The small colored squares stare at you from the table, their numbers seem to mock you as you scrutinize your options. The last spin was a 7, does that have any bearing on the outcome of the next spin? Probably not. You study the board, scattering your chips across the numbers. “No more bets!” The wheel begins to spin. With an inverted toss, the ball enters hopping across the indented numbers in a haze of motion and energy. At last, after what seems a blurred eternity, the ball settles into a number as the wheel coasts to stop. “36 Red,” the croupier calls. You glance at your bets. 17-Black-First Column-Middle of the Board Street. Leaving your losings on the table, you shrug your shoulders and begin studying the board. The last spin was a 36, you think. Does that having any bearing on the outcome of the next spin? Probably not, you decide as you scatter your chips across the board. Such is the challenging game of luck, chance, and skill which Real Dice has adeptly brought to your handheld device with Real Dice Roulette.

[Note: Before reading on, you should read my review of Real Dice World Launcher, which will give you an overview of the environment in which this game exists.]

Installation and Registration: There are two ways to download the game. First, if you have subscribed to the full Real Dice Service, then you can download it over the air using the Real Dice Launcher. Additionally, you can download the desktop installer and install it via ActiveSync. If you are not a Real Dice member yet, there is a limited trial which you can use to test out the game.

Roulette Overview: Roulette is a French game of chance (literally meaning “small wheel”) in which a ball is dropped into a spinning wheel divided into numbered sections. You bet on where you think the ball will land.

To begin a hand or round, all players place their bets on the mat beside the wheel. You can bet on virtually any property of the number on which the ball will land. The highest odds are a bet on an individual number. The wheel (and consequently the mat) consists of the numbers 1-36, colored alternating red and black. The numbers on the mat are drawn in three columns of twelve. Additionally, European Roulette includes a green number 0. American Roulette adds a 38th space for a green 00. Real Dice follows the European layout with no 00.

In addition to betting on individual numbers (a straight), you can bet on:

• a split — betting on two adjacent numbers by placing the chips on the edge between the numbers
• a street — betting on a horizontal row of three numbers by placing the chips on the end of the row
• a corner is a bet on four adjacent numbers. Make this bet by placing the chips on the shared corner between the four numbers.
• a six-line is a bet on two adjacent streets by placing the chips on the corresponding intersection
• the color (black or red)
• even/odd
• first half (1-18) or second half (19-36)
• groups of 12 (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36)
• columns of 12 numbers

Once all bets have been placed on the board (you can bet on any combination you want with as much money as you desire), then the wheel is spun. Once the wheel is spinning, the ball is dropped into it with a toss in the opposite direction to the wheel.

As the ball settles into a number, the croupier will mark that number on the board. Any bets which match the properties of that number will win and be paid. All others will lose their money to the bank.

Note that 0 and 00 are colored green, do not fall into any groups, columns or rows, and are neither even nor odd. As such, when a 0 or 00 is spun, only a bet on that number will win.

Single Player Game: In the single player game, it is just you against the wheel. You will start with $500. If you run out of money, the bank will be kind enough to give you more. And unlike a real casino, Vinnie the Hammer won’t come after you if you fail to repay it.

To begin, tap the bet button, and the chip denominations will appear (the bet button is the far left button with a dollar sign in a chip). You can bet in denominations of $5, $10, and $100. While it might have been nice to add a $25 button as well, I found this combination worked really well. Of all the card and casino games I have played from Real Dice, I think Roulette offered the best chip combinations for betting.

Once you have finished betting, tap the spin button to start the wheel spinning with the ball in it. Although I was generally impressed with the crisp graphics, I was not thrilled by the animation of the wheel. The animation consists of two parts: the wheel, which shows only the colored squares with the ball bouncing about; and a close-up of the numbers in the vicinity of the ball. I would much have preferred the game to shift the action to a close-up of the wheel itself with the ball bouncing across the numbers, like most casino-type games. Real Dice has already shown in their MultiPlayer Texas Hold’ Em Poker game that they can excel at the kind of 3-D graphics this would require, and I was disappointed to find they did not do so.

Internet Game: The Internet game is played almost exactly the same as the single player game. The only difference is that there may be multiple players betting on the same table. Additionally, there is a timer, which creates a betting window. All players must place their bets before the green line disappears completely. Once the betting window has closed, the wheel will be spun. Any money you win or lose will be credited (or debited) to your online profile.

Saving: Unlike some other games, saving is not an issue in Roulette. Each hand or round is essentially a whole new game. As such, when you are ready to quit, simply leave the table and your remaining chips will be stored in your profile. The next time you start to play, your chip total will remain exactly where you left it.

Conclusion: Sweat covers the palms of your hands as your grip the edge of the table. This is it. Your last chip. Everything on seven. The wheel spins, the number is called. Your knees buckle as you slip to the floor. How did you lose so much money so quickly? Luckily, in Real Dice World, the money is all speculative and the bank is more than happy to spot you a few hundred more dollars. The great thing about roulette is that it appears to be a game of complete chance. All you have to do is get lucky once in 36 spins, right? Hopefully you pick up enough on the side bets to win a little back. In reality, however, there is probably more strategy associated with the game of roulette than any other casino game. This is not slots where you pull a lever and close your eyes. In roulette, the right betting strategy can mean the difference between losing big, breaking even, and shooting the moon. So, the only solution I have for you is to wipe off your hands, grab the next stack of chips from the bank and keep going. Because, how else are you ever going to learn the intricacies of this complex game?

Vital Statistics:

Name: Real Dice Roulette

Platform: WM 2003 SE, WM6

Also Available: WM5, Palm OS, Blackberry, Symbian, PC, Windows Mobile Smartphone

Developer: Real Dice

Price: $6.95, or free with a subscription to Real Dice World

Available From: Real Dice

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Technorati Tags: real dice, roulette, gambling, casino, just another mobile monday

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