Dots: A Game About Connecting – Educational Game Review

THIS GAME IS GOOD FOR KIDS WHO NEED HELP WITH:

Flexibility

Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations.

Dots provides players with a randomized and constantly changing play space. Because the dots are constantly eliminated and replaced, players must exercise Flexibility when both strategizing and executing their moves. Players who are able to quickly adapt to changing conditions will often gain significantly higher scores than those who cannot. Improving scores in Dots requires players to not only be aware of the dots which they are eliminating, but the surrounding dots as well. As players eliminate dots, remaining dots fall into the empty spaces and new dots will appear from above. Understanding how to manipulate this environment in order to create more favorable conditions is key to success. Players must be able to adjust their strategies and act fast to both eliminate dots as well as manipulate the surrounding environment to improve conditions and build combos for future eliminations.

Self-Control

Managing our actions, feelings and behaviors.

Players must exercise a certain degree of Self-Control while playing Dots. While connecting as few as two dots will reward players with points, simply looking for two adjacent dots will not maximize a player’s point potential. It is much more beneficial to hold off and build color connections. Many times, the most immediate, obvious connection may eliminate the possibility for a larger and more lucrative connection later. Players who are unable to control the urge to simply connect dots immediately may miss larger scoring opportunities, select fewer dots than may be available accidentally, or remove the possibility for gaining points in other locations on the playing space. Players who are able to quickly and efficiently consider their decisions while taking some time to consider their actions and strategies will often outscore those who do not.

Time Management

Being efficient and aware of our use of time and effort.

Dots requires players to score as many points as possible within a 60 second time limit. Players must therefore be able to adapt, strategize, and execute strategies under the pressures and constraints presented by a limited amount of time. Continual improvement in high scores requires players to be able to create strategies which maximize the number of points for eliminating dots, as well as incorporating strategies to manipulate the playing space to create advantages. If too much time is spent developing these strategies, however, players may never be able to capitalize on their plan. Players who are able to do this successfully while under the pressure of a quickly depleting amount of time will often score higher than players who are unable to execute effective time management strategies.