ROBOT Spells Weird

The game is called R.O.B.O.T. Why they just don't call it "Robot" is beyond me. Perhaps they thought they were being clever. Who knows. The point is that Robot is a free game that can be downloaded to your mobile device. Whether you choose to play and for how long is entirely up to you.

You control the one good robot. Your job is to walk around shooting all the bad robots. Are you still following? Games like these tend to be very complicated! Yes, after killing lots of evil, bad robots, you go to the robot garage. At the garage, you can now decide what you want to upgrade. See, for every bad robot you kill, you earn a certain number of "cores." No one ever explains what these cores are, but they basically serve as money.

In the garage, you can either fix your robot up or buy more ammunition or even a fast set of legs (wheels?). Spend wisely since you do not have enough money to do everything. That is why it is so important not to get hit when battling other robots. Every core you must spend to repair yourself is one less core you can be spending on better abilities.

Of course, it almost goes without saying that if you waste ammo, you will not be playing for very long. After playing a bit, you will learn which bad guys go down with one shot and which will require a few hits. Then you won't have to wait and see if you have killed your target before firing again. Wait and see tactics save ammo but when you are being attacked from all directions, you don't have the luxury of unlimited time.

Now if you do have unlimited time you can play this game for awhile and learn to master all of its sophisticated nuances. But that shouldn't take more than an hour!

Smart Phone Roulette

When buying a cell phone today, you have to play what I call "smart phone roulette." There are so many brands and features, that you really want to do your research and choose wisely. Otherwise your "smart phone" may be dumber than your stapler. At least with the iPhone, it may cost a bit more than the knockoffs, but at least you know you are getting real quality.

The other thing you know if you choose an iPhone is that there are millions of applications out there that have been designed specifically for the iPhone. For example, you can play a version of mobile roulette -- not smart phone roulette but the actual casino game) using the touch sensitive screen to lay a wager and take a spin. This is not a mock up, it's the real game. if you win, then you win real cash which you can quickly download into your bank account all by using your phone.

The game looks and feels authentic. It also doesn't take long to play. Each round only has to last a few seconds. You can take longer but the choice is up to you. Everyone will end up customizing his or her gaming preferences. That is one of the greatest advantages that comes with playing on a platform as flexible as the iPhone.

So the next time you find yourself with some extra time to kill, take out your iPhone and play a few rounds of roulette. You will see why these phones have become so popular around the world.

Blackjack on the Hip

I am thrilled today because a friend just e-mailed me that there is now a version of blackjack that I can play on my iPhone. As you know, since getting the iPhone, I just don't go anywhere without it. With the nifty hip holster, I can take my little buddy anywhere. Whether I should need a phone, e-mail connection, mp3, or video player -- I have everything I need within a 2 second grab no matter what I am doing.

So until now, the only thing missing has been real games (ones that you can actually win some cash as opposed to a smiley face) that were developed with the iPhone in kind. Sure, you could try downloading some stuff and hoped it would work on your iPhone.

But now, I see there are casino game applications that have been launched that were specifically designed for the iPhone. This is huge news (although it was not unexpected.) So now that I can have my two favorite hobbies (playing with the iPhone and playing Blackjack) together, I am really pleased.

The iPhone Blackjack plays smooth and seamless. Everything you need is just a touch away, from payout odds to taking insurance to splitting your hand. You can play whenever or wherever you feel like it. With the touch screen, you can play as fast as you are able. There's no waiting for the game to keep up with you.

I am sure after a few hours I will try something news. But for right now, don't disturb me, I'm on a roll.

Mission Leprechaun

In essence, Mission Leprechaun is an Irish version of the classic game Packman. The strategy is the same. You control the protagonist, in this case a leprechaun, and you try and collect treasure and free other captive leprechauns. Along the way, you must avoid snakes and goblins and bombs and all sorts of other dangers. If they touch you, you are done.

However, you should keep in mind that there are also scattered throughout the maze, items that will give you special powers. One makes it possible for you to attack and kill the hazards. Another freezes them. If you can quickly freeze them and then touch the reversal button, you can score lots of points by eating up all the frozen hazards. When you hear the voice warning that your special powers are about to end, get out of the area fast. As soon as they end, the hazards resume their menacing attacks.

Obviously, the key is to work the maze over section by section. Move about the corners until the hazards starts to chase you. When they come after you, move on to a different section of the maze. Never stay in one place to long. you must keep moving.

What is great is that this game can be downloaded to your phone or PDA. So you can now play it anywhere you want at any time. While you are waiting for a meeting to start, try it out. Turn off the sound and everyone will assume you are working! Just don't smile too much. If it looks like you are having a good time, everyone will know that you are playing a mobile game.

I don't know why the Leprechaun theme is so popular. But the little guys grow on you. Much more fun than a "packman" (in my humble opinion.)