Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone
MotionX Dice lets you roll dem bones on your iPhone
The folks at Fullpower kindly sent us a note about their new iPhone app, MotionX Dice, and after giving it a try, I can say it works as promised -- if you want a good-looking and fun way to roll dice on your iPhone, this is it. There are several types of well-rendered 3D dice and tables to choose from. The actual "rolling" is done by shaking the iPhone, which is a good time. The app will eventually be raised in price, but right now it can be found for free on the App Store. Frankly, this kind of pricing change smacks of top apps list scamming to us, but we'll give Fullpower the benefit of the doubt, as they say it's a promotion.
However, we do have a bone to pick with Fullpower about this app. As fun as Yahtzee is (though there is one set of Poker dice, so you can play that, too), most of the dice that TUAW nerds -- or former TUAW nerds -- roll are of the d8, d10, and d20 variety. Any chance we can get a few of those added into the dice-rolling mix? d6s are all right for some damage types, but we can't roll a Nat 20 or break out the d4 Magic Missile with the program as it is.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
J. Wardell said 9:08AM on 8-14-2008
Roll the Dice will let you roll gaming dice like you're asking. It doesn't have the animation of MotionX, but it will let you roll d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20 and d100 in multiple combinations and automatically tally the results for you. It's available in the App Store at http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=287249046&mt=8
Of course, I should admit that I'm the developer.
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Jeshii said 9:51AM on 8-14-2008
I'm so glad you made the D&D reference... That's what I was thinking about since the very beginning of the article.
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Galley said 8:34AM on 8-14-2008
Isn't this meant to be a free demo to their Poker game?
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jonathan ober said 8:37AM on 8-14-2008
I play a dice game that uses 6 dice...add this and I will love them forever!
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DistortedLoop said 8:46AM on 8-14-2008
MotionX Poker is one of the best time killers I've found for the iPhone. Everyone I show it to goes eyes-wide when they see it for the first time and have a blast rolling the dice and drooling over the life-like graphics.
I'll cut them some slack on the free-for-now but we'll raise the price later; they've proven themselves with a killer app already.
That said, the whole iTunes rating, ranking and review system is TOTALLY broken and meaningless; it's not fair to anyone, customers or developers.
Where's the line on manipulating that stuff. One developer of an app I have updated the product and then sent everyone an email saying "we've fixed your bugs and added your suggestions, if you like the changes please go to the iTunes store and change your review." A legitimate request, but I'm sure many would accuse them of playing games with the rankings.
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Laxy said 8:57AM on 8-14-2008
The animation and ability to shake the iphone/touch before rolling the dice AND being free makes this a winner in my book! Warhammer and other table-top games often involve a LOT of D6s so this is awesome for me :D
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BulkHedd said 9:47AM on 8-14-2008
MotionX Poker was the first App I bought for my iPhone and I love it.
Those of you who have it may not have noticed something. If you rotate the iPhone sideways the screen doesn't seem to do anything but notice the shadows of the dice. They move as you turn the phone.
These little details and the impressive graphics are what sold me. Plus it's just so darned fun to play.
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Louie said 2:05PM on 8-14-2008
I agree with BulkHedd!
You can get the app here:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=284265799&mt=8
And you can digg it here:
http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_Dice_Game_Simulates_Real_Dice_Rolling_Using_Sensors
Eridanis said 10:12AM on 8-14-2008
Strangely, the developer's site has a picture of polyhedral dice, so I downloaded this app thinking I could select what type of dice I want. Perhaps in the paid version? This free version is very nice looking, so this is not a complaint. But we iPod Touch users going to GenCon this weekend could definitely have used it! :)
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Bob S. said 10:43AM on 8-14-2008
Keep in mind that "algorithm" and "randomness" are mutually exclusive. The only way to get random rolls of the dice are to have dice in your hand and roll them.
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Victor Agreda Jr said 11:12AM on 8-14-2008
My kids love this app almost as much as DizzyBee.
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Nafai said 10:53AM on 8-14-2008
"are of the d8, d10, and d20 variety. Any chance we can get a few of those added into the dice-rolling mix?"
A no muss, no fuss polyhedral die roller.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=286481729&mt=8
I wrote it because the other iPhone die rollers were really annoying to use in a game. Animations, sounds, etc. are all gimmicky when you're a GM looking for a utility. So I made one with a clean interface to easily set and roll the dice without interruption. Might not be for everyone as I know some like to shake their iPhones and stuff, but for me, the digital equivalent should be a useful tool, not a replica of the analog component. If I want to pick out, shake, and see and hear the dice, I'll just roll real dice. :P
When I need to make a secret roll away from the players? Or have a bunch of NPCs to roll stats for? DieRoller.
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TEG said 11:20AM on 8-14-2008
This will make it so much easier to play Yatzee on the road. I may even pull it out to play Backgammon and Monopoly.
TEG
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totoro said 11:43AM on 8-14-2008
The sounds, animation, and feel of this App are simply amazing.
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Noah Ramon said 7:37PM on 8-16-2008
No d20, d10, et cetera?
So... It's one of those damn GURPS proselytizers, then.
(I kid because I love. GURPS is the System of Choice for both the Spouse and I...)
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