Hello card players! As promised in the last post, we're here to share all the details about the upcoming mobile version of Jacks or Better Pro '98. 

We're planning first to release an Android app version and later an iOS app version of the game. Let me start by telling you what you won't find in this app:

• Absolutely no micro-transactions.
• No adverts, banners or watching videos to accrue bonus credits.
• Inane mini-games to win bonus credits.
• No subscriptions.

With that out of the way, let's talk about what the mobile version will have. I will share a gameplay video and some screenshots first and then go into detail about some of the mobile version exclusive features. So without further ado...

Basics

• Android App to be released on the Google Play Store
• Future iOS App to be released on the App Store
• Pricing: $2.49 USD | €2.49 EUR | £2.19 GBP
• Targeting mobile phone devices
• One-time payment
• Continuous feature updates and support for bugfixes

Ergonomics

Although the layout is fixed to Landscape mode only, the ergonomic button layout makes all that dealing, holding and drawing a comfortable experience. We call it the Two-Thumbs-Up-Deal-O-Matic interface! This means you should in most cases be able to access all the important play features with just two thumbs. The left thumb can operate the holding of cards 1, 2 and 3 whilst the right thumb should be able to cover cards 4 and 5, along with all the other game feature buttons: BET MAX, BET 1|2|3|4|5, DEAL/DRAW, OPTIONS and HELP. As you can see, DEAL/DRAW has its own little space and should lie exactly under the resting position of your right thumb.

Here you can see the potential positioning of thumbs, left thumb in cyan, right thumb in magenta.

So what does all this mean in practice? Well, barring some very unusual combinations of players with extremely long or short thumbs (and similarly long or short devices), it means that most players should be able to comfortably play Jacks or Better Pro '98 on the go without cramping up before you hit that big winning hand! Phew!

Haptics

On a real video poker machine you'll have physical buttons you can press. When playing the Windows/macOS version of Jacks or Better Pro '98, you're probably using a mouse. On mobile however you'll be most likely using those opposable thumbs of yours to do the work. Tapping a glass rectangle in yours hands (i.e., your mobile device) might not always be quite the same joyful, clickety-clackety-rich experience of using physical buttons or a mouse. That's where our Hapt-o-tronic Vibrational Feedback Engine comes in to play!

Key interactions will trigger your mobile device's vibration feature to give you feedback on your game. Go on, hold all the cards...then unhold each one again. Feel the vibes man! Ran out of credits? Prepare for a long and mournful vibration to let you know that this run has ended. 

If none of this appeals to you though and you prefer to just mash that glass rectangle without a care in the world, you can turn them off from the options menu. We won't judge!

Early-backer reward

As mentioned in the previous post, the first 50 buyers of Jacks or Better Pro '98 (Windows/OSX edition) here on itch.io will qualify for a free Google Play download code for the app once it's launched. 

That's right, a free copy of the mobile app for being an early supporter of Jacks or Better Pro '98.

You'll get the code sent to the email address you use when buying the game on itch.io (again, once the mobile app has been launched on the Play Store).

And at the time of writing, the Windows/macOS edition is currently on sale for $2.49 $1.99 so the apparent savings never stop coming!

That's it for now. I'll be back soon with another update hopefully announcing the availability of Jacks or Better Pro '98 on Google Play. Catch you in the next post.