Nov.21, 2013

Older gamers with elephantine memories will recall Archon: The Light & The Dark developed by Free Fall Games, which first graced out existence back in the 1980s. Archon is an early chessboard style computer game with loads of strategy and tons of fun. The beauty of the game is not in the presentation but in the game-play. The basic format is like battle chess - pieces move on the board. The goal of the game is to either destroy the enemy completely, or control all 5 power points.

Interested in retro gaming and 3D printing, Jimmy Wilhelmsson (aka spelpappan) set out on a journey to print a physical version of Archon: the Light and the Dark - with a 3D printer.

Jimmy's goal was to create a physical board game out of Archon that looked like it's predecessor. "I wanted the physical pieces to look exactly the same as their 2D counterparts when looked at from the side, but from all other angles they should be 3D." says Jimmy.

All 3D models were created using a software called Qubicle Constructor and then 3D printed with blue and yellow filament, the original colors of the two teams, on a Replicator 2X 3D printer. It is recommended to use both raft and full support when you print due to their complex looks. But the process went pretty fast, says Jimmy, each icon takes only about two hours to print. Check out the beautiful results below.

(All images credit: Jimmy Wilhelmsson)

Jon Freeman, Archon's creator, obviously likes the creation - "We think they are marvelous", said Freeman. With the explicit consent of Free Fall Games, Jimmy published all 3D-models on Thingiverse. You are free to download and print your own set of Archon, but can not use it commercially - the Free Fall Games still owns the IP of the game, all characters and graphics.

This set does not include Archon game board, but you can download wulfdesign's module-based board set here to 3D print one.

Jimmy is pretty satisfied with the result. "In my hunt for other procects around the web I have not been able to find any images of someone doing exactly the same thing; thus I do not know if this is the only physical board game of Archon of its kind – but I do know that it's quite possibly so."

Nice work, Jimmy!







Posted in 3D Printing Applications

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