03/23/2009 - iYacht v1.1 is now available for download on the App Store.

What's new in v1.1?

• Multiplayer support - Now you can play a game with up to 4 other friends!

02/25/2009 - iYacht v1.0 is now available for download on the App Store.

 What am I looking at?

 

 How do I use the Shake & Roll Die?

The Shake & Roll Die is used to "shake" and "roll" the Game Dice.

Touch and hold the Shake & Roll Die to "shake" the Game Dice. The Game Dice will continue to "shake" as long as the Shake & Roll Die is held.

Release the Shake & Roll Die to "roll" the Game Dice.

The Shake & Roll Die also indicates how many rolls are remaining for the current turn.

 

 What if I accidentally press the Shake & Roll Die?

As long as you realize it before you release it, it’s not a problem.

Just slide your finger outside of the Shake & Roll Die, wait for the blue highlight to go away and then release. The Game Dice will be restored to their original values and “Hold Me!”/”Roll Me!” positions.

Unfortunately, if you don’t realize it until after you release it, it’s too late - the Game Dice have already been “rolled”. The ability to undo a “roll” would facilitate cheating.

 

 Can I shake my iPhone instead?

Yes, iYacht's Shake & Roll Detection uses the iPhones built-in accelerometer to let you "shake" and "roll" the Game Dice by shaking and throwing your iPhone. "Hold on!" you say, "No way I'm throwing my iPhone to play your stupid game, I want my money back!" Relax, you don't have to actually throw it.

To "shake" the Game Dice, shake your iPhone. To "roll" the Game Dice, turn your iPhone to landscape orientation, wait for the Game Dice to slide off the screen, then snap your iPhone back to portrait orientation to "throw" the Game Dice back onto the screen.

Check out the demonstration video on YouTube.

 

 What if I accidentally start "shaking" the Game Dice?

Whether it’s due to your iPhone being bumped or you just started shaking your iPhone before you really wanted to, it’s not a problem.

Whenever iYacht’s Shake & Roll Detection starts “shaking” the Game Dice, it also puts a “Restore Dice” button on the Tool Bar.  Selecting this button will restore the Game Dice to their original values and “Hold Me!”/”Roll Me!” positions.

 

 Why don't the Game Dice “shake” right away?

To help reduce the frequency of accidentally “shaking” the Game Dice due to bumping your iPhone, iYacht’s Shake & Roll Detection assumes that the 1^st shake was just a bump and doesn’t start “shaking” the Game Dice until it detects repeated shakes of the iPhone.

 

 Do I have to “shake” the Game Dice before I “roll” them?

No...

If you want, you can skip “shaking” the Game Dice and just “roll” them as described in “Can I shake my iPhone instead?”.

 

 Why won't the Game Dice slide off the screen?

For iYacht’s Shake & Roll Detection to distinguish the movements intended to “roll” the Game Dice from movements intended to just “shake” the Game Dice, it needs to be a little bit picky when detecting the start of a “roll”.

If you turn the iPhone so that either side is pointing to the ground and hold it there for just about 1/3 of a second, the Game Dice will slide off the screen.  A slight tilt of the screen is allowed, but not too much.

 

 Where did the Game Dice go?

If you come back to a game of iYacht and there aren’t any Game Dice on the screen, that means that iYacht’s Shake & Roll Detection detected that the iPhone was in landscape orientation and slid the Game Dice off the screen to begin a “roll”.

If this happens, you can either “throw” the Game Dice back onto the screen, which will count as a “roll”. Or you can use the “Restore Dice” button on the Tool Bar to restore the Game Dice.

 

 Why are the Game Dice spinning?

This is how iYacht’s Shake & Roll Detection lets you know that it previously detected a shake, but currently is not. It’s waiting for you to either continue “shaking” or “roll” the Game Dice.

Game Dice cannot be toggled during this time.

 

 Can I turn off Shake & Roll Detection?

Yes…

Just select Options from the iYacht Menu page to access the iYacht Options page. Here you can turn Shake & Roll Detection On or Off.

The default setting is On.

 

 Do you have any tips for Shake & Roll Detection?

While "shaking" the Game Dice, keep in mind that iYacht's Shake & Roll Detection looks for the iPhone to be in landscape orientation to detect the start of a "roll". Be careful not to put it in that position until you're ready to "roll" the Game Dice.

"Rolling" the Game Dice is best accomplished by holding the iPhone in the palm of your hand. Turn the iPhone onto it's side with the screen facing you, watch the Game Dice slide off the screen and then snap the iPhone to a screen up position, "throwing" the top edge of the iPhone up and/or away from you. Similar to a motion you might use to throw real dice.

 

 Why Shake AND Roll?

This is a key feature that separates iYacht from the others and here's why...

When playing with real dice, most people shake them and then roll them. Some people give them 1 or 2 shakes, others shake them forever, while others just go ahead and roll them. The point is, everyone is unique. iYacht leverages this to increase randomness by giving you the ability to control how long you "shake" the Game Dice.

