Living Worlds – Mark Ferrari

Pixfabrik

About this app

** Includes live wallpaper! **

This Living Worlds app is a modern recreation of a set of dynamic pixel art scenes first published in the early 90s as part of an "illustrated personal organizer" named Seize the Day, and seen as screenshots across the Internet since then. These scenes were created by Mark Ferrari, legendary artist from such classic games as Loom and The Secret of Monkey Island as well as the recent Thimbleweed Park. Now, 25 years later, Ian Gilman, the original software developer, has resurrected the Living Worlds, with Mark's support and additional code from Joseph Huckaby. There may be copycats, but this is the only authentic version from the original creators!

This release of the app contains all twelve of the original scenes in their full glory. The sun rises and falls in real time, storms pass through, flowers bloom, the moon and stars cross the sky. Smaller details like chimney smoke and animal footprints come and go. The image "lives" throughout the day, drawing you in, suggesting stories, and rewarding quiet observation.

In addition to the classic graphics, each scene includes a new "Logbook" story written by Mark Ferrari and ambient soundscapes designed by Ian Gilman.

Join us for this 25th anniversary celebration of these unique artworks!

Ratings and reviews

I've had this app for 2 years and I love it. My husband recommended it to me, since he knew how much I loved Ferrari's work, and since then, I've used it a my backgrounds. I reread the log book here and there and use the ambient sounds to relax. My only issue is that occasionally, while charging my phone, the live wallpaper crashes. But it's a minor issue that is fixed by either going back to the app and reloading it as my wallpaper, or restarting the phone entirely. Still a 5/5 app.

Words fail to capture the curious manner in which this app inspires joy. The level of detail is impeccable and the nature settings depicted are timeless. I mention these great features with sadness, however, because having used Living Worlds for 3 years—across multiple devices and setting configurations—it consistently crashes after about a week of usage. I suspect it does not play well with Nova Launcher. Perhaps Android is killing the process when it deems the battery is being drained.

The art is absolutely gorgeous and I've enjoyed just occasionally pulling up the app to watch from time to time. I would consider this money very well spent! That said, there are a couple issues- as others have noted, the contrast between the device font and some of the backgrounds is rubbish (especially noticeable with white font and a snowy January, or dark font and any night scene). It's also hard knowing that I am missing some of the art just 'cause I don't want to have empty screen space.

What's new

* December sounds!