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magicpen.jpgJohnBMagic Pen is a physics-based puzzle playground created by Alejandro Guillen (Spin the Black Circle). It's easy to see the design, from visual style to overall concept, was taken from Crayon Physics, but because Magic Pen is a Flash game, it's much more accessible. Using the mouse, simply draw shapes to create bridges and guide the red ball to the flag. Making shapes and dropping them from the sky will set the ball in motion, and you can also craft structures with hinges (both fixed and movable) for more complex maneuvers.

The shapes you draw are affected by three basic principles: gravity, friction, and inertia. In other words, common sense physics. Drawn shapes will fall to the ground, bump against each other, and sit still unless acted upon by another moving shape. You can draw just about any object you please, but Magic Pen automatically smooths out jagged edges into a more block-like shape. The entire game is mouse-driven, all you have to do is click and start drawing.

Pins and hinges link objects together and allow you to craft more complex machinery to get the ball to the goal. Hold the [S] key and click inside an object to draw a pin, then draw a second object that overlaps the "X" and it will be held in place. For a movable hinge, press and hold the [D] key and start drawing. The shape you create will be affected by gravity and slowly swing around the pivot point towards the bottom of the screen.

There are over two dozen levels in Magic Pen, each one more wickedly devious than the last. There's even a sandbox mode accessible from the in-game menu (press [Q]). The number of shapes you used to complete each puzzle is recorded, and once you beat the game you can submit your scores to see how well you did compared to other Magic Penners.

Analysis: Good-looking, simple, engaging and fun, Magic Pen is exactly what I like to see in a casual online title. The game doesn't try to hide the fact that it's a near-direct clone of Crayon Physics; Alejandro even thanks Petri Purho in the credits. One key difference is you can't do "shape bumping", or drawing overlapping objects so they pop on top of each other. And when Crayon Physics Deluxe is finally released, it will no doubt contain much more content than Magic Pen.

Magic Pen takes place in real-time, meaning once you draw a shape it's immediately set into motion. This really keeps you on your toes, but it can also be frustrating when trying to draw delicate platforms in a pinch. A start/stop mechanism would make it much more of a cerebral puzzle game, whereas the current setup feels like an arcade experience.

A great Flash experience that's fun as a webtoy and challenging as a puzzle game. Play Magic Pen.

  • Currently 4.8/5
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New! Rating: 4.8/5 (227 votes cast)

Comments (may contain spoilers)

19?

Wow, that's cool. I have been waiting for Crayon Physics Deluxe, and now I don't need it. When does the level editor come out?

help on lvl 10 piz
yes i know, wow only lvl 10?
wut a loser!
thx =]

Love this game. A few things that I would like to see in a future version...1. I don't think you should be able to pin or hinge the red ball/square. I got a lot more satisfaction when I had to build an elaborate set of levers than when you could tie a big weight to the ball and throw it off a cliff.
2. It would also be good to have a build area and a non build area so that you could set up devices to project the ball without being able to escort it all the way- like in level 13 where there is not enough space to build everywhere.
3. Also the expansion effect that can be used to propel the ball should be removed- where a hinge can be placed, a shape drawn, hinge removed, shape and ball try and occupy the same space, pushing one away from the other.

@help

Go see a spoiler tag about level 10 near the top, I think it is the 11th comment.

I can't even do level 8...

Something cool...

If you are on a square level (the object is a square, not a circle), you can make it a circle that is slightly larger than normal.

Get your square in the air in a pretty fixed position somehow...

Then put a hinge in the center of the square and draw a circle around the square...

The square should stay in place as the circle pivots around it.

Umm, I think I just suck but could someone tell me how to get past level......5 Please?

Okay so I got past five


Here how I did it


Fist in the annoying boc I drew a hinge (Make sure the ting that bashes the ball is draws almost up right (Oh Don't forget the ramps) Then It will crash down onto the ball sending it up one ramp almost two (If the ball starts to move backward just draw a straight line and a rectangle should appear to stop it)

Next I drew a straight Line strating from the tip of the box down ot the floor of the second floor, then I drew a pretty big ball and boom upi t went ^.^

This is a cool game!

