iOS Game 'Dots' Adds New 'Gravity Mode' for One Week, Partners with General Electric

[MacRumors]

Popular iOS game Dots has been updated to add a new gameplay option called "Gravity Mode" that will be available for one week, along with with improvements in speed and battery life.

Specifically, the new mode is sponsored by company General Electric to celebrate "Gravity Day", and features no time limits or restrictions along with the addition of a "gravity button" which shuffles the dots based on the the angle and tilt of the phone.

Betaworks executive Paul Murphy spoke about the new mode to The Verge:

Gravity mode will arrive this Sunday on Android and iOS and be available for one week. Betaworks' SVP of product, Paul Murphy, describes how it will work. "You can think of it like a 'zen' mode for Dots. No timers, no restrictions, just connect as many dots as you'd like. If you get stuck, you can click the gravity button, which acts as a shuffler. To make it happen, our team implemented a physics engine so the dots appear to fall with gravity and move based on the angle of the phone."

The game has been very popular on iOS, hitting #1 in 20 countries. Dots is a free app and can be downloaded on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: iOS Game 'Dots' Adds New 'Gravity Mode' for One Week, Partners with General Electric

 

[S.B.G]

Popular iOS game Dots has updated its iOS app today...

I received the update on the iPhone and iPad yesterday.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Interesting promotion stunt.

 

[Vanilla35]

I can't wait until this pastel theme dies. In iOS7, dots, and elsewhere. It's a shame we're going to be (and have already) seeing most relevant apps updating their UI to match iOS7's *puke*

 

[SirithX]

Does anyone know what you get for getting up to level 6 (or beyond)? I understand the concept of an unlimited "zen" mode, but the existence of levels and the fact that it seems it would take an exorbitant amount of time playing dots to get there makes me think there's gotta be something more to it. I'm only on level 3 and it's taking quite some time to get to 4, let alone 6...

 

[Dokk]

Does anyone know what you get for getting up to level 6 (or beyond)?

At the very least, it appears that you get to keep your dots. I don't know that I'll ever finish level 6 given the exponential way this seems to be going. But I'm glad I'm getting a bunch of free dots.

 

[benji888]

I can't wait until this pastel theme dies. In iOS7, dots, and elsewhere. It's a shame we're going to be (and have already) seeing most relevant apps updating their UI to match iOS7's *puke*

dream on...it's not pastel, but bright colors, pastels would be pale...switch to a black background and you'd see it.

it's not just iOS that is going brighter, less skuewmorphic, it's a general trend. It's about time if you ask me, I'm tired of the "wood-look", "metal-look", "leather-look", w/airbrushed drop shadows to make it seem 3D, bleh. The layered, translucent, parallax, frosted glass look, while it might take getting used to for some, is a big improvement in design.

Dots: This game is entertaining, but, would like to have an online dual-player mode, both working it at the same time. (and I like the color scheme, but, maybe a few more choices).

 

[wiz329]

dream on...it's not pastel, but bright colors, pastels would be pale...switch to a black background and you'd see it.

it's not just iOS that is going brighter, less skuewmorphic, it's a general trend. It's about time if you ask me, I'm tired of the "wood-look", "metal-look", "leather-look", w/airbrushed drop shadows to make it seem 3D, bleh. The layered, translucent, parallax, frosted glass look, while it might take getting used to for some, is a big improvement in design.

Dots: This game is entertaining, but, would like to have an online dual-player mode, both working it at the same time. (and I like the color scheme, but, maybe a few more choices).

Design: Who says something is superior or inferior just because you are tired of it? You've said nothing about how or why it is actually an improvement, other than describing it as a trend, and saying you're tired of what it replaces.

Dots: Not sure what you're looking at, but those greens and blues are definitely pretty pale. Not all the colors may be pastel proper, but taken as a whole, it does seem very "pastel-y".

