SpellStacker for the iPhone and iPod Touch

It's hard to change a classic game like Scrabble, and get better results. After all, it's a time-proven winner, and the rules are well known by aficionados. That didn't stop the creators of SpellStacker though. They give the game a vertical dimension, as well as a shifting game board, ensuring each round is just a bit different.

The game has the same familiar rack and tiles pieces, but you create words by stacking letters in addition to forming them on the board. There are some fun networked play options as well.

If you like Scrabble-style word games, you should enjoy SpellStacker for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Here's a look:

SpellStacker in the app store.

NHL GameCenter iPhone App

For the NHL fan, the 2010 NHL GameCenter brings together some impressive features. The app has one of the most robust collections of team and individual stats of any major sport, along with game reminders/alerts and scoring notifications. There's even a feature allowing you to track where and when goals were made from in-progress games. This isn't quite as satisfying as the similar aspects of other sports apps, just due to fast-paced nature of the game.

Unfortunately, there's one big feature missing: Video. While it might be understandable to not have live game video (at least not in a free version of the app) it would be great to have video clips to go along with all those scoring stats. Still, for the serious fan who wants all their hockey, news, stats, and schedules in one place, NHL GameCenter delivers. (Note: The NHL now offers a Premium version of the app for $19.99. While it adds video highlights, and live game audio, you cannot watch games live.)

Here's a look:

NHL GameCenter 2010 in the App Store.

Cubed Rally Racer Video Review

Cubed Rally Racer takes a different approach to racing on the iPhone: rather than the usual oval or road course racing, with several laps, Cubed presents several short point A to Point B (rally style) races, in which you're racing against the the clock, instead of other drivers.

For fun, 8-bit-style graphics and equally retro sound round out a fresh look and unique gameplay.

Here's a look:

Cubed Rally Racer in the App Store.

Gorillacam for the iPhone video review

The good folks at Joby have made a name for themselves with the Gorillapod series of flexible camera tripods. (They even have an iPhone model.) However their first foray into software is equally impressive, especially since it is a free app.

Gorillacam allows you to add some fun and useful pictures to the iPhone camera, most notably for me, a time-lapse feature, and a self-timer mode. Other features include a bubble level to eliminate crooked photos, anti-shake, 3-shot burst mode, and a grid to help you compose your picture. Older iPhone users can take advantage of the "press anywhere" feature, allowing you to take a picture by pressing anywhere on the screen. (You don't want to use this on 3GS and 4 iPhones, as touching the screen selects the focus area.)

There's really no reason not to have Gorillacam on your phone and ready, especially the next time you want to take a self-portrait.

Here's a look:

Gorillacam in the App Store.

Build-A-Lot for iOS Video Review

If you've been keeping a close eye on these reviews, (and why wouldn't you, really?) you already know one of my favorite recent games is Hotel Mogul, a real-estate empire game. Well, Build-A-Lot is a very similar (some might say clone) of that game. Of course this being the app store, where seemingly identical apps pop up frequently, I'm not going to wade into which app came first, all I know is, I experienced Hotel Mogul first, which has made Build-A-Lot feel second rate to me.

The game revolves around buying, selling, and building properties in order to reach a list of goals in each level. While the game itself is fine, the low def audio is annoying. I will give them kudos for incorporating a feature that you cannot cancel construction once it is more than one-third completed: this give the game a more realistic feel.

Here's a look:

Build-A-Lot in the App Store.