DNA^vs CPU (a.k.a. 17) is a Multi-Generation, Multi-Level iPhone/iPad game of strategy, where you pit your skill in planning ahead against my internal and learn-on-the-fly algorithms.  17 attempts to employ some simple Artificial Intelligence techniques to improve play, so my performance may improve over time.

• DNA^vs CPU is comprised of four Generations.  Each Generation includes four Levels (A,C,G,T) with a total of 17 different games ‐ A: Astronomic (7 games),   C: Cosmic (5 games),   G: Galactic (3 games), and  T: Tumultuous (2 games).   At each Generation, players start at Level A: Astronomic.  Each Level and game is progressively harder and worth more.  A win at Game X earns access to Game X+1.
• When you win all 17 games in a Generation, you ascend to the next Generation. Although the 17 games appear to be the same in each Generation, rule changes and CPU performance upgrades make each successive Generation noticeably more challenging.  Winning all 17 games at the highest Generation may reveal an Easter Egg.
• 17 is played on a rectangular grid.  It's based on the 5^×4 game tac-tickle developed by Harry D. Ruderman in 1967.  17 has added a GUI, machine play (augmented with some simple machine learning), a variety of game sizes, undo, some quantum effects, instant replay, a video archive of your previous games, and user-viewable stats, summaries, and research reports.  17 is locked into Landscape Mode.
• The objective is to get 3 of your tokens in a row: up/down, left/right, or diagonally – like tic-tac-toe (see below for sample board layouts).
• Your tokens are green, mine are blue.  Token names may change (depending on how well you play), but token colors do not change.  You may select one of several avatars as your personal token.
• We alternate turns, and alternate who moves first in each game.  You move first in the first game.  After 17 moves a draw is declared.
• A player may move one of their tokens one cell up, down, left or right (but not diagonally) to an open cell.  You must move on each turn.  To move, tap one of your tokens, then tap the destination cell.  For the harder games (Levels C,G,T), quantum tunneling and wormholes may come into play and more aggressive moves are available.
• You earn points with a win: faster play is rewarded with more points.  You may lose points with a defeat.  Your cumulative points are displayed.  As your points add up, you may be promoted (there are 21 levels).  After your first win at your current largest (hardest) game size, a new (harder) game is introduced from which you may choose.  Harder game wins are worth more points.  As harder games are introduced, the points for easier game wins is reduced.  Also, as harder games are introduced, the time to make a move is reduced.
• Overall goals: Build your points by winning increasingly-difficult games;  Move up the Promotion Ladder (21 levels);  Earn your way to T⋮10, the hardest, most rewarding game.  Be careful at T⋮10, because some of your learned game behaviors may not work as you think.
• DNA^vs CPU is easy to play, but hard to play fast.  The scoring system strongly rewards fast play and mercilessly punishes slow play.
• A variety of actions and reports are available for your use during play or between games (e.g., Undo, Instant Replay, Statistics, Opener/Responder Winning Efficiency, ...).  Note however that employing some of them during play (e.g., Undo, Sleep) drastically reduces the maximum points awarded for a win.
• My "learning" ability is heavily dependent on your style of play and performance, and it will vary from player-to-player.  An open question is whether your inexperienced play in the early games causes me to learn bad habits (thus making it easier for you to win more often in the long term).  Learning is a bumpy road.  It is likely you will see me commit some stupendous blunders as I try to learn.
• Beginners can gain some useful insights from the video replays of previous games, and from the [Strategy], [Puzzlers], and [Blunders] reports.
• Experienced players may wish to use Tournament Mode which provides a mechanism for you to periodically gauge your skill level, or more likely to compete against other players (in the same real or virtual room).  Possible goals may be how long til 1,500 Λxons, 100 wins, Level C or G or T, win one of each of the 17 games, or average Λxons per game (for 100 games), minimum think-times per game (for 100 games), ...
• To Prevail (not easy!):
  1. Work your way up the game ladder (3 generations for a total of 51 games) to meet and defeat the Easter Egg Challenge.
  2. Play some practice tournaments on your own to get comfortable playing under pressure. Then play in tournaments with other players to gauge your mastery.
• DNA^vs CPU is undergoing final testing and will soon be available at the Apple AppStore.
• Internet access is not required to play (17 is completely self-contained and does not communicate with the outside world except for upgrades.)

~~~//~~~

Screenshots

1. [Upper Left] DNA (Green) to move and win in 2.  How?  What do you think of CPU's last move?  What would you have done?
2. [Upper Right] Blue to move and has a sure win in 2.  How?   If instead it is Green's turn, Green also has a forced win in 2.  How?
3. The next three boards have that same attribute (the player who is about to move has a forced win).  How?  Note that this condition is not always the case, but it does suggest that the first player to move may have an advantage.
4. A peek at some of the reports.  [Strategy], [Blunders], and [Puzzlers] might be interesting to beginners, or at least worth a chuckle.
5. A brief player History