Support - Dot Battles | 404 Software

Get in Touch

Email Support:

404software@gmail.com

How to Play

Getting Started

Tap START on the title screen
Choose your battle mode and configure settings
Tap START BATTLE to begin the simulation
Tap anywhere on screen to PAUSE and view statistics

Battle Modes

Random Fill: Chaotic distribution across the entire battlefield
Pixels: Set custom starting pixel counts for each team
Horizontal/Vertical Bars: Teams start in stripe formations
Grid: Even territory distribution in a grid pattern
Countries: Contiguous territories with defined borders
Image Mode: Transform any photo into a battlefield (iOS/iPad only)

Battle Effects

During a paused battle, tap EFFECTS to use:

Bomb: Create explosive black craters on the battlefield
Blitz: Rapidly spread a random team's color
Mountain: Build white barriers that block expansion
Flood: Expand borders between territories

Continue Mode

Save your battle progress and resume later:

During a battle, tap to pause
Tap END BATTLE
Your battle is automatically saved
From the title screen, toggle CONTINUE to resume

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I add more teams?

On the options screen, use the team count slider to select 2-100+ teams. More teams = more chaos!

Q: Can I change team colors?

Yes! Tap on any team's color in the options screen to customize it. Colors are automatically generated for maximum contrast.

Q: How does Image Mode work?

Select an image from your photo library. The app extracts unique colors and creates teams based on your image's palette. Photos are processed entirely on your device and never uploaded anywhere.

Q: What do the white and black pixels mean?

White pixels are immovable barriers that block expansion. Black pixels are empty space that teams can claim. Neither white nor black can spread to new locations.

Q: How long do battles take?

It depends! With 5 teams, battles typically last 2-5 minutes. With 100+ teams or complex maps, battles can run for hours. Use Continue mode to save long battles.

Q: Does this work on Apple TV?

Yes! Dot Battles supports tvOS. Use the Siri Remote's d-pad to navigate menus and Play/Pause button to pause battles. Image Mode is not available on Apple TV.

Q: Does this drain my battery?

Dot Battles keeps your screen awake during battles, which uses more power than normal. For long battles, consider plugging in your device.

Q: Is there a limit to team count?

The slider goes up to 100, but in Image Mode you can have hundreds of teams (one per unique color in your image).

Q: Can I speed up or slow down battles?

Battles run at a fixed speed optimized for smooth visuals. Use the pause feature to analyze the battlefield at any time.

Troubleshooting

Battle is frozen or not starting

Try these steps:

Return to title screen and start a new battle
Force quit the app and relaunch
Restart your device

Image Mode shows "Not Available" on Apple TV

This is expected behavior. Photo picker is not available on tvOS. Use the iOS/iPad version for Image Mode.

Donation buttons not working

Ensure you have an active internet connection. If the buttons appear dimmed, wait a moment for products to load. If issues persist, contact support.

App crashes or unexpected behavior

Please report crashes via email: 404software@gmail.com

Include your device model, iOS version, and steps to reproduce the issue.

Feature Requests

Have an idea for Dot Battles? We'd love to hear it!

Email us at 404software@gmail.com with your suggestions.

Popular requests may be added in future updates!

About Dot Battles

Dot Battles is a labor of love by 404 Software. We built this app to create mesmerizing pixel battles that are:

Privacy-first (zero data collection)
Ad-free forever
Fully functional offline
Powered by emergent behavior and chaos theory

If you enjoy Dot Battles, consider supporting development via the in-app donation screen. Thank you!