I've made it through this game, improving my score where I can, and can get to a score of about 70. For those of you who have figured out how to score in the 30s, would you at least pass along which levels need only one item to pass them?

Thanks

Great game!

I've made it through, and after trying some levels many times I can get a score of 70.

I have no idea how people can get in the 30s. If any of you who can do that well are reading this, what are the levels you can't get with one block? No need to tell how, just wonder which ones I need to try harder on.

Didnt sleep all night - couldnt stop until I finished it:) GREAT GAME!!!

how do i do level 23? it seems impossible to me. but im not very good at this game. help please

For anyone interested in a complete video walkthrough:

Waw very nice game ;)

When i can find the music ?? She is so good ....
What is the tittle ?

Thx

Holy crap! I had no idea that you could actually attach shapes to the ball or block. I found out after I had already beaten the game and googled to this page. If I had known that, it would have been a heck of a lot easier.

If you want a real challenge, do what I (accidentally) did -- try beating the game without attaching anything to the ball/block. It just took me 3 hours and change.

I am so addicted to this game and I really am not that good at it (physics are not my strong point), but I just have to figure out a way to solve each level- I still have a lot of levels to go though! I have been playing for HOURS at a time!!!!

I beat the entire game without ever pinning anything to the ball or the square. Didn't realize I could. The mechanism I built to capture the ball or square were tedious. i wish I had known. Try it for a challenge. That also goes for the obstacle blocks. The one with the square and the rotating propeller side by side I actually built a mechanism to punch the ball through the small hole the first time through. Just as I was rolling it to the bottom flag I hit the space bar by mistake. I literally screamed.

some hints, if someone likes, just for the 24 last levels...

I strongly recommend not to watch that until you spent 3 full days searching your own way. This vids can kill you imagination... and this delightful game really deserves efforts !
soon will come the ud-to-date vid with 3 shapes less


Hints:

The only levels I can't yet do in one shape are
6 - using 2
8 - using 4
14 - using 2


Using odd shapes:

image
You can create odd shapes that can pull the ball or square thru objects. Example: level 11, place a pin in the ball start your line just above the left side of the ball, go under the pin on the ball and and loop around the support to below the ball and let go of the mouse

Pinning and unpinning:
image
Level 7 is a good example: Place a pin in the ball and create a ramp that goes thru the ball and over the gap but leaves space at the top. Then delete the pin, the abll will pop up and roll down the ramp.

Thank you aaatchoummm

i can't do 6,8,10,13,14,17 in one shape. please help me with some hints.

Level 13 in one shape:

image
Pin the Bar above ball on left side, start your crayon at lower left corner, up and over pin to inside space, keep to the top of each space going right to the top right then come down just short of ramp and let go of mouse.

Level 10 in one shape

image
Pin the ball, start at above left of ball, draw to left and down around to bottom, up and over see-saw, down to level with upper flag up an over wall to right side up to top right corner, continue slowly across top watching your crayon meter at the bottom, when meter is almost out, release mouse.

Level 17 in one shape

image
Pin the ball, start drawing top left of ball, down and across shelf, between boxes and down to bottom of shelf with flag on it then up a bit and let go. takes a few tries but you'll get it.

Thanks Kevin

Wow! great game !

but is there a way to select level ?

i'm only on 16 and already afraid won't restart from beginning...

i did level 12 with 1 piece.

I like this game. But I can't get in. I clicked "play" and then the preloader and ad disappeared. The game froze on a blue screen with snowflakes. What do I do? On Mofunzone I could rickt-click and press play. But I want to play free play. What do I do?

Try updating your Flash Player. The game is working fine.

