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Missing Card trick will leave some mystified

Another day, another cool trick makes it to the iPhone/iPod touch. Today it's the Missing Card [App Store Link] for US $0.99.

The effect is that a small group of picture cards are displayed on the iPhone. You are asked to think of one, but not indicate which one you have chosen, and no tapping on the card on the iPhone screen so people don't think that is the secret. There is some nice animation as the cards flip over and one is removed. All the cards are face down. You are asked to reveal your card, and all the cards are turned over but one. Your card is no longer in the group.

It's a nice trick, and an old one. It's generally knows as the Princess Card trick, and after years of being a mainstay for magicians it made it to the web and was widely seen in a number of variations.

This is a nice version of the effect, and the animation is smooth and attractive. My only criticisms are that the magician gets no credit for the trick. it appears that the phone is doing all the heavy lifting. Also, the card left over, the face down one, can't be revealed. I think there are some ways to deal with that if the developer takes the trouble to work it out.

For people who have not seen the trick, it will be a stunner. It's a good little diversion to try in a bar or a party. If you think the secret is too widespread, this is not the trick for you. If the description seems fresh, give it a try on your friends or co-workers.

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iPhone App Store iPod touch

Another day, another cool trick makes it to the iPhone/iPod touch. Today it's the Missing Card [App Store Link] for US $0.99.The effect is...
 

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henrik

Seems that there are now two of those tricks in the store. Link:
http://bit.ly/OU942

March 09 2009 at 2:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alansky

The card you pick is not there because ALL THE CARDS HAVE CHANGED. If you're interested in a trick that is a little harder to figure out, try MindReader.

March 08 2009 at 7:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to alansky's comment
Steve Marks

Exactly my point. All the cards changed. Now if the person tells you the card they chose and then you "shook" the iphone in such a way that let the app know... maybe then it could work? But even then, that's a whole different trick altogether.

March 08 2009 at 8:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gshearman

There's always someone who wants to spoil it for everybody else (BTW, I already knew this but wasn't going to post it for those who didn't).

March 09 2009 at 2:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
glad

I had this its called impossible on ten iphone and it's a great trick I never got it until a friend told me and that spoilt it for me, never bothered with it again.. However it did create some fun with friends when I got them to have a go.

March 08 2009 at 7:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Murphy Mac

A friend of mine had two of our co-workers (at Guinness in Dublin) sitting at a computer - when I walked in he had a big smile and said, "I've got them picking two cards each and they still don't get it."

That was 1998. There was a web site that did this trick well with a bouncing blue bunny interlude to distract from the card replacement. It was always a good trick.



March 08 2009 at 6:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephen.4

http://www.card-trick.com/missing_card.htm

March 08 2009 at 4:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steve Marks

How can the developer "work it out"?? The face down card could "be" any of the original cards.

March 08 2009 at 3:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Steve Marks's comment
Adam G

That would be telling now wouldn't it.

March 08 2009 at 3:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Taylor. Yes, Taylor.

By "work it out", they mean that the developer could make it look more like the person playing the trick is doing some part of it. They could maybe give the person something to do on screen afterwards so it looks like they removed the card. Maybe a good shake to flip them over, then drag any card down to the corner, shake it again, and magically the card is missing.
-Taylor

March 09 2009 at 5:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cormier6083

Man, do I remember falling for that one. I was freaking out!

Good times indeed.

March 08 2009 at 3:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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