In the real world, a gigawatt is a rate (a unit of power), not a thing. Notice that you pay for kilowatt-hours on your utility bill. Why not take this opportunity to replace the gigawatt concept with something that doesn't bug engineers, physicists, and other scientists...? How about gigajewels (a play on giga-joules)?

First, I want to thank Britt and crew for creating a terrific game, for creating this site, for engaging with the community, and in particular for accepting highly critical feedback. Many, many companies would simply delete negative posts or shut the forum down. It speaks volumes that you have not done that.

Now, about the update. Honestly, it has made me lose interest in the game. After months of playing every day, I spent about an hour with the new version, closed the app, and have no desire to open it again. I won't restate the reasons, as many others have covered this ground. But I would add that even the new appearance is off-putting: welder always had a consistent feel, all earth tones. Sickly greens and cerulean blues don't belong here. Everything about Gigawatts, including the name, feels like an invasion from some cheesy and unrelated game.

The proposed fix for toxic tiles -- to make them rare, and only appear when you have many swaps to spare -- also makes them irrelevant to game strategy. If they are not worth any (significant) points, and only appear when they are easily dispensed with, then they are reduced to being a mere annoyance. In which case, why have them at all?

I would add one other point that I have not seen made previously: the preservation of Gigawatts across games makes game scoring meaningless, because games don't all start the same. It's not a level playing field, so you cannot compare game scores to other players, or even to yourself.

Once in a great while, if you are very talented and very lucky, you create something so good that any change only makes it worse. Welder was in that category. It was on a path to join the ranks of Scrabble and Sudoku in the pantheon of timeless games. The magic of these great games is that the rules are simple, but the game is not. The latest update ruins that by adding needless complexity to the rules, and in doing so makes Welder less interesting, not more.

Please, just move all of this new stuff into an options menu somewhere, and restore the classic Welder we all love.

Here's my story. I read about the game when it came out.

I bought the game and loved it (except for the C and G tiles looking too similar - which you so kindly fixed)

I played it every night before falling asleep as a great way to unwind and make my little brain cells stay sharp.

I too got the "new and improved" version, and no longer have fun trying to reach the end of the levels. If you really feel that the new features MUST be part of the game, do those of us who have played from the beginning a favor and make a "classic" or lite version without the new "stuff".

There was something up until now, that made the game equal parts fun, frustrating, challenging and addictive. Now it just pisses me off.

This was my favorite game on my iphone/ipod, and now I'm going to have to start looking for something that I can enjoy picking up and playing whenever the mood strikes.

Take a leeeson from "new" Coke, and go back to what your customer base wants - a game we LIKE to play - not loathe!

Thanks!

If you read the Developer replies, amidst all the attempts to calm down its customers, one theme is shockingly clear: They are not even entertaining the idea of removing in-app purchases. Amazingly, as nearly one voice, the user community has spoken loudly and clearly against this obvious money grab, and rather than listen to its customers, the company has obviously already made up its mind.

Don't miss that. There is no indication that they'd take it under advisement, or think on it. The decision has already been made. That means the decision is most likely a business decision, and they believe they know better than I do about what I am willing to pay for. Turns out that in my case, they could hardly be more wrong.

Maybe some people will hemorrhage money into this app, but do they really think people will be happy to do so? Will they thank the publisher for giving them the "opportunity" to pay extra to defeat a poorly-designed Toxic Tile? Is a short-term gain at the expense of customer goodwill worth it in the long run? I guess they'll find out, and happily, my job security and the future of my development company doesn't depend on it.

Britt
I am anxiously awaiting the new update, it sounds promising. Until then I'll be in the sandbox.

Level 14 score 52,862

That's it. I can't play anymore. I hate this. Had a toxic k drop into the middle of so much useless crap and the sound alone is driving me nuts.

You couldn't possibly have chosen a more intrusive and annoying sound.

I'll wait for the update. In the meantime, you've succeeded in chasing me away. Suggestion: pay attention to the ratings.

Fair enough!

Could not agree more.
I used to play this game rwgularly to give my brain a rest from work and a fun game with enough challenge to keep me interested.

That came to a grinding halt a few days ago when I made the mistake of downloading the update. OK, I've read your reasoning. Don't agree with all of it, but I can see it. Thing is - I think you got it wrong. And yes, I've given the new version some time. I hate it. I hate the distractions. Hate the yuk color choices. Hate the silly noises. Frankly, nothing - nothing!- in the latest release in my opinion is good. Whereas previously they have been.

DID anyone complain it was not challenging enough? Even if they did, I so wish you had made all the changes as bonus modes or options. I loathe the distracting sounds and poor color choices of these new additions.

I've got up to level 15 several times (before this last upgrade) and what you said about it previously was right - it was different each time. But now too often I have to make short- sighted and immediate swaps just to get rid of a toxic tile for example..

As someone Already said, you don't find scrabble introducing 'toxic' tiles or asking people to buy 'gigawatt$'.

In recognition of the pleasure I've had to date I will see what the next update does. But in the meantime, I'm also hunting around for a possible replacement.

Because if one thing stands out for me, reading through this thread, it's that Your overall response has been tardy and not very convincing. You still appear to think that you, as developers, are right and know far more and far better than your customers.

Good luck with that belief. You're going to need it and then some.

It is clear the developers are not listening one little bit - and please do not patronise us further by saying you are. I have not seen one positive comment from this forum or iTunes ratings about the update. Remove those dollar signs from your eyes and look at the reality.

It is clear that some mugs have bought a few gigawatt$. This is proof of its "success". However, it is massive short termism and will backfire on the developers and publishers in the long run. Whenever I see Highline Games or Ayopa I will avoid, because all I can think is that they will try and take me for a ride.

If you don't have people downloading the App, how can they make an in app purchase? The 1 star ratings will continue and the app will disappear. Such a shame.

Someone has just recommended the app Quarrel to me. I'm off to download that and give it a try.

Well! If it is true that there is no such thing as bad publicity, you are really doing well!
As one of the earlier posters on this , I just wanted to say how much I agree with what others are saying, and yes, it is gratifying that we are being responded to.
Such is my love of Welder that I have continued to play and completely ignored the annoying blue tiles (volume off helps). I would never make a purchase so whilst they add nothing to my playing enjoyment this is are not too much of a problem.
But the toxic tiles are a complete nightmare-no need to repeat what everyone has already said except that are ruining the game in the final stages. Less will be better I suppose, but none at all would be perfect. I assume you guys are striving for perfection??
Ps also finding it hard to believe that anyone thought the final levels weren't challenging!