Do you remember the first time you saw the now famous google dinosaur gameAt the time, it was a surprise to everyone to discover that there was a small hidden mini-game that was activated when the internet connection dropped. Its dynamics have not changed much over the years, but recently we witnessed an important novelty: the possibility of customizing the Google dinosaur game.
A few months ago, Google gave us the opportunity to change some of the essential aspects of the game thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI). For example, changing Dino and also his environment and the obstacles that we know so well from the original version.
The dinosaur game marked a before and after
“Chrome Dino” or “Dino” is a small game that appears in the Google browser when there is no internet connection. It is now 10 years old, because the first time we saw it was in September 2014 and, since then, has not stopped gaining followers.
In fact, this little game was so successful that Google has not stopped releasing others since then. hidden mini games.
It appears automatically when the internet connection is lost. An error message is then displayed along with the image of a dinosaur and, if we press the space bar, we can start playing.
It is an endless runner, in which the T-Rex runs continuously forward through a desert and has to avoid the obstacles that appear around him, either by jumping over them or crouching. As we advance, the speed at which Dino runs increases, and this increases the difficulty.
With a tremendously minimalist design, This mini game is already part of the recent history of the internet, and we've all played it at some point.
If you're wondering why Google chose a dinosaur as the protagonist of its particular "Easter egg"The explanation is very simple. Both the T-Rex and the desert setting are a reference to prehistory and, as the game appears when the Internet goes down, it is alluding to the “prehistory” of technology, when connection problems were relatively common.
The limited possibility of customizing the Google dinosaur game
Few things have changed since “Chrome Dino” was launched in 2014, but this year Google wanted to surprise us with the possibility of us being the ones to customize the game to our liking using its AI system.
For a few days, in celebration of International Dinosaur Day, users had the opportunity to make some adjustments. What could be done was:
- Create your own character.
- Choose the obstacles.
- Select the background landscape.
Through the Google Labs website (the creators of Dino), users could customize the Google dinosaur game by indicating their preferences in a few boxes. For example, change the classic version for a cat jumping over flowers with a forest in the background; or a fox jumping over fruit in the middle of the mountains.
For those who wanted something different, but weren't quite sure what to choose, a random mode was available.
The remix of the classic game has been made possible by the combination of Image 2 and Google's StyleDrop. Image 2 is a set of advanced technologies that allow text to be converted to images on Google. StyleDrop, on the other hand, is a fine-tuning technique that makes it possible to generate images of different styles from a reference image.
Apart from these adjustments, the game worked exactly the same as always. Unfortunately, this possibility was only available until May 28th and many people missed the opportunity to try it out. However, there is no need to regret it, because this was only one of the many experiments carried out by Google Labs and, given its success, it is not ruled out that in the future the possibility of maximum customization will be available. This minigame is available to all users worldwide and permanently. In the meantime, it’s time for you to train your reflexes and become a “Chrome Dino” expert.
How to access the dinosaur game at any time?
To play a game that will help you pass the time and get rid of stress, you don't need to disconnect your computer from the Internet. You can access “Dino” by typing this into your browser's address bar: chrome://dino, However, remember that you must necessarily use Chrome as a browser, otherwise you will not be able to log in.
By marking this route we will arrive at a screen where the game is presented to us. If we press the space bar, Then the dinosaur takes its first jump and the action begins.
Remember that to move Dino you just have to use the space bar or the up arrow key to make him jump and the down arrow key if you want him to crouch. It's simple, yes, but you are guaranteed a few minutes of fun and entertainment, because it turns out to be a very addictive game.
The dinosaur is adding points as it moves forward, so the goal is to get as many points as possible before hitting an obstacle interrupts its run, which eventually happens. This allows you to organize championships with your friends or simply try to beat your record every time you play.
“Dino” It's already a classic game, but it's worth keeping an eye on it because Google often surprises us with a small update or special events that last just one day, such as the possibility of customizing the Google dinosaur game that we talked about on this occasion. Therefore, it's a good idea to keep it in mind and activate it from time to time, because you might find something new that you weren't expecting. At the moment we don't know if this option to change the dinosaur, the obstacles and the landscape will be activated again in the future, but with the advancement of AI it is possible that video game customization will become more and more common in the future.