People used to playing online Hearts and Spades on their computers might be interested to know that competitive card games are making headway on the Xbox Live Arcade. Two recent releases, Uno and Texas Hold 'Em Poker, show the promise of the system for online card games, despite some flaws in presentation and game design.

Uno is based on the popular Mattel card game of the same name. Players take turns playing cards from their hand having the same number or color of the previously played card. Special cards can make opponents skip a turn or draw cards, reverse the turn order, or change the color to one of the player's choosing. The first player to call Uno and then play their last card wins the game.

The Xbox version of the game is an excellent translation of the real life experience. Cards are displayed beautifully in bright colors, and make a satisfying flipping sound when they're played. An easy-to-use interface makes it exceptionally clear which button does what and which card is currently under consideration, though it can be a bit tough to tell whose turn it is at times. Online play is handled seamlessly, with an excellent matchmaking function that lets players easily find games suited to their skill level or preferred game options.

While the presentation is excellent, the game itself is actually not that interesting. There is little to no strategy involved in playing Uno -- on the contrary, there is often only one card you are able to play when your turn comes along. Losing a game you were powerless to win quickly gets frustrating, while winning a game based simply on the luck of the draw is ultimately unsatisfying. This is almost literally a game you can actively play while asleep (as long as the controller rumble wakes you up for your turn.)

Despite the simplicity, a bevy of game and rules customization options - such as elimination mode and a themed 35th anniversary deck -- keep things interesting for a while. Still, these options can't save Uno from being a well-made but altogether not that interesting gaming experience.

Other end of the difficulty spectrum is Texas Hold 'Em Poker from TikGames. Based on the popular gambling game of strategy, odds and bluffing, the major difference between the Xbox Live version and real poker is that you're betting with virtual money instead of real money. This becomes a problem in quick pick up games, where players can simply continually buy in for more money when they go broke. With no functional spending limit, there's little to no incentive for players to guard their money and play realistically, leading to some very skewed matches.

Tournament play is a bit more interesting, since players have to actually earn money by placing in the top three positions to move on to higher stakes tournaments. The Xbox Live system remembers your record and your bankroll, and if you go broke, you have to claw your way back up through the ignominy of the free tournaments. This persistent bankroll encourages players to bet strategically and play almost as if real money was on the line.

Outside this innovative feature, though, there isn't much to recommend this version of Texas Hold 'Em to the serious player. The game's matchmaking system for finding opponents is hard to navigate and rather buggy, often requiring numerous attempts to connect to a working game. When you finally do find a game, the bare-bones graphics and sound and unintuitive betting controls make actually playing a pain. There's a one-player mode for those who don't feel like fighting with the trials of the online game, but computerized opponents are quite predictable and easy to beat if you play conservatively.

For those interested in socializing more than playing, both games offer the ability to chat with other players with a headset, and will allow video chat using the soon-to-be-released Xbox Live Camera. But for those interested in actually playing cards, the two latest offerings on Xbox Live Arcade leave a lot to be desired.