iPhone News Updated

Texas Hold ‘em ($4.99)

This nifty take on Hold ‘Em style Poker takes advantage of the iPhone’s video capabilities, displaying impressive graphics, including footage of your computer opponents. Not only that, this game also allows you to play with your friends within a local wifi network. (I’m assuming it uses Apple’s Bonjour services for auto-discovery, which means you can’t play across the internet).

Upon first launch you’re presented with two game modes (single player and multiplayer), settings, statistics and help. There are options for play locations such as an Apple-themed Garage, an Aquarium, and even a seat at a poker table in Dubai.

The computer opponents are digitized humans and they’re very well implemented into the game. Their reactions during the game play is amusing, but you can skip over their animations by touching the screen. The game itself uses great work of the touch screen, allowing you to check by double-tapping, fold by dragging your cards to the table, and go all in by doing the same with your chips. By turning the phone from portrait to landscape mode, the view is switched from first person to table-top view of the action. And when you tap on the Home button, the game is automatically saved until the next time you want to play it.

One hint: Read over the Help section, which offers up a series of pictures detailing what you can do with the interface and gestures. It may sound obvious, but as impressive as the graphics are for this game, there aren’t really any visual cues to let you know what does what.

For Poker fans, this game is highly recommended. Go ahead, see if I’m bluffing.

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