App it Up: NANO
by at July 23, 2009 10:27 am
Sections: iPhone, iPhone OS, SDK and hacks, iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, iPod, iPod touch, Originals
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Developer: Adrian Johnson
Requirements: iPhone OS 3.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod Touch
File Size: 38.6MB
What is it?
To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. It’s a game, but it’s also a relaxation app. An interactive soundscape. And I think it’s a math or science class, but I can’t prove that.
How does it work?
Well, there’s this from the instructions: "To complete each level, activate all of the spherical Assembler nodes by guiding benign particles to them. Avoid the malign particles. To guide the particles, adjust the gray magnetic flow lines by touch.”
In there, I think understood the word “touch.” That’s pretty much it.
But the instructions are accurate. Using the iPhone’s touch sensitivity, you align the gray flow lines to guide benign particles (blues and greens) to them, while sending the malign particles (red, yellow and orange, and in the same particle flow) away. Once you’ve activated all of the nodes in this manner, you progress to the next level. So, the game consists solely of swiping your finger across the screen, but the strategies are more complex. Not all color particles behave in the same way, and some flow lines move on their own, so you have to learn what does what and how/when to help it along.
All of this is set, then, to a soundtrack so soothing you’ll want to just close your eyes and float up into space…or the nearest aquarium. It’s dynamically generated by your actions, creating a connection between you and the iPhone in a way I wouldn’t have thought possible.
Features
App it Up, Sum it Up
I did have issues with the game crashing in iPhone OS 3.0, leading to frequent reboots in order to play (and sometimes, that didn’t even help). I expect the crashing problem to addressed soon. In the meantime, Nano is a unique iPhone experience that really should be experienced. Some people will love its flow and atmosphere, and others simply won’t get it at all. Both groups are right. Nano’s not for everyone, but if you can get on the same level as the game, you’re not going to want to leave it.
Cost – $0.99
Worth the Money? – Yes, if you’re a looking for a relaxing, interactive experience are willing to drive past some esoteric instructions and instability.
Availability – Now, at the iTunes App Store.
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