Difference between revisions of "3037: Radon"

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{{comic
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{{Quality}}
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| number    = 3037
 
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| date      = January 13, 2025
 
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| title    = Radon
 
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| image    = radon_2x.png
 
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| imagesize = 740x291px
 
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| noexpand  = true
 
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| titletext = A good ²³⁸Umbrella policy should cover it.
 
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}}
 
  
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==Explanation==
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[[File:Prop.jpg|thumb|300px|''{{PG upload|59616|My Ideas}}'' by Yonder]]
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{{incomplete|Created by a PLANET ¹¹⁴ᵐ¹INSURANCE SALESMAN - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
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[[File:Menu.jpg|thumb|Some idea uploads (like ''{{PG upload|55106|Glass}}'' by Guharfuh) contain [[pixel art]] fake menu buttons. This upload was created long before the implementation of [[Glass (Powder Game element)|glass]] in Powder Game ver6.4.]]
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In this comic, [[Ponytail]] approaches [[Cueball]] about the concentration of {{w|radon}} in his basement. This refers to a common phenomenon where the levels of radon gases can build up in enclosed spaces over time; they form out of traces of {{w|uranium}} embedded in the surrounding bedrock/soils of most basements, and in the silicate minerals used in the concrete of the foundation. This uranium (over time, and in most cases via the midpoint of thorium) releases radon as a gas whilst experiencing alpha decay, although the time in which this occurs is noticeably long. Uranium-238, the isotope mentioned in the title text, has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, which is about the age of the Earth. Over the whole Earth, roughly 2.8 ppm of the planet is made of uranium<ref>https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/uranium-mining-overview</ref>; this is about 0.00028% of the planet, which weighs about 5.9722*10^24 kilograms<ref>https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html</ref>. Even so, if uranium existed in the Earth's crust alone - about 1% of the Earth's total mass itself - this would imply that there is <!--(5.9722*10^24 * 0.00028 * 0.01 =)--> 1.672216*10^19 kilograms of uranium across the entire planet. Thus, radon gas is not ''that'' uncommon a phenomenon, and {{w|Radon mitigation|radon mitigation}} techniques are frequently employed to keep the air safe and breathable. Basements, in particular, are known to accumulate radon gas if they are kept sealed over long enough time; that is, the windows and doors are closed. Small cracks in the house's foundation may allow some radon gas to seep inside, which can be cleared if the basement is properly ventilated. Radon is denser than air, but its concentrations are higher in the basement than elsewhere in a building because of the combination of its being generated more there, and the relatively poor air circulation usual in basements. Radon mixes completely with air, and does not "settle out" because of its atomic weight or density. Undisturbed, the concentration of radon reaches a steady state in a given area, between accumulation from being generated, and removal by air circulation and by radioactive decay.
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'''Idea uploads''' are [[Upload (Powder Game)|uploads]] containing ideas for addons such as new [[elements]] and [[Object|objects]] or even physics changes for most commonly [[Powder Game]] and [[Powder Game 2]], but also other games on [[Dan-Ball]]. Most of these uploads contain small [[pixel art]] pictures representing things which the author proposes to add to the game or additional menu buttons. Some uploaders may choose to create entire menu extensions using pixel art to mimic the existing menu style, often taking weeks to complete them. Among the largest and most popular of these types are "Ultimate Menu" by Big Yellow Lemon and "Mega Menu" by Lew102. Idea uploads are very common and often receive many [[Vote|votes]]. However, the amount of idea uploads have dropped due to the fact that Dan-Ball is focusing on updating newer games.
  
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In the comic Cueball is getting his house inspected; this is common in preparation for selling the home. Inspector Ponytail finds an excessive level of radon in the basement. Often when problems are found in a home, it's due to the age of the building, since technology has improved over time and building codes have added requirements in parallel.
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==Controversy==
 +
Many viewers may dislike idea uploads, since they are often poorly made or are simply re-uploaded duplicates of an existing idea upload. Furthermore, a large number of these ideas may be considered unrealistic and have little chance of ever getting implemented, such as cars, tanks, or guns in a game intended for physics simulation. This may either be due to the idea not being suited to the corresponding game's theme, existing programming restrictions, or simply because commonly showcased ideas are often only a slight variation of existing elements, for example, rock instead of [[Powder (Powder Game element)|powder]], or a third [[player]]. However, this controversy can be easily avoided by paying careful attention to the potential viewer's tastes.
  