It is also the primary reason you have the option to change your mind even after you've started "shaking" the Game Dice.

 

 How do I use the Game Dice?

After "rolling" the Game Dice, you may touch them to toggle them between "Hold Me!" and "Roll Me!".

Game Dice labeled "Roll Me!" will be included in the next "Shake & Roll", while Game Dice labeled "Hold Me!" will not.

 

 What if I selected the wrong Game Dice to hold?

As long as you realize it before you “roll” them, it’s not a problem.

Just restore the Game Dice, as explained on either “What if I accidentally press the Shake & Roll Die?” or “What if I accidentally start "shaking" the Game Dice?”, and adjust your selections.

 

 How do I use the Smart Scoresheet?

The Smart Scoresheet continuously updates each of its scoring categories to show you the points that can be earned with the current Game Dice.

After "rolling" the Game Dice, you may touch a scoring category to select it. Once selected, it will change from green to white. It will also be highlighted to indicate that it's not  locked in yet, which means that you may change your mind. It will not be locked in until after your next "roll".

 

 What if I select the wrong scoring category?

As long as you realize it before you “roll” the Game Dice, it’s not a problem.

Just adjust your selection by selecting another scoring category. If you started “shaking” the Game Dice, just restore them, as explained on either “What if I accidentally press the Shake & Roll Die?” or “What if I accidentally start "shaking" the Game Dice?”, and adjust your selection.

 

 What if I decide I want to use the rolls I had left?

As long as you realize it before you “roll” the Game Dice, it’s not a problem.

Whenever you end a turn early by selecting a scoring category after your first or second roll, iYacht  puts a “Cancel” button on the Tool Bar.  Selecting this button will restore the Game Dice to their original values and let you continue the turn.

 

 Why do I have to select the last score?

You don’t…

Just select Options from the iYacht Menu page to access the iYacht Options page. Here you can turn Auto-Select Last Score On or Off.

The default setting is Off.

 

 What is Bonus Tracking?

You will earn a bonus of 35 points if you score 63 or more points on the left side of the Smart Scoresheet.  63 points is the total earned for scoring 3 Aces for Aces, 3 Twos for Twos, 3 Threes for Threes, etc.

Each scoring category has a Bonus Tracker that shows what impact selecting it would have towards getting the 35 point bonus.

The Total also has a Bonus Tracker that shows how many points you would be over/under the target 63 points if you only scored 3 dice for each of the remaining scoring categories.

 

 Can I turn off Bonus Tracking?

Yes…

Just select Options from the iYacht Menu page to access the iYacht Options page. Here you can turn Bonus Tracking On or Off.

The default setting is On.

 

 What is the Select Player page?

The Select Player page let’s you select the players for the current game.

You can also add, edit and delete Players from this page.

Editing a Player’s name does not create a new Player. Any scores that were credited to the previous Player name will be credited to the new Player name.

 

 What if I don't have the right Player selected?

As long as you realize it before the last scoring category of a game is selected, it’s not a problem.

Just tap the player name on the Smart Scoresheet to access the Select Player page and select the correct Player. Whichever Player is selected when the last scoring category of a game is selected, is the one that will be credited with the final score.

To reduce possibility of accidental access, this feature is only available at the beginning of a turn.

 

 Can I delete a Player?

Yes…

Just be aware that deleting a Player also deletes any scores that were credited to that Player.

 

 Who is Guest?

Every installation of iYacht has a default Player named Guest. This player can neither be edited nor deleted.

It is intended to be used by casual iYacht Players on your iPhone whom you don’t feel the need to add a new Player for. Use of the Guest Player keeps their scores from being credited to a real Player.

 

 What is the difference between “New Game” and “Play Again”?

Selecting “New Game” tells iYacht to prompt you for the number of Players and their names.

Selecting “Play Again” tells iYacht to start a new game using the same Players as the previous game, allowing you to quickly get another game rolling.

 

 What is the Hall of Fame & Shame?

Here you can see who has the High scores AND who has the Low scores!

Not only does this let you identify who has bragging rights, but it also let’s you see who should probably avoid playing dice games for money!

 

 How do I use the Hall of Fame & Shame Wizard?

Select the “Wizard” button on the Hall of Fame & Shame page’s Tool Bar.

With the Wizard, you can select the “When?”, “What?” and “Who?” that you want presented on the page.

“When?” – All-Time or Daily

“What?” – High or Low scores

“Who?” – Everyone or one Player

 

 How does multiplayer mode work?

For the most part, it works just the same as single player mode, but with up to 5 Players.

After you select a scoring category to finish your turn, select the “Next Player” button on the Tool Bar. iYacht will tell you who to hand the iPhone to. When they’re ready, they select “Begin Player’s turn”. iYacht will suspend “Shake & Roll Detection” until “Begin Player’s turn” is selected. This prevents accidentally “shaking” the Game Dice during the hand-off.