Blackbird!

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

• Restore the size of the cards.
• Add support for iPhone X
• The multiplayer button has been removed.

I feel really bad that multiplayer has been disabled for so long and that so many people just saw a message saying it was "coming soon". I really did intend to fix it well before now. But my life has gotten more busy than it was before and I don't want to promise it's coming soon. It is still on my list of things to add. I'd love to have a single device multiplayer mode. I'd love to have it work over bluetooth so you can play with nearby friends when you don't have an internet connection. And more. Aside from multiplayer, there are still requests to support more variations of the rules that I'd love to implement and many other features. I do plan to add more features. Multiplayer will take some time and I can't promise when it's coming. Thanks for your support!

Add support for iPhone X

The multiplayer button has been removed.
I feel really bad that it has been disabled for so long and that so many people just saw a message saying it was "coming soon". I really did intend to fix it well before now. But my life has gotten more busy than it was before and I don't want to promise it's coming soon. It is still on my list of things to add. I'd love to have a single device multiplayer mode. I'd love to have it work over bluetooth so you can play with nearby friends when you don't have an internet connection. And more. Aside from multiplayer, there are still requests to support more variations of the rules that I'd love to implement and many other features. I do plan to add more features. Multiplayer will take some time and I can't promise when it's coming.

Thanks for all your support!

Minor AI improvements and bug fixes.

Since iOS 10, the multiplayer hasn't worked. I'm really sorry for this. I'm actively working on a solution for this!

• It will teach you how to change trump if you tap the wrong one accidentally
• Minor improvements to the computer's playing skills
• Fix for fetching themes
• Other minor bug fixes

• It will teach you how to change trump if you tap the wrong one accidentally
• Point cards show the points on the card
• Minor improvements to the computer's playing skills
• Other minor bug fixes

Fixed a bug causing players to play another round after they had already won.
New rule option: you can now specify a score bonus that is awarded to the team that captures the last trick.

Fixed a bug in multiplayer games requiring users to leave and re-enter the game to see progress. Also squashed some other minor bugs.

You can now purchase a Christmas theme for the game! More themes are coming including some free ones.

Minor bug fixes

Minor bug fixes

Fixed minor minor bugs.

In version 1.6.0:

Major changes to multiplayer:
• Multiplayer is now turn-based!
• You can play with players that you don't know (via Game Center auto-match)

Please read at least the first sentence of each of the 3 bullets below so that you understand how multiplayer games have changed.

Because it is turn-based, there are a few changes to the way multiplayer games work now:
• INVITED PLAYERS WILL GET THEIR INVITATION WHEN IT BECOMES THEIR TURN. Invite your friends, arrange the teams, and make your bid. Then, the next player will get their invitation. Once everyone is in the game, you will see real-time updates as players play.
• YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PLAY AT THE SAME TIME AS EVERYONE ELSE. Generally, your team-mates would probably rather that you take your turn right when it is your turn. But, you don't have to anymore. You can take your turn, close the game, go mow the lawn, and come back to take your next turn.
• YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN MANY MULTIPLAYER GAMES AT ONCE. When you tap the "Multiplayer" button, it will let you setup a new multiplayer game. If you have games in progress, then it will show you a list of your games in progress and you can continue one of them or start a new one.

IMPORTANT TIP: If a multiplayer game doesn't update in real-time like you expect or some other oddity occurs, just go back to the menu and then go back into your game and it will fix itself. If it doesn't, please let me know via the "Feedback" option in Settings.

Other changes:
• You don't have to forfeit and quit your single player game to play a multiplayer game and vice versa. Just tap the "Continue" button under "Single Player" to continue a single player game. Or, tap the "Multiplayer" button to see a list of your multiplayer games. Then, tap one of them to continue where you left off.
• Statistics are no longer tracked in multiplayer games. The game can't reliably know when someone forfeits, loses, or wins since the game can be removed via Game Center without telling Blackbird.
• The scorecard doesn't appear in the menu during a game anymore. While you're playing a game, tap the score next to the menu button and a "Scorecard" button will appear. Tap that "Scorecard" button to see the scorecard.
• Achievements and Settings were moved to icons in the top right corner of the menu.
• You can now easily see and change which rule set you're going to play with from the menu.
• Minor bug fixes

Fixed a scoring bug, an auto-match bug, a discarding bug and a couple other minor bugs.

In version 1.6.0:

Major changes to multiplayer:
• Multiplayer is now turn-based!
• You can play with players that you don't know (via Game Center auto-match)

Please read at least the first sentence of each of the 3 bullets below so that you understand how multiplayer games have changed.

