1985
by Antonio Carlos Mateus (Portugal)
I've read the author's permission details on WOS and it is incredible how some software company can pull such a stunt. Selling a game they virtually stole. According to the author, Top Ten Software(UK) got hold of this game without the author knowing, changed the author's name in the loading screen and sold it like that, without him ever knowing until years later.
This is another story about how the software houses in the 80's cheated someone's work so easily.
There is a funny thing though, because in 1984, one year earlier, Zarsoft (also from Portugal) released a game called 'Poker' very very similar to this one, leaving room for me to question if Antonio didn't himself plagiarized someone else idea.
But that's just a theory. Because if I so recall myself, the casino games in 80's all looked very similar to both games, so maybe that's where they got their inspiration from.
About the game itself, I think it would be a winner if it had been released by a competent company.
It is very well written, very well presented, great graphics and sound, and the game is quite addictive even if you don't like poker games. It seems based on the original arcade game used in casinos. And if you have been in one, you know how compelling they are.
