Unify is a new multi-touch block dropping puzzle game for the iPhone from Zach Gage. If you are unfamiliar with Zach, he created both SynthPond and Face It (currently in development), we wrote about weeks back. This time around, inspired by Tetris, Zach is bringing a new, clever and absolutely wonderful revamped version of the good old classic.
Unify is a colourful, fun and rich take on the now popular falling blocks style games. Instead of controlling a single block dropping from the top towards the bottom, players control two blocks, one coming in from each side, simultaneously. As you progress, the colors and music evolve and the game becomes faster and more colourful. You swipe fingers to push the blocks together, tap to rotate. The more you play the more the game becomes almost natural and intuitive play of shapes, pattern and colours. Social aspect is included, ie rankings, achievements thanks to Open Feint. I am also being told by Zach that there is a surprise at level 30. I , unfortunately, managed to get to 22 only. Apparently, the backgrounds change radically which definitely I want to see. The sounds have been created by Carlos Hernandez which feed the gameplay with the ever so loved 8-bit sounds (some sampled from sonic the hedgehog)Â and 80’s pop beats.
Interestingly, Unify has been built using openFrameworks and ofxiPhone, add-on that allows artists to easily create works for the iPhone in c++. Zach worked with Memo Akten, Lee Byron, Damian Stewart, Zach Lieberman, Theo Watson and Arturo Castro to create this add on.
Unify is currently under review by Apple and should be is now available in the AppStore within two weeks or so.
Zach Gage has been making art since 2001, constantly shifting from one medium to the next in an effort to always be able to use the best tool to accomplish whatever ideas he has. Driven to be constantly creative, Gage’s work spans a vast array of topics, with the only central theme being the need to promote thinking in the viewer. He is currently working on few other iPhone games as well as Rhonda 3D drawing tool originally created by Amit Pitaru and James Paterson and now joined by Zach and Zach Lieberman.
Platform: iPhone
Version: 1.0
Cost: $0.99 (introductory price)
Developer: Zach Gage