Level 15 is pretty easy, I did it with 2 shapes. All you have to do is:

image
Put a hinge in the floating square in the middle, put a pin on the box, draw a long thin rectangle going through both and out to the right side as far as you can go, then drop a huge circle on the right side to spin it around.

please help level 15!

I'm stuck.... :(

great game!

loved it..

ellesse

All in one shape, except for 6, 8 , 14 and 19. This last one is really bugging me, since I know it's solvable. Anybody that can give me a hint on how you drew it to solve it in one shape? I know the drill, just can't seem to get it right this time!

Level 19 in 1

image
pin ball on lower left corner, start drawing on side of smaller tree about halfway up, draw srtaight to pin and turn right across shelf, follow shelf down to bottom and turn right again across bottom, continue right and go under tall shelf until under flag. Let go of mouse, let shape lift ball and create ramp to flag. Now delete the pin, ball will shoot out on to ramp and voila!

tnx kevin! the magic pin guru! :)

Unfortunately, I'm restricted to dial-up on my home computer, and I can't get the game to fully load. (Or, it loads on the snowman page, but when I press 'play', it goes to a blank 'paper' screen, and nothing else shows up (except the side ads and top game squares banner). I have NoScript on my Firefox, but even allowing all scripts didn't change anything.

Is there a download for this game? Or any other ideas for playing it on dial-up?

(I did manage to play at work, on a faster connection, and it's pretty awesome.)

level 5???????

11 in one shape

image
put a pin in the ball and make a big bottom-heavy circle around it, the shape falls through the bottom

I beat the whole game with 46 shapes.

I beat it but I didn't get a score or see a high score list. Makes me think some of you guys were lying...

My best is 30 and I am currently listed at 87 for all time high score. I really don't see how people are doing better than this! then again, two days ago I couldn't even get past level 8, I was making all kinds of crazy contraptions, but then at some point I learned how to simplify the shapes so less are needed.

I can do all levels with 1 share, except the following:

Level 6 : 2
Level 8 : 3
Level 14 : 2

Level 8 is bothering me the most.. however, I spent about 4 hours tonight getting it down from 5 to 3.. At first going from 5 to 4 took me about 2 hours and then from 4 to 3 took another 3 hours.. wow, I am so addicted to this.. each time making just the most minute, subtle adjustments, it's a lot of fun.

Level 14 hint for 2 shapes

image
drop a circle of max diameter down the middle to flip down the hinge.. you should be able to figure out the rest..
I tried another couple of hours to get 14 down to one shape, but it just wasn't happening.. I got pretty close on level 6 down to one shape, using a glitch trick, but it still wouldn't wiggle in the right ways..
image
what I mean by glitch is to draw one really big shape all around the landscape and connected to the red circle, different shapes have different behaviors and usually will go through the landscape in unexpected ways although you can somewhat control which way it will move with fine adjustments, but this is extremely tedious work and very repetitive, also nerve wracking because sometimes you get soooo close, like a millimeter off and then it doesn't happen, and then you can try again for 20 minutes, over a hundred tries later and then it's not even nearly that close again.

This has got to be the freaking greatest game I've ever played in my whole life, all categories, and I´ve played some great games in my life!!!

I still can't get past 17... help anyone? :)

mis felcitaiones parael creado de este juego, mis respetos, esta fenomenal!

Horas de etretenida diversion!!

Feliidades

(My regards and respect to the creator of this game, it is phenomenal! Many hours of enjoyment! Thank you)

so you guys are stuck on levels 12 and 8, well i'm a retard cos i can't even do level 3!! its insane!!!!

Im stuck on level 26.

So what's the lowest score anyone has gotten without exploits? I'm at 60, and that's with 3 on level 11, and 3 on level 13. Yes, there are bugs that let you do those in one, but ignoring that type of thing, 60 looks pretty good. A couple more are possible from manual dexterity, clicking the erase at just the right instant, but that's not my style either. So here are what I think are the best scores per without cheating or doing acrobatics with the eraser:
1,1,2,2,2,4,2,5,3,3,3,1,3,2,2,2,3,3,2,1,4,3,1,2,2,1

And I'll admit that I only got 26 in 1 by seeing it done, otherwise 2. Level 11 reqires 3 and that took a bit of luck, otherwise 4, and getting level 8 in only 5 took a lot of luck as well.

