Bumps race

A bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file, each crew attempting to catch and "bump" the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind.

The form is mainly used intramurally at the University of Cambridge, since 1827, and at the University of Oxford since 1815. Bumps racing in fours is also the format of intramural rowing at Eton College and at Shrewsbury School. It is particularly suitable where the stretch of water available is long but narrow, precluding side-by-side racing. Bumps racing gives a sharper feel of immediate competition than a head race, where boats are simply timed over a fixed course. Few rowers worldwide use rivers as narrow as the Cam or the Isis, but bumps races are also contested elsewhere (see below).

Racing practice and procedures

Bumps races are typically raced in a series over several days. The starting order of each day's race is based on the previous day's results; the first day's starting order each year is determined by the results on the last day of the previous year. Each day the boats line up bow-to-stern, usually along the bank of the river, with a set distance between each boat and the next (usually about one and a half boat-lengths of clear water). The starting positions are usually marked by a rope or chain attached to the bank, the other end of which is held by each boat's cox. Boats wait along the bank, and may be poled out just in time for the start, to avoid drifting. At the start signal the cox lets go of the rope and the crew starts to row, attempting to catch and bump the boat in front while simultaneously being chased by the one behind.

Bumps (video game)

Bumps is a casual puzzle game that was created by Utopian Games. The games was released in late April 2009 on PC. Versions for iPhone and iPad were later released.

Gameplay

Bumps is a physics-based game that revolves around placing small creatures called "bumps" around a level, then pressing play to let the physics let them go free and collect keys to release the other bumps trapped in the level. The bumps are also able to collect power-ups and interact with certain dynamic physics objects to complete each levels objective of freeing the other bumps.

There are 99 levels in the PC version, 54 in the iPhone version, and 72 in the iPad version. When players complete each level they are awarded a bronze, silver, or gold medal depending on how many attempts it took them to beat the level.

Reception

The game received 3 out of 5 stars from GamesRadar, which said that "World of Goo’s first bona-fide challenger comes up short in both the puzzling and the personality departments." Gamezebo writer David Stone rated the PC version 3.5 out of 5 stars, but gave the iPhone version 4 stars.