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All the "work" of a real poker career

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: September 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is extraordinary in what it's trying to accomplish, but that's also its downfall. In career mode, you have no choice but to play tournaments and they can drag on forever. The designers have tried to compensate for this by offering "Collector's Chips" that reward you in the middle of a tournament for making specific hands (i.e. "Straight Flush"), taking out other players, etc., but that quickly gets old. Hardcore poker players will enjoy it when recognizable WSoP pros appear at your table and you have to play against them and --once you make it to the final table-- you'll be charged with adrenaline, but before that is countless, tiring games of out-playing hundreds of other players. In addition to not being able to skip to tournaments, there's also no way to change the difficulty level, so beginners should be warned that this game is all about the "real world of poker." There's no tutorial mode and quickplay was added as an afterthought and will not satisfy users that are not interested in anything except tournament play. Online (Xbox Live) play offers an interesting challenge and works extremely well, although you'll experience the same difficulties (players that take forever to `check,' and wildcard players) that you may have encountered in other online poker arenas. In short, this game is a poker career simulator, not for beginners, but will provide a very serious look at the trials and tribulations of joining the World Series of Poker tournament event tour.

Can anyone do this genre right?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: September 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

(UPDATE 1-28-06)Despite what Infinite Wisdom would have you believe with all of the glory of his capital letters, this game is not realistic poker. I live in Las Vegas and I have played [too much] poker in the casinos. The closest game I have found to reality (to date) is the World Poker Tour or DD Poker 2. Please, trust me on this one, do not waste your money on this title.

I love casino games of any kind. In particular, I love poker. Naturally a habit like this can get rather expensive and so rather than spend hours in an actual casino, I resort to playing video simulations of casino games to pass the time and to improve my skill. I own nearly every possible casino/poker game on the market (for all consoles and PCs) since Vegas Dream for the original NES. I must be either stupid or at the very least, stupidly hopeful that eventually there will be a group of programmers who can actually produce a game in this genre that lives up to its potential. As with all of my purchases, I bought the World Series of Poker for X-Box on the day it was released with much enthusiasm and blind hope that this would be the game that ends my search for a decent casino/poker game. Sadly, I could not have been more wrong.

The game has all of the potential of virtually all of others of its kind: acceptable graphics, functional interface, and most importantly, an awesome idea. The game, however, falls short in virtually every other conceivable way. Let us begin with the AI. I really cannot figure out if the computer AI is good or lucky. Nearly every computer player in this game is unrealistically aggressive. It might pass as acceptable if there was a noticeable range of player skill, but rest assured that when you enter a game, each player is going to play with the boldness of Gus Hanson, without the necessary intelligence. Part of the problem is that the blinds increase so quickly; you barely have any time at all to wait for a decent enough hand to play properly. In real life, the World Series of Poker takes days to complete. This game has you finished in less than an hour or two if you are lucky enough to last beyond the first 15 hands. Speed is also a problem with revealing the flop, turn, and river. In World Championship Poker (another game with great potential that fails miserably) you could at least control the speed at which the cards are dealt. In this game, they shoot the cards out without enough time to even process who is going to win during a showdown. What was Activision thinking? Have they never even seen how a poker game plays out on ESPN? Where is the suspense? Where is the action?

I have many other less important complaints that I will spare everyone from having to read. The bottom line is, take it from someone who knows what people want from this genre: REALISM. This game isn't it. Keep on searching.

Can anyone do this genre right?

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: September 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I love casino games of any kind. In particular, I love poker. Naturally a habit like this can get rather expensive and so rather than spend hours in an actual casino, I resort to playing video simulations of casino games to pass the time and to improve my skill. I own nearly every possible casino/poker game on the market (for all consoles and PCs) since Vegas Dream for the original NES. I must be either stupid or at the very least, stupidly hopeful that eventually there will be a group of programmers who can actually produce a game in this genre that lives up to its potential. As with all of my purchases, I bought the World Series of Poker for X-Box on the day it was released with much enthusiasm and blind hope that this would be the game that ends my search for a decent casino/poker game. Sadly, I could not have been more wrong.