But most of all PLEASE someone tell me how you do 26 levels in 24 shapes, as the high scores claim?!?!?!

OK, got level 21 in 3, WITHOUT erasing the chains (an obvious exploit)

Another Q: if I want to start fresh, and make the game forget my score, how do I do that? I already tried deleting my cookies with no joy. Obviously I am computer challenged....

ps; WHAT A GREAT GAME! more levels please :)

my bests are:
1,1,1,2,1,
4,2,4,1,2,
3,1,3,2,1,
1,3,2,2,1,
1,2,1,1,2,
1

Some of these might be lower than they should be b/c you can sort of wall hack and pin the ball then warp it through things.

The high scores on the website are obviously borked, people have negative scores today.

I got 26 in three shapes!

image
You draw a long line just right of your box, to the flag. The you hinge the bottom right side of it, and hold the mouse in the middle of the hinge to make a wheel. If it starts to move, wait until it stops to do the other side.

Using pure physics within the design parameters of the game I believe the theoretical best score is 50.

I can prove 51
I'm sure level 25 in 2 is do-able but I can't prove it

Levels in 1
1,2,3,4,5,9,12,15,16,23

Levels in 2
6,7,13,17,19,21,22,26

Levels in 3
10,11,14,18,20,24,25

Levels in 4
8 (my nemesis)

Correction,

I can now prove level 25 in 2 so 50 is the best score I can achieve without tricks.

For the record My best with using tricks is still 31.

The only levels I can't beet in one are still:
Level 6 in 2
Level 8 in 4
Level 14 in 2

Anyone who can help? (without hacking)

Oh happy day!

Level 8 in 3 Finally! (Standard Physics no tricks)

Lowest now 49 using standard Physics

Hi kevin, yeah i've found a few more strokes too, but level 8 in 3? DO I have to wait for the ball to move itself by brownian motion or sometheing? I got down to 4 by massive luck; it might take a dozen tries to reproduce it, or a hundred! Can do it all day in 5 now. And level 6, done in 3 but sure can't see a way to get lower.

Know any way to reset the score so I can go through again and get a legit score without exploits? I hit a couple by accident, along with the infamous level 11. Got that in 3 legit. Official score says 44, but proabably more like 49. Some levels legit but finicky timing moves: levels 4 and 16 in 1 now but would not like to do it again. Level 9 in 1 works consistently but it's kinda gimmicky:

image
hit the ball just right and it rebounds off the front of the elevated platform, which is enough to get the top flag

How do you save the game if you have gotten to a certain level but have to shut the computer down?? I have started from level 1 five times times already & I have been past level 13!

i got 29 shapes !!!!!

every level in 1 shape except:

level 6: 2 shapes
level 8: 3 shapes

can't imagine to do this in 1 ....

that would be 26 shapes xD neva...but iam trying

cu

the game is not working for me.. I click play and the game starts quickly looping and jumping from page to page in a rapid cycle. is there anyway to fix this?

Yes there is: Update your Flash Player.

Dubai, nice to see someone else interested in the No Tricks method.

My level 9 solution is the same as yours. Not my favorite but it meets the requirement.

8 in 3 will take many tries but the setup is relatively easy, The issue is getting the ball moving fast enough.

