Spin It To Win It: Pivvot

Only now that I look at Pivvot do I realise how many of the games that drive people wild in frustration and delight are loud, difficult digital versions of that old school fête favourite, the move-a-loop-along-a-big-bendy-wire-without-making-it-buzz game. (What are they called?) Super Hexagon, that's a cracking buzzy wire. Flappy Bird? More like Buzzy Bird. Pivvot too, absolutely.

Having survived Steam Greenlight, it's made the jump from pocket telephones to PC, out now for £3.59. That's may be 17 goes on the fête's buzzy wire but while you don't have a chance to a win a whole tin of Cadbury Roses, you won't need to make small talk with Mrs McClusky either.

Pivvot's shooting for that same sort of intense hold-your-nerve-and-don't-smash-into-the-sides-oh-god-don't-bottle-it fun. You have a little dot whizzing along procedurally-generated paths full of twists and turns while another point hangs off a rotatable pivot. If your dangly bit smashes into obstacles, you lose, and your parents might reassure you were so close.

These sorts of games might not be inspired by buzzy wires (Wikipedia very clinically says 'wire loop game'), but require the same dexterity and confidence, knowing exactly how much you have and how quickly you can move. Then if you lose, you simply drag the loop back to the start and begin again. I suppose one key difference is these games only let you see three inches further along the digital wire, giving no time to plan your approach. Oh video games, you're so wicked.

Steam user reviews are looking pretty good. Have a trailer: