Samorost

The Samorost series is a series of two award-winning adventure/puzzle Flash games by Czech Amanita Design. According to Samorost lead designer Jakub Dvorský the name was chosen since "'Samorost' in Czech means a root or piece of wood that resembles a creature; but it is also a term for a person who doesn't care about the rest of the world."

Samorost
Samorost was created by Jakub Dvorský while he was a student at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, department of Graphic Design and Visual Communication in 2003. Although short and simplistic in its gameplay, its surreal graphics and memorable score make the game stand out. The object of the game is to avert a collision of the gnome's home planet and a large incoming spaceship.

Samorost was nominated for the Webby Award in 2004 and the Top Talent Award in 2003.

Gameplay
The player interacts with the world with simple point and click interface directing a small, white-clad humanoid with a little cap and brown boots (called simply "gnome" by Dvorsky). The goal of the Samorost games is to solve a series of puzzles and brain teasers. The puzzles are sequentially linked forming an adventure story. The game contains no inventory or dialogue, and the solving of puzzles mainly consists of clicking onscreen elements in the correct order. Solving a puzzle will immediately transport the player character to the next screen.

Aesthethics
The games feature surrealistic organic scenarios, that mix both natural and technological concepts (often featuring manipulated photographs of small objects made to look very large), creative character designs and unique musical atmosphere. Music tracks are available through iTunes.

Samorost 2
Together with his freelance Flash and web design agency, Amanita Design, Dvorský produced a sequel, Samorost 2. In Samorost 2, the gnome goes on a longer quest to save his kidnapped dog and return safely home. The first chapter of this game (comprising the first 4 levels) can be played online for free. The second chapter (with 3 levels) is only playable in the full version, which cost $6.90 until the price was later lowered to $5.00.

Samorost 2 has won several awards. These include a 2007 Webby in the games category; Independent Games Festival award 2007 for Best Web Browser Game; Best Web-Work Award at the Seoul Net Festival in 2006. The soundtrack won the Original Sound category at the Flashforward Film Festival 2006. The game was also nominated in 3 categories (Best Game, Best New Character and Best Visual Effects) in the GameShadow Innovation in Games Awards. It has been featured in Humble Indie Bundle which took place from 4 May 2010 - 11 May 2010 which was subsequently extended to the 15th and raised $1,273,613. Of this, contributors chose to allocate 30.90% to charity: $392,953 for the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Child's Play Charity.