 

[GoldenJoe]

I'm not really a fan of the "soft" UI trend either, but I don't think skeuomorphism is the way to go, either. Personally, I like the good old fashioned cold, evil technology look - lots of black with bright blues, reds, or greens, and white serving as the tertiary color. Else One is still my favorite smartphone UI, even if its navigation system wouldn't work in the context of today's app-centric devices.

But hey, gotta go with what the market dictates.

 

[gmcalpin]

Dots should be used in Game Design classes as an example of terrible game design. It has an interesting central mechanic, and it looks great, but the timed mode and the "30 moves" mode are awful. There's almost no skill to the game whatsoever— unlike Tetris or any number of word games. Your score basically relies on not screwing up based on whatever random array of dots you get dealt; the board is so small and the games so short that any possibility of skill is killed. And there's absolutely no advancement…

I thought this "Gravity" mode might be interesting, but it basically just shuffles the dots for you — and it doesn't seem to even do it based on how you roll them around with the accelerometer; it just seems to settle back into the grid randomly. (And there's no discernible point to leveling up, either.) So you're just erasing dots ad infinitum, with no goal whatsoever.

 

[Battlefield Fan]

I can't wait until this pastel theme dies. In iOS7, dots, and elsewhere. It's a shame we're going to be (and have already) seeing most relevant apps updating their UI to match iOS7's *puke*

Couldn't disagree with you more. About time the leather and fabric dies.

 

[Vanilla35]

dream on...it's not pastel, but bright colors, pastels would be pale...switch to a black background and you'd see it.

it's not just iOS that is going brighter, less skuewmorphic, it's a general trend. It's about time if you ask me, I'm tired of the "wood-look", "metal-look", "leather-look", w/airbrushed drop shadows to make it seem 3D, bleh. The layered, translucent, parallax, frosted glass look, while it might take getting used to for some, is a big improvement in design.

I think you misunderstand what is actually going on. First off, the colors are not brighter, they have a lower saturation than what I would consider "neutral colors". iOS7 colors are not "neutral". Neutral would be the colors used in iOS6, with an average level of saturation. It is just like how Apple "improved saturation" with the iPhone 5's display, over the 4S, which I noticed right away.

Also, the dissolving of skeuomorphism is not a general trend. Flatter designs are a general trend, leaving skuomorphism is a side effect of that. Completely different. Also, I'm sorry that you feel that way about skeuomophism. I think the skuomophism in iOS is somewhat obnoxious, but I think that other software's have made it more welcome. iOS used/uses way too much gloss, imo, but that's not the fault of skeuomorphism per say.

I personally like the textures of iOS6 (not the skeuomorphism) which are clearly absent in iOS7. I think the design overall feels much more muted and just tasteless. Although I think it is cool that they have a more flowing design, I think, overall, it looks extremely bland.

I think probably about 70% of people like iOS6 better, and 30% like iOS7 better. The iOS6 design is definitely favored between the two though. Also, every time I ask my friends if they've seen iOS7 yet (and all of these people - being average citizens, have not) they immediately ask me if I'm serious when they see it. Because they think it looks horrid. My girlfriend also says that if that's how it looks, she's not upgrading. They'll get over it eventually, but most people don't think it looks good.

Couldn't disagree with you more. About time the leather and fabric dies.

I personally couldn't care less about the leather and fabric. I just wish the design didn't feel so empty; with lack of textures, and ultra flat design.

 

[benji888]

I think probably about 70% of people like iOS6 better, and 30% like iOS7 better.

Well, this thread is about the app Dots, so, I'll try to keep it short. I only said what I said about iOS 7 because the comment said Dots was like iOS 7. In any case, from a professional design perspective it is a better design, really nice to use, at least the beta on iPhone 5, that and the way it works, feels like a new phone again. Your numbers here are strictly your opinion, nothing more. Most of the negative commenters on this forum haven't even used it, just looked at pics of it. But, if you feel so strongly about it, then just keep iOS 6 on yours.