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But rather than inquire about the age of the home, Ponytail asks about the age of the planet on which it was built. The answer would be the same for all houses on Earth.{{cn}} Apparently she's an interstellar inspector, testing properties on many different planets in different star systems with different levels of radon - since most planets in a given system form within a few million years of each other and would have similar levels of radon. Earth's age of 4.5 billion years is about the same as the half-life of U-238, so radon levels are high because much of the original uranium is still in the process of decaying. She continues recommending waiting 100 billion years, much longer than the expected lifetime of both the building and the Sun, but enough to cause U-238 to decay to a trivial amount, not factoring in other daughter nuclides due to their comparatively shorter half-life.
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==Old ideas which were later implemented in Powder Game==
 +
*[[Ball (Powder Game)|Ball]]
 +
*[[Acid (Powder Game element)|Acid]] - eats through everything except for block and glass. However, when it was suggested, glass collisions were not specified.
 +
*[[Glass]] - a commonly-proposed element
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*[[Player (Powder Game)|2nd player]]
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*[[Metal (Powder Game element)|Metal]]
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*[[Laser (Powder Game element)|Laser]]
 +
*[[Mercury (Powder Game element)|Mercury]]
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*[[BG-TG]]
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*[[Fuse (Powder Game element)|Fuse]] - burns in a line while creating [[Spark (Powder Game element)|spark]]. However, when it was first proposed, it was intended to burn with [[Fire (Powder Game element)|fire]].
 +
*[[BG-siluet]] - make background black and white. However it was meant to different color BG.
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*Ball attributes such as a [[C-4 (Powder Game element)|C-4]] ball.
 +
*[[Vine (Powder Game element)|Vine]] - was supposedly first suggested by the user ''Blue Brawl'' in "''My Element Ideas''". The suggested properties were different from the properties of the retail version of vine, however.
 +
*[[Cloud (Powder Game element)|Cloud]] - like in [[Earth Editor]], but when it was proposed, contact with [[Metal (Powder Game element)|metal]] and [[Ice (Powder Game element)|ice]] was not mentioned.
 +
*[[Text]] size
 +
*[[Black Hole (Powder Game 2)|Black Hole]] and [[White Hole (Powder Game 2)|White Hole]] (Implemented in [[Powder Game 2]])
 +
*[[Player (Powder Game 2)#Life Bar|Life bar]] for players (Implemented in Powder Game 2) - Instead of having a side bar, the health is shown in the player's head.
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* [[Sand (Powder Game 2 element)|Sand]] (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
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*Thunder player attribute (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
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*[[Fish (Powder Game 2 element)|Fish]] (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
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* [[BG-color]] (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
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* Ability to toggle gravity (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
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<!--The only useful elements that were proposed by players so far has been Metal and Laser, which were only requested once as opposed to countless n00b uploads spamming "I WANT 2P/ACID/GLASS". Despite this, no one has learned that if an element isn't made after it has been requested more than 3 times, it will either never happen, or will be completely useless or stupid, and ideas are still rampant among the daily uploads. <--lol that idea has nothing to back it up -->
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<!--(you can add in this second part if you feel, but as for now i will put it whiten [sic] comment things) Some claim that the only useful elements suggested by players are metal and laser. Some claim that nothing in powder game is truly useful, and that glass is used often in laser metal and thunder based uploads, and acid is used frequently in pixel art player courses. Some also claim that while the second player is used often enough to be a "good" update, that a third player would not have much of a "point"-->
  
