely close to it in the four years since then. What was the point?

Nintendo could shut down Not Tetris 2 or Super Mario Crossover, but they (as of this writing) haven’t. This is a good thing: it helps keep their brands in the public imagination, building up anticipation for actual releases. I think Atari could learn from that.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below, along with anything particularly awesome you’ve noticed about Plasma Pong.