Because it is turn-based, there are a few changes to the way multiplayer games work now:
• INVITED PLAYERS WILL GET THEIR INVITATION WHEN IT BECOMES THEIR TURN. Invite your friends, arrange the teams, and make your bid. Then, the next player will get their invitation. Once everyone is in the game, you will see real-time updates as players play.
• YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PLAY AT THE SAME TIME AS EVERYONE ELSE. Generally, your team-mates would probably rather that you take your turn right when it is your turn. But, you don't have to anymore. You can take your turn, close the game, go mow the lawn, and come back to take your next turn.
• YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN MANY MULTIPLAYER GAMES AT ONCE. When you tap the "Multiplayer" button, it will let you setup a new multiplayer game. If you have games in progress, then it will show you a list of your games in progress and you can continue one of them or start a new one.

IMPORTANT TIP: If a multiplayer game doesn't update in real-time like you expect or some other oddity occurs, just go back to the menu and then go back into your game and it will fix itself. If it doesn't, please let me know via the "Feedback" option in Settings.

Other changes:
• You don't have to forfeit and quit your single player game to play a multiplayer game and vice versa. Just tap the "Continue" button under "Single Player" to continue a single player game. Or, tap the "Multiplayer" button to see a list of your multiplayer games. Then, tap one of them to continue where you left off.
• Statistics are no longer tracked in multiplayer games. The game can't reliably know when someone forfeits, loses, or wins since the game can be removed via Game Center without telling Blackbird.
• The scorecard doesn't appear in the menu during a game anymore. While you're playing a game, tap the score next to the menu button and a "Scorecard" button will appear. Tap that "Scorecard" button to see the scorecard.
• Achievements and Settings were moved to icons in the top right corner of the menu.
• You can now easily see and change which rule set you're going to play with from the menu.
• Minor bug fixes

Fixed a discarding bug and a couple other minor bugs.

In version 1.6.0:

Major changes to multiplayer:
• Multiplayer is now turn-based!
• You can play with players that you don't know (via Game Center auto-match)

Please read at least the first sentence of each of the 3 bullets below so that you understand how multiplayer games have changed.

Because it is turn-based, there are a few changes to the way multiplayer games work now:
• INVITED PLAYERS WILL GET THEIR INVITATION WHEN IT BECOMES THEIR TURN. Invite your friends, arrange the teams, and make your bid. Then, the next player will get their invitation. Once everyone is in the game, you will see real-time updates as players play.
• YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PLAY AT THE SAME TIME AS EVERYONE ELSE. Generally, your team-mates would probably rather that you take your turn right when it is your turn. But, you don't have to anymore. You can take your turn, close the game, go mow the lawn, and come back to take your next turn.
• YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN MANY MULTIPLAYER GAMES AT ONCE. When you tap the "Multiplayer" button, it will let you setup a new multiplayer game. If you have games in progress, then it will show you a list of your games in progress and you can continue one of them or start a new one.

IMPORTANT TIP: If a multiplayer game doesn't update in real-time like you expect or some other oddity occurs, just go back to the menu and then go back into your game and it will fix itself. If it doesn't, please let me know via the "Feedback" option in Settings.

Other changes:
• You don't have to forfeit and quit your single player game to play a multiplayer game and vice versa. Just tap the "Continue" button under "Single Player" to continue a single player game. Or, tap the "Multiplayer" button to see a list of your multiplayer games. Then, tap one of them to continue where you left off.
• Statistics are no longer tracked in multiplayer games. The game can't reliably know when someone forfeits, loses, or wins since the game can be removed via Game Center without telling Blackbird.
• The scorecard doesn't appear in the menu during a game anymore. While you're playing a game, tap the score next to the menu button and a "Scorecard" button will appear. Tap that "Scorecard" button to see the scorecard.
• Achievements and Settings were moved to icons in the top right corner of the menu.
• You can now easily see and change which rule set you're going to play with from the menu.
• Minor bug fixes

Major changes to multiplayer:
• Multiplayer is now turn-based!
• You can play with players that you don't know (via Game Center auto-match)

Please read at least the first sentence of each of the 3 bullets below so that you understand how multiplayer games have changed.

Because it is turn-based, there are a few changes to the way multiplayer games work now:
• INVITED PLAYERS WILL GET THEIR INVITATION WHEN IT BECOMES THEIR TURN. Invite your friends, arrange the teams, and make your bid. Then, the next player will get their invitation. Once everyone is in the game, you will see real-time updates as players play.
• YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PLAY AT THE SAME TIME AS EVERYONE ELSE. Generally, your team-mates would probably rather that you take your turn right when it is your turn. But, you don't have to anymore. You can take your turn, close the game, go mow the lawn, and come back to take your next turn.
• YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN MANY MULTIPLAYER GAMES AT ONCE. When you tap the "Multiplayer" button, it will let you setup a new multiplayer game. If you have games in progress, then it will show you a list of your games in progress and you can continue one of them or start a new one.

IMPORTANT TIP: If a multiplayer game doesn't update in real-time like you expect or some other oddity occurs, just go back to the menu and then go back into your game and it will fix itself. If it doesn't, please let me know via the "Feedback" option in Settings.