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The star found in our solar system is an example of one that is a G-type from the main-sequence, also known as a yellow dwarf which the inspector notes as a short lived star. In 4 to 7 billion years, the Sun's outer layers will expand, turning it into a red giant. This process will render the Earth uninhabitable for humans within approximately 5 billion years. Whereas if we'd built around a M-type red dwarf we could have comfortably{{cn}} waited for the uranium to fully decay, though being in the habitable zone of a red dwarf [https://aasnova.org/2016/09/14/are-stellar-storms-bad-news-for-m-dwarf-planets/ has its own difficulties].  
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==Ideas commonly suggested in idea uploads==
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*[[Wheel (Powder Game)|Wheel]] size - Differently sized wheels depending on [[pen-s]].
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The title text for this comic mentions {{w|umbrella insurance}}, which is what insurance companies in the United States pay when the payment extends over their own policies. It makes a joke with the isotope representation of Uranium-238 being <sup>238</sup>U, and is something that Cueball might need to consult with after handling the issue of radon gas in his home; most states in the United States, for instance, require property disclosure forms to be filled out if radon levels surpass a certain threshold.<ref>https://www.eli.org/sites/default/files/files-pdf/Final%202022%20Radon_0.pdf</ref> This text may also be an oblique reference to the concept of a {{w|nuclear umbrella}}, an altogether different kind of "insurance".
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*Raising the [[dot]] limit, or allowing infinite dots.
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*A larger screen space.
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==Transcript==
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*A third player (often using the IJKL or TFGH Keys). (Implemented in Super Mario Maker 2)
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{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
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*[[Player (Powder Game)|Player]] and [[fighter]] improvements such as:
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**Weapons - Player weapons (Implemented in Stick Ranger)
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:[Cueball is on the left and is approached by Ponytail, who is reading a Geiger counter in her hand and holding a toolbox in her other hand.]
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**Vehicles - Vehicles operated by players.
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:Ponytail: Radon levels in your basement are pretty high.
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** Blood - Optional blood effects when player or fighter is killed.
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:Ponytail: When was the planet under this home built?
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**Food (or health kit) - Add a certain amount of health to a player's life bar.
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**Player size - Different player sizes depending on pen-s.
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:[Ponytail stops walking and lowers the Geiger counter.]
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*Monsters or animals.
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:Cueball: Uhh, about 4½ billion years ago, I think?
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*Rubber/Elastic - Found in almost every idea upload. Bouncy, bends, and snap under high pressure, often suggested in the name of 'trampoline', allowing objects and elements to bounce off of it. (Implemented in The Blob Toy)
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:Ponytail: Oof. I was afraid of that.
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*Stronger Laser - Often suggested that it pierce everything except [[Block (Powder Game)|block]] and can be a player attribute.
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*Teleporter/Portals - Teleports elements and objects to another place or set portal. (Implemented in Super Mario Maker)
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:[A frameless panel:]
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*3D [[BG]].
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:Ponytail: This planet was contaminated with uranium when it formed. You really should have let it fully decay before building.
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*Higher upload limit per each 12 hour period. (this no longer applies, as neither Powder Game nor Powder Game 2 often gain over 50 uploads per every 12 hours).
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:Ponytail: Wait another 100 billion years and these rocks will be fine.
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*Smoke - Rises from burning fire.
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*PEN S-0 Block.
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:[Zoom in on Cueball's head.]
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*In-game sound and option to turn it on/off. (Implemented in Powder Game (AG))
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:Cueball: But the Sun will burn out in 5 billion years.
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*options for [[Natural element|artificial elements]] to be created directly from the menu.
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:Ponytail (off-panel): Yikes, you built around a short-lived yellow star? What a mess.
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*Undo/Redo options. (Implemented in Super Mario Maker (Undo only))
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:Ponytail (off-panel): Hope you have good insurance.
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*Glue - Sticks to players, fighters, and powder elements. (Implemented in The Blob Toy)
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*Magnet.
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==References==
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*Diamond.
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{{reflist}}
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*Ceramic.
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*Cement.
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{{comic discussion}}
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*Limestone.
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*Slime mold - Exists in menu as a liquid, but sticks to other particles of its own kind to make a lump-like creature that eats powder, seed, wood, and vine, and sticks to other slime molds.
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[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
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*Backward time: Option to make time go backward at different speeds.
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[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
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*Tutorial for new powder game players.
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[[Category:Physics]]
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*More "realistic" fire, laser, and thunder properties.
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[[Category:Chemistry]]
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*Poison - Injures players and fighters a certain amount upon contact.
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[[Category:Geology]]
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*Antidote - cures poison.
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[[Category:Astronomy]]
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*Steel
 +
*Pen shot - (Implemented in Earth Editor & Elemental Box)
 +
*Helium
 +
*Tornado
 +
*Silicon - Upon contact with stone, would turn into sand.
 +
*Comment - Post text as an "attachment" to a user's upload, much like the comment function on [[Wikipedia:Youtube|Youtube]].
 +
*Ability to modify static temperature
 +
*Invisibility area
 +
*Invincibility area
 +
*Larger pen-sizes
 +
*Zombie - attacks players and fighters, creating more zombies.
 +
*Custom element editor
 +
*Meteor. (Implemented in Earth Editor)
 +
[[Category:Powder Game upload types]]

Revision as of 11:18, 15 January 2025

Template:Quality

Template:PG upload by Yonder
Some idea uploads (like Template:PG upload by Guharfuh) contain pixel art fake menu buttons. This upload was created long before the implementation of glass in Powder Game ver6.4.

Idea uploads are uploads containing ideas for addons such as new elements and objects or even physics changes for most commonly Powder Game and Powder Game 2, but also other games on Dan-Ball. Most of these uploads contain small pixel art pictures representing things which the author proposes to add to the game or additional menu buttons. Some uploaders may choose to create entire menu extensions using pixel art to mimic the existing menu style, often taking weeks to complete them. Among the largest and most popular of these types are "Ultimate Menu" by Big Yellow Lemon and "Mega Menu" by Lew102. Idea uploads are very common and often receive many votes. However, the amount of idea uploads have dropped due to the fact that Dan-Ball is focusing on updating newer games.

