{"id":8656,"date":"2012-11-03T21:17:29","date_gmt":"2012-11-03T14:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/?p=8656"},"modified":"2012-12-07T05:29:06","modified_gmt":"2012-12-06T22:29:06","slug":"can-you-really-play-pool-on-your-ipad-with-cues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnectedmom.com\/blog\/can-you-really-play-pool-on-your-ipad-with-cues\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Really Play Pool on Your iPad…with Cues???"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Lori Cunningham (@wellconnectdmom)\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Editors Note: \u00a0<\/strong>Congratulations to\u00a0Sharon from\u00a0Wisconsin\u00a0for winning her own\u00a0iPieces\u00a0Pool Set\u00a0<\/span><\/a>for her iPad! \u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/address>\n
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I remember when the iPad first came out, I couldn’t get over being able to play one of my favorite games, Air Hockey, on the iPad using just my fingers. \u00a0How cool is that? \u00a0My family played iPad Air Hockey for a while until other new apps distracted us away.<\/p>\n

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I recently tried out two new Pressman<\/a>\u00a0games, called iPieces Air Hockey and iPieces Pool, that changes the way you play with your iPad. \u00a0Similar to playing Air Hockey in the arcade, each player uses an actual Air Hockey paddle, only…it’s miniaturized. \u00a0It miniaturized and it’s so cute! \u00a0Instead of wrapping your hand around it, you wrap two fingers around the mini paddle to maneuver the puck across your iPad screen. \u00a0It unites the physical world with the virtual world and my kids absolutely love it!<\/p>\n

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iPieces Pool<\/span><\/h2>\n

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iPieces Pool is a blast to play, it’s a minute fraction of the cost of a real pool table…and it takes less room in your house! \u00a0I remember learning to play pool when I was probably in 5th or 6th grade. \u00a0I learned it while on vacation at a lodge where it was free to play. \u00a0It was a lot of fun but the problem was that once we went home, I couldn’t play anymore \u00a0and I had very few opportunities to play.<\/p>\n

Now you can own your own pool table without moving out your dining room table to\u00a0accommodate\u00a0it. \u00a0Yes, we know friends who have done this. \u00a0OK, sure, your husband is never going to settle for an iPad game over the real thing. \u00a0However, now you can teach your children the game of pool in the comfort of your own home. \u00a0In fact, your child will probably teach his\/her friends how to play, because it’s so addictive.<\/p>\n

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The iPieces Pool game plays exactly the same as its physical counterpart, only the cue sticks are a little different and you can’t sit on the table to make a more precise shot. \u00a0And although there is some cue chalk on the table, you don’t get the fun of seeing blue smoke come off your cue as you twist it into the chalk.<\/p>\n

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I was impressed at how well the cues work and I love hearing the clicking and clashing of the balls when they hit\u00a0each other\u00a0 \u00a0It’s like you’re playing a real game of pool. \u00a0My kids picked up the game right away. \u00a0My 9 year old daughter taught my 6 year old son. \u00a0They only rule they didn’t know about was saving the black ball to bank in at the END of the game.<\/p>\n

Air Hockey<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Pressman iPieces Air Hockey game is a lot of fun as well. \u00a0Similar to the iPieces Pool game, you hear real world sounds as you thrash the puck around. \u00a0My kids needed no instruction in playing the iPieces Air Hockey game. I heard roars of laughter and loud whines as one would encroach upon the line on the other’s side to score a goal.<\/p>\n

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Each Pressman iPieces game set comes with a hard plastic case to\u00a0safely\u00a0secure your iPieces when not in use. \u00a0You can imagine the iPieces game is not as fun if the kids lose one of the paddles. \u00a0The case is handy because it is large enough that you can find it\u00a0among\u00a0your electronics area or game board area.<\/p>\n

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As you can see from the picture, the game simulates as if you are playing on ice rather than air. \u00a0It handles pretty well for the most part, although sometimes I don’t get enough contact with the screen to block an incoming shot. \u00a0I like the variety Pressman puts into Air Hockey by adding an\u00a0occasional\u00a0hole in the ice. \u00a0Knock a puck into the hole and the game subtracts one point from your score. \u00a0You never know where it’s going to pop up on you in the ice.<\/p>\n

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You can see that the Air Hockey handle is small yet conforms well to your fingers to keep them in place during the game. \u00a0If you accidentally “throw” your handle towards your opponent, it won’t hurt them, like it does in the real game. \u00a0I recall getting a very bloody finger as a child when I wasn’t paying attention and my fingers (not holding the paddle) were on the table. \u00a0The puck it them hard and it hurt. \u00a0There will definitely be a lot less physical assaults with Pressman iPieces Air Hockey!<\/p>\n

Pressman iPieces Pool and iPieces Air Hockey retail for $9.99 and can be found online at Amazon.com<\/a>, anywhere from $5.98 to $12.99\u00a0and Toys R Us<\/a>, each prices at $9.99. \u00a0You can also buy iPieces in stores at\u00a0\u00a0Toys\u201cR\u201dUs, Barnes & Noble, K-mart, Radio Shack, Learning Express, and BJ\u2019s Wholesale Club stores nationwide.<\/p>\n

A Mom’s Perspective<\/span><\/h2>\n

I am a big fan of innovative ways to unite the physical world with the virtual world of apps. \u00a0It adds an extra dimension to the game as well as better incorporates the social aspects of playing together on the “same page,” so to speak. \u00a0Often times apps tend to be more\u00a0independent minded. \u00a0Using the physical Air Hockey iPieces handles and the physical Pool cues makes it more inclusive, allowing others in a room to have a pretty good idea what the two competitors on the iPad are playing.<\/p>\n

Pressman makes a number of other iPieces games that you will be able to identify with:<\/p>\n

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I have not played the Snakes & Ladders, Fishing Game, and Game of Goose, but all of them would certainly be a hit with your kids if they are similar to the iPieces Air Hockey and Pool games. \u00a0The Pressman iPieces games would fit perfectly into a stocking this Christmas.<\/p>\n

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WIN IT! \u00a0CONTEST ENDED<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Want a Pressman iPieces game of your own? \u00a0Win one on WellConnectedMom.com! \u00a0We are giving away one Pressman iPieces game – choose your favorite one! \u00a0Sign up below and increase your chances of winning by following the prompts below. \u00a0The contest will be open until November 22nd. \u00a0The contest is only available for residents of the United States.<\/p>\n

Good luck, everyone!
\na Rafflecopter giveaway<\/a>
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