‘Mach Dice’ Simulates N-Sided Dice
posted August 22nd, 2008 12:46 PM EDT by arn in $0.99While we’re fans of MotionX’s free Dice app [App Store] for the iPhone, one common request has been the need for non traditional dice for use in offline gaming (D&D, for example).
Developer Mach Kobayashi has stepped up to fill this need with his $0.99 dice simulator called Mach Dice [AppStore]. Mach Dice also provides a realistic dice simulator with some distinct advantages. Specifically, you can choose how many dice you want to roll and how many sides (up to 100) each die should have. Kobayashi’s app also seems to have a higher accelerometer sensitivity and a more appropriate response to directional shaking than MotionX.
The video shows it best:
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I have no need for a dice app, but that is awesome! Well done!
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Again I sadly have no need for the app (though I might buy it for the heck of it) but I love the 3d effect on the dice at the end of the video. Thats a lovely touch, that while has no tangible benefit just shows love for the app.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Good if you’re playing a board game and lose the dice.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
BRILLIANT. i’m buying this in part because he’s made nearly the perfect dice roller app.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
As a dice app, it’s fine. The real killer bit here is the 3d effect. That’s unique and extremely impressive.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
really nice. really, really nice. i was hoping that he’d taken it to a crazy level and included non-standard die shapes. like a d2 or a d100, but for shapes it doesn’t have included (that really aren’t going to come up much at all) it cleverly uses a d20 with ?s on all the faces and does the “rolling” behind the scenes. hopefully enough people will plop down 99ยข that the developer will be rewarded for this very well thought-out app. 3rd app i’ve paid money for.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Now that I’m sucked back into the text games from Frotz, I’m ready for D&D! I’ll have my dice in hand.
Does it allow for different colored dice? Remember when you had to color the numbers with crayons?
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I downloaded it. It’s nice, though I don’t think it’s as polished as it could be. Considering the beauty of dice in other programs (Motion X), I’d like to see better graphics brought into this program. The shaking is extra responsive which breaks from reality though it makes it easier on your wrist. The 3d effect is nice, but I think it could be improved (the angles feel a little off). I got it less for its usefulness and more for cool factor. I hope the author will update it with improvements!
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
@LorenK The developer has posted comments about what’s coming in this discussion thread. I’ll just quote the relevant part here:
“* Definitely plan to have more dice colors and backgrounds! Hopefully, I can make use of the camera for some of that.”
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
This is what I have been waiting for. I’m going to buy it tonight. I hope in the future you can pick out different clored die and put them into a dice bag. I alway like an orange 20 sider and a one purple and one green 10 sider.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
@danny, Or you could get a felt pouch for your iPhone. I can see it now. Everyone busts out their bags and dumps out their dice. You pull out your felt case and slide out your iPhone. Plus you can play with your koi pond.
@arn, no points unless I get to color the numbers.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
SWEET!!! Very nicely done!
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:00 am
Sold! Absolutely amazing!
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Sweet! This is going to be perfect for Dragoncon next weekend. I’d been looking into buying new dice for it, but now I’ll have my dice in my pocket along with my iTouch. Excellent.