NY1 highlights the coolest and newest apps for your cell phone or mobile device in the twice-weekly segment “App Wrap.” NY1’s Adam Balkin filed the following report.

Archaeologists think that since as early as 3000 BC, board games have been a constant, reliable, analog, low-tech form of entertainment, but even after all those years of proven success, they look to be next up for a change via the iPad.

Game Changer

“Game Changer,” for one, is a system that can ease old-schoolers into the digital age. You plug the iPad into a dock and then it becomes the center of the game, but the entire contest isn't played just on the screen.

“We have some of the action on the iPad, but especially for the young kids, we have action off the iPad on the sides in an interactive way so the pieces are registered on the sides, and with the game skins we can change it into different game boards,” says Walter Reeskamp of Identity Games.

The games are loaded up as apps. Swap out the boards for the appropriate app, and each time a piece is moved or a token is earned on the sides, that all registers on the iPad. The Game Changer set, which comes with six games, is available now for the iPad for $60.

Duo Plink

Plop the Plink down on its outline on the iPad and then fire up one of several Plink-enabled trivia-type games. Then up to four players choose answers to questions by
placing their color stone over whichever side lines up with their answer. The Plink then rotates and swallows up whichever stones are on the correct answer. The object of all the games is to be the first to lose all your stones.

“On the bottom of the Duo Plink there's a little sensor which, when the iPad makes a selection, that'll send a visual blink and the Duo Plink recognizes that and tells it to turn left or right,” says Kyle Kappmeier of Discovery Bay Games.

The Duo Plink, which is also only for iPads at the moment, is also out now for around $30s. Right now there are five games at the app store, and they range from free to $1.99.