Here is my solution.

image
first draw a narrow ramp from the left side of the middle shelf up to the right and thru the flag. Next draw a fairly level ramp resting on the first starting about even with the right side of the middle ramp and to the left thru the left flag. Now for the hard part. Figure out a shape to get the ball moving right - fast. I draw a shape starting at the left side of the shelf with the ball up to the top over above the near side of the ball down halfway and let go. The ball will get the first two flags easily. you need to delete the right side ramp at the appropriate time to increase the ramp on the left and stop the ball going off the edge. the hardest part is getting the timing of the ball coming back down the 2nd ramp. delete it when the ball has enough speed and angle to miss the middle shelf and hit the bottom shelf (close is good enough as in level 9)

Danudel,

I'd be interested in your solution to level 14 if you can describe it.

I have 2 working theories but I can't make them work.

Came close once but...

No tricks method now provable in 48

Level 14 can be done in 2 without tricks

Levels in 1
1,2,3,4,5,9,12,15,16,23

Levels in 2
6,7,13,14,17,19,21,22,25,26

Levels in 3
8,10,11,18,20,24

No tricks, level 24 in 2 Total 47

Levels in 1
1,2,3,4,5,9,12,15,16,23

Levels in 2
6,7,13,14,17,19,21,22,24,25,26

Levels in 3
8,10,11,18,20

how do you beat level 5?

image
i like spoilers
:)

Hi NITRO, believe it or not you can do 5 in one shape, legit, by the laws of physics, but two is good, three is easy:

image
first a couple of ramps so the ball will roll up the steps, then a pendulum hinged from the orange block. Draw it so when you finish it swings down and whacks the ball like a golf club and the ball will roll up the ramps to the flag. And no, I ain't telling you how to do it in one, that would spoil the fun!

Enjoy!

Dubai Vol, When I hinge it, it doesnt hit the red ball hard enough

How do you beat level 21?

Nitro, It takes some practice. It helps to draw the object above the hinge and let it fall further to gaing power.

For the user stuck on 21

image
Just build a ramp to the hanging things, knock the square off onto the ramp and roll balls behind it bumping it forward

I have a method for doing it in 2 shapes but try to discover for yourself how that might be done.

Level 16. The second flag, up at the top. How do I do it?

Jerry

Level 16

image

Level 16 requires the use of a hinge in the orange box with the X on it. connect a bar from the hinge to the ball and then counterweight the works to raise the ball.
The whole thing can be done in 1, but I'll leave figuring out how to you.

Update:
Not happy with level 21 in one, but...

Pure physics "repeatable" solutions in 43

Levels in 1
1,2,3,4,5,9,12,15,16,21*,23,26

Levels in 2
6,7,13,14,17,18,19,20,22,24,25

Levels in 3
8,10,11

Very impressive, kevin, you certainly have more perseverance than me. Frr instance I see how level 6 could be done in 2, but after a couple of dozen tries without getting close, I really can't be bothered. I have done all the same levels as you in one shape....

Looking forward to more levels or even a level editor; I suspect ths one will come out eventually as a commercial title. That's fine with me I'l be first in line to buy!

Cheers from Dubai

Dubai,

Level 6 in 2 I can repeat almost every time.

If you can do 7 in one then you can bridge the gap in 1 with the same method. The rest should be obvious.

Beat the game with 29 shapes total. used 2 on level 6, 3 on level 8, and 1 for the rest.

OOOOOOOOOH!!!!! beat game with Alltime score of 34!! Not cheating, no tricks, or anything. Here's the lvl scores.

1: 1
2: 1
3: 1
4: 1
5: 1
6: 2
7: 1
8: 3
9: 1
10: 1
11: 1
12: 1
13: 2
14: 2
15: 1
16: 1
17: 2
18: 1
19: 2
20: 1
21: 1
22: 2
23: 1
24: 1
25: 1
26: 1

If you have any questions, please contact me VIA this thread.

how do you beat lvl 12???

24? Pretty hard.

I've done all of them (I think), except 13. Forget 13.


How do I solve 24? Pretty weird.

OOOOOHYEA!

34 is respectable but to solve level 10 and 11 in 1 requires large shapes to pull the ball thru objects.

This is a trick.

Using these methods most of us are down to 29 with levels 6(2) and 8(3) being the only levels not solved in 1.