Other changes:
• You don't have to forfeit and quit your single player game to play a multiplayer game and vice versa. Just tap the "Continue" button under "Single Player" to continue a single player game. Or, tap the "Multiplayer" button to see a list of your multiplayer games. Then, tap one of them to continue where you left off.
• Statistics are no longer tracked in multiplayer games. The game can't reliably know when someone forfeits, loses, or wins since the game can be removed via Game Center without telling Blackbird.
• The scorecard doesn't appear in the menu during a game anymore. While you're playing a game, tap the score next to the menu button and a "Scorecard" button will appear. Tap that "Scorecard" button to see the scorecard.
• Achievements and Settings were moved to icons in the top right corner of the menu.
• You can now easily see and change which rule set you're going to play with from the menu.
• Minor bug fixes

• AI improvements
• Bug fixes

The computers are now smarter about which cards they play when they know they'll lose. Also, if you play with the rules that allow high-trump Blackbird to be played anytime, the computer will play that card a little more conservatively.

• Fixed a bug not showing friends names when inviting friends to a multiplayer game

v1.5.1
• New rule option: misdeal! No need to suffer through absolutely terrible hands anymore! You can decide whether a misdeal means: no point cards, no cards above 9, or no cards above 10. The official rules are set to declare a misdeal when there are no point cards. The Western Wyoming rules are set to declare a misdeal/throw up when there are no cards above a 9.
• iOS 7 compatibility
• Minor AI improvements
• Bug fixes

Remember that you can customize the rules by creating your own rule set. Do you want to force the Blackbird to follow suit or change the game winning score? There are lots of rules you can customize. Just go to "Settings" → "Active rule set" → "New rule set" and setup the rules the way you like!

• New rule option: misdeal! No need to suffer through absolutely terrible hands anymore! You can decide whether a misdeal means: no point cards, no cards above 9, or no cards above 10. The official rules are set to declare a misdeal when there are no point cards. The Western Wyoming rules are set to declare a misdeal/throw up when there are no cards above a 9.
• iOS 7 compatibility
• Minor AI improvements
• Bug fixes

Remember that you can customize the rules by creating your own rule set. Do you want to force the Blackbird to follow suit or change the game winning score? There are lots of rules you can customize. Just go to "Settings" → "Active rule set" → "New rule set" and setup the rules the way you like!

• Game Center achievements!
• Statistics - you will see a few statistics after every game. Go to Settings → Statistics to see them all!
• Minor AI improvements
• Bug fixes

Remember that you can customize the rules by creating your own rule set. Do you want to force the Blackbird to follow suit or change the game winning score? There are lots of rules you can customize. Just go to "Settings" → "Active rule set" → "New rule set" and setup the rules the way you like!

Bug fixes

Version 1.4.3
• Fixed some bugs during multiplayer games
• Even if you shut the app down or restart your device in the middle of a game, you can continue playing.
• New style for settings screen
• Minor AI improvements

Coming soon...
• Game Center achievements
• Statistics
• Play with people around the world (people that aren't your friends yet)

Don't update to this version of the app if you play with the rule that allows the Blackbird to be played anytime. There is a bug that causes the app to crash. I have submitted another update to Apple that fixes this bug. Sorry!

• Fixed some bugs during multiplayer games
• Even if you shut the app down or restart your device in the middle of a game, you can continue playing.
• New style for settings screen
• Minor AI improvements

Coming soon...
• Game Center achievements
• Statistics
• Play with people around the world (people that aren't your friends yet)

Fixed the low bidding introduced in 1.4.0. You only would have noticed if you don't play with 1s or if you don't play with 2-4.

• Change the names of the computer players
• New rule option: remove the Blackbird
• New rule option: make the Blackbird worth 10.5
• AI improvements
• Bug fixes

Various multiplayer improvements:
• Add friends right from the app
• Cancel an invitation
• See the status of invited players

• Fixed a bug causing the game to "freeze" during multiplayer games.
• Added a setting that allows you to choose between tapping to play cards or draging to play them.

* Invite your friends to play with you using Game Center! Let computer players fill in any empty spots. Drag the players around to arrange teams the way you like.
* The rule sets screen has been simplified to make it more clear that you can create your own rule set and more simple to do.

• See the score of the current round and the overall game score while you're playing.
• See the cards played in the last trick.
• A new button, "The rest are mine!", will appear when you are leading a trick with only winners in your hand.
• Accidentally chose the wrong trump color? Touch the trump color in the corner before discarding to change trump.
• A nicer view of the game totals seen from the menu while a game is in progress and after a round is over. Touch the current round for a detailed breakdown of the score for the round.
• Universal app! Official support for the iPad.
• Sound effects.
• A new rule customization option for all those Red 1 players!
• Did you know that you can create your own rule set? There is now a more visible option to manage rules from the Settings screen.

• Fixed - It no longer freezes when all computers want to pass.

Next up: multiplayer!