Vortex (iPod game)
Encyclopedia
Vortex is an iPod game created by Apple Inc. It is a Breakout clone
that has a "looking down perspective" and has bricks arranged in a circular layout.
Vortex is currently one of the only games compatible with all the iPods able to play games (shipped with the iPod Nano
s and Classics
).
The paddle now is slightly curved, conforming to the game's circular outer wall. The ball moves slower as it approaches the cluster of revolving bricks and faster as it moves away. The effect, if you like, is that of planetary gravity, except in reverse. The ball's trajectory and speed – whether traveling toward or away from the cluster – is continuously influenced by the pulling forces of the outer wall. The angle at which the ball strikes a brick, or bricks, also has an impact on its direction and, usually to a lesser extent, its speed. The speed of the paddle upon making contact also has a subtle influence on the ball's path.
As game levels progress, the size of the cluster grows and the number of concentric circles comprising it increases. In the early moments of each higher level, the empty ring between the brick cluster and the outer wall grows smaller, a confinement that necessitates quicker paddle movement.
To pass the level, all destructible bricks must be shattered. Adding to the challenge, there are bricks which "retract" for a time, enabling the ball to pass through instead of shattering it. Certain sets of bricks also move around the circle. Other bricks take multiple hits to shatter. Steel bricks are almost indestructible, unless one hits a dymamite brick next to it, but are not required to complete the level. Dynamite bricks (indicated by red dots) when hit will take out several other bricks with its explosion but are also not required.
There is often the dilemma of trying to reach the powerup versus concentrating on the ball. Conversely, the player may not be able to avoid a powerup without missing the ball.
Not all powerups are necessarily beneficial. Powerup bricks are also not required to complete the level, but destroying a powerup brick, even if it is not caught, adds more points to the total than destroying a normal brick. The points score is equal to the points for the bricks destroyed plus the bonus points for timing.
All powerups expire if the player loses a life or beats a level.
Breakout clone
A Breakout clone is a sub-class of the "bat-and-ball" genre introduced with the Magnavox Odyssey's Tennis and Atari's Pong...
that has a "looking down perspective" and has bricks arranged in a circular layout.
History
On Tuesday, January 30, 2007, Apple introduced a demo version of this game for free. It includes two sample levels. They have since removed the demo.Vortex is currently one of the only games compatible with all the iPods able to play games (shipped with the iPod Nano
IPod nano
iPod Nano is a digital media player designed and marketed by Apple Inc.. The first generation of iPod Nano was introduced on September 7, 2005 as a replacement for iPod Mini. It uses flash memory for storage. iPod Nano has gone through six models, or generations, since its introduction...
s and Classics
IPod classic
The iPod Classic is a portable media player marketed by Apple Inc...
).
Gameplay
Vortex is similar to Breakout, in which you use a ball to destroy bricks. However, the bricks are arranged along the inside of a cylinder. You use the click wheel to move the paddle around the cylinder to control where the ball goes.The paddle now is slightly curved, conforming to the game's circular outer wall. The ball moves slower as it approaches the cluster of revolving bricks and faster as it moves away. The effect, if you like, is that of planetary gravity, except in reverse. The ball's trajectory and speed – whether traveling toward or away from the cluster – is continuously influenced by the pulling forces of the outer wall. The angle at which the ball strikes a brick, or bricks, also has an impact on its direction and, usually to a lesser extent, its speed. The speed of the paddle upon making contact also has a subtle influence on the ball's path.
As game levels progress, the size of the cluster grows and the number of concentric circles comprising it increases. In the early moments of each higher level, the empty ring between the brick cluster and the outer wall grows smaller, a confinement that necessitates quicker paddle movement.
To pass the level, all destructible bricks must be shattered. Adding to the challenge, there are bricks which "retract" for a time, enabling the ball to pass through instead of shattering it. Certain sets of bricks also move around the circle. Other bricks take multiple hits to shatter. Steel bricks are almost indestructible, unless one hits a dymamite brick next to it, but are not required to complete the level. Dynamite bricks (indicated by red dots) when hit will take out several other bricks with its explosion but are also not required.
Powerups
There are marked bricks which release powerups. The powerup, indicated by a small green sphere, heads out from the center and the player catches it to activate it.There is often the dilemma of trying to reach the powerup versus concentrating on the ball. Conversely, the player may not be able to avoid a powerup without missing the ball.
Not all powerups are necessarily beneficial. Powerup bricks are also not required to complete the level, but destroying a powerup brick, even if it is not caught, adds more points to the total than destroying a normal brick. The points score is equal to the points for the bricks destroyed plus the bonus points for timing.
All powerups expire if the player loses a life or beats a level.