Using pure physics my PB is 43.

Keep trying, you'll get there

JJ

Level 12

image

Level 12 requires that you put a hinge in the square and a hinge in the center box. Draw a bar joining the hinges and a counterweight to lift the square

jerry Level 13
image

I've posted the 1 shape solution earlier. the pure physics solution is 2. Put a hinge at the top the rectangle but behind the ball. Draw a bar from the base up thru the hinge and beyond but more below the hinge than above. Drop a ball to hit a corner of a shelf and bounce left and voila.

Jerry Level 24
image

In 1 - put a pin on the square and draw a circle around everything. Watch your crayon meter.
In 2 - pure physics, pin the square and join a bar leaning against the top. Put a pin at the point they touch and draw a counterweight to the right.

I just beat level 25 in 2

I also beat level 24 in 1

I don't know how to open up a game on www.BubbleBox.com

How do you beat 16in 1? there are a lot of others i am trying to figure out.

Level 16 in 1

image
Pint the ball, hinge on the box, With more weight on right side, erase contraption as ball reaches top flag and ball will fly thru both flags.

I dont see a ball on number 12? is it glitching or am i just a stupid blindman?

What makes you think it has to be a ball?

Level 25 in one!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With hack

image
U draw a hinge on the block.... draw from the block over the platform on top and down towards the cliff..... the bug will cause the big one to drag the block and ur ball will be rolled out a bit but once the block falls.. it hits ur ball back and wala... in ONE

i dont have a ball that shows up for level 12?? is it supposed to be on the page? did any one else have this problem?

How do you beat 18?

Level 25 is one of the easiest - just get rid of the rectangle or lift it high enough for your ball to go through!

This games takes a lot of time to perfect!

1. 1
2. 1
3. 1
4. 1
5. 1
6. 2 (does anyone know how to beat this in 1 shape?)
7. 1
8. 3 (does anyone know how to beat this in 1 shape?)
9. 1
10. 1
11. 1
12. 1
13. 1
14. 1
15. 1
16. 1
17. 1
18. 1
19. 1
20. 1
21. 1
22. 1
23. 1
24. 1
25. 1
26. 1


29 shapes total..

Joseph, Now that you beat it using tricks, if your still interested, try using pure physics.

No erasing pins or Hinges (Erasing shapes ok)
No Shapes with lines drawn thru objects
No shapes that exceed Crayon Meter.
No shapes that suck object thru other objects.
No shapes that squeeze object into motion.

Solutions must be repeatable. (No flukes)

My PB is 43 (i originally thought 50 was as good as it gets so 43 is probably beatable)

Are there more levels?
I love this game!
Or is there at least an editor?

can someone plz help me with level 10 i tried the one shape thing that kevin wrote but it is not working for me can someone maybe give a better description no offense to kevin or anything

There are some good YouTube videos of various solutions.

Level 10 is one of the more difficult, I usually need 5-10 tries before getting it in 1

I use this program with students with physical impairments and very poor motor control who intellectually understand and could compete with the "fewest objects used" people out there, but can't be independent due to their impairments complicated by an all MAC school. Can this be addressed so my students can be independent? Thanks, D

i need help with 8, 13, 17
my score right now is 38 and all the other levels have been beaten in one shape (with the exception of 14 and 6)

amazing game by the way,
if only there were more levels...?

One thing i didnt notice was that the chains of boxes hanging down in level 21 are deletable.

11111212111111111111...

Thats my total I cant belive how somone can have 27 shapes i have 28 its only 6 and 8 i have 2 shapes on is it possible to make one of this with one shape?

for those who're looking for solutions, here is one for a total of 29 shapes, http://youtube.com/watch?v=tYqmVA1lkZY
and this one shows how to beat level 8 in 2 shapes, for a total of 28 shapes: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xmc-wxABqcs
some of those levels are with bugging, (the level 8 in 2 shapes is not!) Good luck!

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