Canino poker capers on iPhone

The Seattle-based software developer Candywriter has launched a fun new game titled Dogs Playing Poker v.1.0 for iPod and iPhone.

The game is a competitive but amusing take on mobile poker designed with Texas Hold’Em novices and advanced players alike in mind…as well as dog lovers!

Users select their dog breed of choice and then enter a five-round tournament that spans a junkyard, dog pound, train car, den, and Chinese restaurant kitchen. On the way, players face off against 18 unique hounds and, as if the app wasn’t entertaining enough already, a fox and a walrus have also been included in the zany line up.

Poker novices can quickly get up-to-speed on the ins and outs of Texas Hold ‘Em by completing the built-in tutorial. Experienced players can enjoy the diverse poker playing traits of the various characters and the hundreds of poker “tells” bundled into the game.

Dogs Playing Poker is loaded with extra touches that range from the ability to pet and poke the dogs to a feature called “Every Dog Has Its Day” that tracks the cleverest canine on any given day.

Key Features of the new app, which sells for just under $2, include:

* 20 unique opponents with vastly different playing styles
* 5 poker rounds
* Detailed Texas Hold ‘Em tutorial for beginners
* Detailed stat tracking and play analysis measuring luck, trickery, and overall performance
* New dog breeds unlocked with each tournament victory
* Global high scores
* Complete Twitter integration
* OpenFeint-enabled