Dots is colorful and fun. I like the simplicity of it. I don't think I'll reach the top level in gravity mode though. Again, I'd like to say: but, would like to have an online dual-player mode, both playing the same board at the same time, that would be more fun.

 

[ryansimmons323]

dream on...it's not pastel, but bright colors, pastels would be pale...switch to a black background and you'd see it.

it's not just iOS that is going brighter, less skuewmorphic, it's a general trend. It's about time if you ask me, I'm tired of the "wood-look", "metal-look", "leather-look", w/airbrushed drop shadows to make it seem 3D, bleh. The layered, translucent, parallax, frosted glass look, while it might take getting used to for some, is a big improvement in design.

Dots: This game is entertaining, but, would like to have an online dual-player mode, both working it at the same time. (and I like the color scheme, but, maybe a few more choices).

Pardon me if you are already aware, but you can go into the settings of the app and change the color of the dots. They have a few different options.

 

[star-affinity]

Personally, I like the good old fashioned cold, evil technology look - lots of black with bright blues,

Windows 98 maybe? :-/
Perhaps not evil enough.

 

[mr.datsun]

I can't wait until this pastel theme dies. In iOS7, dots, and elsewhere. It's a shame we're going to be (and have already) seeing most relevant apps updating their UI to match iOS7's *puke*

I'm looking forward to the puke-colour iOS theme that Johnny Ive is working on.

 

[benji888]

I think probably about 70% of people like iOS6 better, and 30% like iOS7 better.

You have it backwards: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1633002/

 

[Vanilla35]

You have it backwards: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1633002/

I'm talking about the general public, not people on MacRumors who have a high alliance to apple and almost all their decisions

 

[MacMilligan]

I think you misunderstand what is actually going on. First off, the colors are not brighter, they have a lower saturation than what I would consider "neutral colors". iOS7 colors are not "neutral". Neutral would be the colors used in iOS6, with an average level of saturation. It is just like how Apple "improved saturation" with the iPhone 5's display, over the 4S, which I noticed right away.

Also, the dissolving of skeuomorphism is not a general trend. Flatter designs are a general trend, leaving skuomorphism is a side effect of that. Completely different. Also, I'm sorry that you feel that way about skeuomophism. I think the skuomophism in iOS is somewhat obnoxious, but I think that other software's have made it more welcome. iOS used/uses way too much gloss, imo, but that's not the fault of skeuomorphism per say.

I personally like the textures of iOS6 (not the skeuomorphism) which are clearly absent in iOS7. I think the design overall feels much more muted and just tasteless. Although I think it is cool that they have a more flowing design, I think, overall, it looks extremely bland.

I think probably about 70% of people like iOS6 better, and 30% like iOS7 better. The iOS6 design is definitely favored between the two though. Also, every time I ask my friends if they've seen iOS7 yet (and all of these people - being average citizens, have not) they immediately ask me if I'm serious when they see it. Because they think it looks horrid. My girlfriend also says that if that's how it looks, she's not upgrading. They'll get over it eventually, but most people don't think it looks good.



I personally couldn't care less about the leather and fabric. I just wish the design didn't feel so empty; with lack of textures, and ultra flat design.

Not exactly a double blind test, especially since you hold a strong opinion on the matter

 

[benji888]

I'm talking about the general public, not people on MacRumors who have a high alliance to apple and almost all their decisions

But I've seen a lot of threads on here started since iOS 7 beta, complaining about how it looks, who were going only by pictures, not using it. ... the people who don't like something raise a big stink. ...people who like something would be more apt to vote a poll like this, over making any comments, or starting threads. Ask anyone that works in retail or the service industry, it's pretty typical.

 

[Vanilla35]

But I've seen a lot of threads on here started since iOS 7 beta, complaining about how it looks, who were going only by pictures, not using it. ... the people who don't like something raise a big stink. ...people who like something would be more apt to vote a poll like this, over making any comments, or starting threads. Ask anyone that works in retail or the service industry, it's pretty typical.

You right