Controversy

Many viewers may dislike idea uploads, since they are often poorly made or are simply re-uploaded duplicates of an existing idea upload. Furthermore, a large number of these ideas may be considered unrealistic and have little chance of ever getting implemented, such as cars, tanks, or guns in a game intended for physics simulation. This may either be due to the idea not being suited to the corresponding game's theme, existing programming restrictions, or simply because commonly showcased ideas are often only a slight variation of existing elements, for example, rock instead of powder, or a third player. However, this controversy can be easily avoided by paying careful attention to the potential viewer's tastes.

Old ideas which were later implemented in Powder Game

  • Ball
  • Acid - eats through everything except for block and glass. However, when it was suggested, glass collisions were not specified.
  • Glass - a commonly-proposed element
  • 2nd player
  • Metal
  • Laser
  • Mercury
  • BG-TG
  • Fuse - burns in a line while creating spark. However, when it was first proposed, it was intended to burn with fire.
  • BG-siluet - make background black and white. However it was meant to different color BG.
  • Ball attributes such as a C-4 ball.
  • Vine - was supposedly first suggested by the user Blue Brawl in "My Element Ideas". The suggested properties were different from the properties of the retail version of vine, however.
  • Cloud - like in Earth Editor, but when it was proposed, contact with metal and ice was not mentioned.
  • Text size
  • Black Hole and White Hole (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
  • Life bar for players (Implemented in Powder Game 2) - Instead of having a side bar, the health is shown in the player's head.
  • Sand (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
  • Thunder player attribute (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
  • Fish (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
  • BG-color (Implemented in Powder Game 2)
  • Ability to toggle gravity (Implemented in Powder Game 2)

Ideas commonly suggested in idea uploads

  • Wheel size - Differently sized wheels depending on pen-s.
  • Raising the dot limit, or allowing infinite dots.
  • A larger screen space.
  • A third player (often using the IJKL or TFGH Keys). (Implemented in Super Mario Maker 2)
  • Player and fighter improvements such as:
    • Weapons - Player weapons (Implemented in Stick Ranger)
    • Vehicles - Vehicles operated by players.
    • Blood - Optional blood effects when player or fighter is killed.
    • Food (or health kit) - Add a certain amount of health to a player's life bar.
    • Player size - Different player sizes depending on pen-s.
  • Monsters or animals.
  • Rubber/Elastic - Found in almost every idea upload. Bouncy, bends, and snap under high pressure, often suggested in the name of 'trampoline', allowing objects and elements to bounce off of it. (Implemented in The Blob Toy)
  • Stronger Laser - Often suggested that it pierce everything except block and can be a player attribute.
  • Teleporter/Portals - Teleports elements and objects to another place or set portal. (Implemented in Super Mario Maker)
  • 3D BG.
  • Higher upload limit per each 12 hour period. (this no longer applies, as neither Powder Game nor Powder Game 2 often gain over 50 uploads per every 12 hours).
  • Smoke - Rises from burning fire.
  • PEN S-0 Block.
  • In-game sound and option to turn it on/off. (Implemented in Powder Game (AG))
  • options for artificial elements to be created directly from the menu.
  • Undo/Redo options. (Implemented in Super Mario Maker (Undo only))
  • Glue - Sticks to players, fighters, and powder elements. (Implemented in The Blob Toy)
  • Magnet.
  • Diamond.
  • Ceramic.
  • Cement.
  • Limestone.
  • Slime mold - Exists in menu as a liquid, but sticks to other particles of its own kind to make a lump-like creature that eats powder, seed, wood, and vine, and sticks to other slime molds.
  • Backward time: Option to make time go backward at different speeds.
  • Tutorial for new powder game players.
  • More "realistic" fire, laser, and thunder properties.
  • Poison - Injures players and fighters a certain amount upon contact.
  • Antidote - cures poison.
  • Steel
  • Pen shot - (Implemented in Earth Editor & Elemental Box)
  • Helium
  • Tornado
  • Silicon - Upon contact with stone, would turn into sand.
  • Comment - Post text as an "attachment" to a user's upload, much like the comment function on Youtube.
  • Ability to modify static temperature
  • Invisibility area
  • Invincibility area
  • Larger pen-sizes
  • Zombie - attacks players and fighters, creating more zombies.
  • Custom element editor
  • Meteor. (Implemented in Earth Editor)
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