Intorine's Allure Checkers 2.0

The game of checkers has been around, depending on who you talk too, for hundreds if not thousands of years.  The earliest evidence of checkers dates back to 3,000 B.C. while the modern game is attributed to the French (1100 A.D.).  Regardless of its age, the game itself is a timeless classic that is fun and easy to learn at any age.

Here in 2005, with checkers having been on computer screens since the early 1950's, technology allows for the game to be played on Windows Mobile devices giving the game a whole new level of portability and spontaneous play.  Intorine has made several versions of checkers and their latest version, Allure Checkers 2.0, is exceptional.  The game is small in footprint and responsive, allowing users to quickly play games at five different difficultly levels and four different sets of rules.  These options make a timeless classic all-the-better.

Allure Checkers is installed via ActiveSync and occupies just over 1MB of space on the Windows Mobile device.  The game can be installed in either the units Main Memory or can be installed on a Storage Card.  Once it is installed and started, the game prompts users for information to start a new game (Figure 1). Selecting the Skill level will change the difficulty of the game played against the game itself.  There are five different skill levels available ranging from Novice to Expert.  Users will also note that there is an option to select one of the five game types included in the application.  The game types are variations of checkers that are played in different regions of the world.  This option defines the rules of the game to be played.  If users are unsure of how a version of the game is played, tapping the Question Mark button will present the rules of the game selected (Figure 2).  The game can be played against the Windows Mobile device or against another human player as well.  Once all of the choices for the new game are made, tapping OK will present the playing field (Figure 3).  Moving a piece on the playing field is done by tapping and holding that piece on the display.  Legal moves for that piece are shown by the highlighting of the squares it can move too in white (Figure 4).  If users are playing against their Windows Mobile device, the Pocket PC will automatically generate the devices move and requires no action on the part of the human player.

The ability to enable show legal moves and hints can be enabled or disabled by tapping the Appearance>Hint menu.  This menu allows users to select if they want to have a visual indicator of legal moves as well as text hints at the bottom of the display during game play (Figure 5).

The playing field itself is by default is skinned in a classic wood grain with red and blue pieces (Figure 6).  This skin can be changed by tapping the Appearance>Skin menu.  By default, three skins are included with Allure Checkers:  Wood, Chamomile (Figure 7) and Dark Forces (Figure 8).  Likewise, the pieces can be changed with the playing field or independently.   

Figure 8:  Dark Forces Skin

While it is difficult for any developer to improve on a classic game, Intorine has done an excellent job in making Allure Checkers fun, easy and addictive to play. During installation and game play there were no issues encountered and the responsiveness of the game makes playing multiple games in a small amount of time easy to do.  

The game is backed by excellent customer support (provided via a web based form) although the FAQs for the game on the site are somewhat limited.  Test submissions to the Intorine support were answered in less than 24 hours and were accurate and informative. 

Intorine offers Allure Checkers 2.0 for $9.95 (US) and it can be purchased directly from their website - http://www.my-pocket-games.com/checkers/.  A demonstration version of the game is also available from their site.

Clinton Fitch, MVP-Mobile Devices
Clinton Fitch (Dot) Com!