Is using the ESCAPE key a problem when you're playing games on a phone?

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1

If a menu system in a game uses the ESCAPE key to leave a submenu, is that a problem for someone playing on a phone?

2

Sadly, yes – at least on iOs I wouldn’t know how to input ESCAPE (or even if it’s possible).

3

If ESC is the only key that works, then it would be a problem for me. My mobile keyboard (on Android) doesn’t have that key, and going by a quick google search, there’s no easy way to fix that.

4

Thanks!

Any suggestions for a good alternative? (The “X” key is already taken–that’s for exiting the menu system entirely.)

Maybe “M” to mean going back to the main menu?

5

Q (quit) or 0 (zero)

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6

Inform menu extensions often seem to use P for “return to {P}revious menu”.

7

Wade Clarke’s system, which supports screen readers, uses “q” (in addition to ESC) to go up a level

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8

Thanks! I’ve now upgraded to version 5 of the extension, which has the Q.

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9

Although now I wonder if I should make a new release of another game that uses an older version of that extension, just to upgrade Menus to the latest version (with the Q).

10

I’m thinking of adding a virtual keyboard to mobile Parchment for all the function keys.

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