Tablet Pool

Tablet Pool is one of the coolest games for the Tablet PC. It is a photo-realistic version of the classic table game, as shown in Figure 14.16. With Tablet Pool, you can practice your angles even in confined places.

Figure 14.16. Tablet Pool is a photo-realistic game where you can practice making your shots.

Placing the Cue Ball

To place the cue ball for the break, move the hand icon over the ball. The hand will then open up. Tap and hold over the cue ball and move it where you want, lifting the pen when the cue ball is in place.

Using the Cue to Strike the Ball

To aim the cue stick, move your pen around the cue ball until the cue stick is behind the ball. Tap and hold to ready the cue stick for the strike, and then move your pen across the cue ball at the speed you want to strike it. Make sure your hand moves as straight as possible to keep your aim true.

Tablet Pool Options

You can customize your game play by adding your own signature to the player list. To do so, tap on the rack icon in the upper-left corner of the screen and choose New. You'll see a screen like the one shown in Figure 14.17, which lets you choose the style of game (8-Ball, 9-Ball, or Casual Pool) and the players who will play. Click the Create New player button to add your signature in the Player 1 (local) list box.

Figure 14.17. This screen lets you change the game type and the players. You can also add your signature to the roster.

By tapping on the cue chalk icon at the top of the screen (see Figure 14.18), you can also set other options:

Figure 14.18. The options available in the Chalk menu.

• Aim Line When the Aim Line setting is enabled, the game displays the direction of the cue stick through the cue ball to the closest ball, as shown in Figure 14.19. You can use it to get a better aim since you can't sight down your cue stick.

  Figure 14.19. Using the Aim Line option helps you fine-tune your aim.

  

• Kitchen When the Kitchen setting is enabled, the kitchen line that is, the line across the table at the second marker, behind which you must put the cue ball after a scratch is visible onscreen.

• Mute Click the Mute button to turn off all sound.

• Boss Button Enable the Boss Button setting to add a button to the right of the red-striped ball at the top of the screen (the one that has a question mark on it instead of a number). Click the Boss button at any time to shut off the game immediately.

Finally, you can adjust English and cue tilt for advanced shots. Do this by using the tools in the upper-right corner of the screen, as shown in Figure 14.20.

Figure 14.20. Use the Cue Tilt tool to adjust tilt. Adjust the placement of the blue dot on the cue ball to add spin, or English.

If you're a pool buff, this can make a long trip a bit shorter. Although it won't replace a real table, it can certainly make break time fun!