Review: Fullpower Technologies MotionX Poker

On July 25, 2008, iLounge published iPhone Gems: Action Puzzlers, Table + Pinball Games, a feature article looking at eight assorted games developed for the iPhone OS. This review focuses on only one title from the collection; you can read the full article, with screenshots of all of the games together, through the link above.

Card games are nice. Dice games are nice. So now there’s a game called MotionX Poker ($5, previously MotionX Poker Dice) from Fullpower Technologies that combines the two with a simple motion- and touch-based interface. You get three shakes of the iPhone to make the best possible five-card hand from five six-sided dice, and Fullpower has glossed up both the dice and the table-like surfaces they’re rolled on to look almost photorealistic. Eight sets of dice are unlocked at the start, and additional sets get unlocked as you play; you also earn “gems” as you play, and have several tables to choose from—most are available only if you succeed in winning coins on your hands, a process that’s slow since you don’t have much control over the “bets” you place.

By cell phone game standards, MotionX Poker looks sharp, and the use of dice rather than cards makes its familiar gameplay seem almost original; however, the game’s simplicity—particularly its lack of a more complex gambling engine—limits its long-term appeal. Contrary to early gushing comments, we don’t think this game is “amazingly clever” or “mesmerizing,” but rather a nicely executed example of how the iPhone’s accelerometer and touchscreen can enhance a classic game rather than detract from it. We look forward to an update or a sequel with deeper gameplay, wireless multiplayer functionality, and even greater user customization.