The game has all of the potential of virtually all of others of its kind: acceptable graphics, functional interface, and most importantly, an awesome idea. The game, however, falls short in virtually every other conceivable way. Let us begin with the AI. I really cannot figure out if the computer AI is good or lucky. Nearly every computer player in this game is unrealistically aggressive. It might pass as acceptable if there was a noticeable range of player skill, but rest assured that when you enter a game, each player is going to play with the boldness of Gus Hanson, without the necessary intelligence. Part of the problem is that the blinds increase so quickly; you barely have any time at all to wait for a decent enough hand to play properly. In real life, the World Series of Poker takes days to complete. This game has you finished in less than an hour or two if you are lucky enough to last beyond the first 15 hands. Speed is also a problem with revealing the flop, turn, and river. In World Championship Poker (another game with great potential that fails miserably) you could at least control the speed at which the cards are dealt. In this game, they shoot the cards out without enough time to even process who is going to win during a showdown. What was Activision thinking? Have they never even seen how a poker game plays out on ESPN? Where is the suspense? Where is the action?

I have many other less important complaints that I will spare everyone from having to read. The bottom line is, take it from someone who knows what people want from this genre: REALISM. This game isn't it. Keep on searching.

Finally a poker game worth playing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 16
Date: August 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

***EDIT***

LET ME REPLY TO THOSE WHO SAY THIS GAME IS TERRIBLE, THE FACT IS POKER IS NOT AN EASY GAME, FOR YEARS VIDEO GAMES HAVE MADE IT TO SEEM LIKE IT WAS, THIS GAME IS TOUGH, AND IS TRUE TO HOW POKER TOURNAMENTS ARE PLAYED. IF YOU SAY THAT EVERYONE HAS STRAIGHTS, FLUSHES ON EVERY HAND YOU ARE PROBABLY PLAYING LIMIT HOLD'EM WHICH IN FACT HAS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PLAYERS GETTING STRAIGHTS FLUSHES ON EVERY HAND BECAUSE PLAYERS ARE LIMITED TO HOW MUCH THEY CAN BET, AND MORE PLAYERS PLAY EVERY HAND THAN ON A TYPICAL NO LIMIT EVENT, SO IF YOU ARE HOLDING 5, 9 OFF SUIT AND THE FLOP COMES OUT 7,A,10 MOST PEOPLE WOULD FOLD, BUT ON LIMIT HOLD'EM MOST PLAYERS WILL PAY TO SEE THE TURN AND THE RIVER AND A LOT OF TIMES MAKE THAT STRAIGHT OR FLUSH. IN NO LIMIT YOU CAN BET HIGHER AMOUNTS AND MAKE PLAYERS FOLD THEIR HANDS BEFORE THE TURN AND THE RIVER, GIVING YOU A BETTER CHANCE TO WIN, POCKET ACES MAY BE A GREAT HAND IN NO LIMIT, BUT MAY NOT BE THAT GOOD IN LIMIT HOLD'EM. THIS GAME REALLY PUTS YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST AND BY DOING SO MAKES YOU A BETTER PLAYER

I had to live with the fact that this game kept getting delayed, I bought world championship poker and decided to wait, but now the wait is over and.... the game is incredible, I was falling asleep with wcp but this game has so much more to offer, granted graphics are nothing to go crazy about, but the atmosphere, and the listening to those familiar voices from the tv show really add to the experience, plus the fact that you can play agains the tv stars is awesome, how many of you wish you could go heads up against Men the master and shut him up, or take your chances at beating Jesus on a bluff. well here is your chance. the AI is a lot better than on wcp, on that game the AI would have full houses or flushes and not bet, this AI really knows how to milk you for your cash. so be ready and have fun, specially with the online feature and see ya in x-box live, who knows we might be on the same table together one day.

Lighten up Everyone - it is only a game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I only write this review after reading the review by LasVegas007. First of all, I have already owned quite a few poker and casino games myself and you will always find your expectations fall short of the actual gaming experience in the casino. Lets get to the review shall we? I like the Career aspect of the game - it is very challenging and the game speed is very good. This isn't rocket science it is Texas Holdem after all. I don't understand the need to over think every hand. You can wait for the game to cycle through the hands, or you can fast forward through the other players to get to your next bet or fold or whatever. There are plenty of tournaments in different games other than Texas Holdem as well. You play against many of the big names you see on ESPN's World Series. Nice touch - I don't know if they really play with the same habits of the pros but it is pretty cool none the less. As for the AI, I will say this; how many of you play like the pros. I constantly play with people online that play like idiots and go all in on every hand because after all it is not real. I have to think that professional AI would be too difficult for at home players to handle. That would hurt sales and the programmers would lose their jobs. I like the AI it is very level and believable. Lighten up LasVegas007. My only complaint is the online play. Very slow and that gets very frustrating. If I were to program a online version I would let the host determine how long everyone has to bet or fold. I think 10 sec would be about right. There is a timer online for other players but it is like 45 or so. Too long. Graphics, sound, and replayablilty are very good. Faster online and a 5 would have been in the works. Good job Activision. If you see me online throw me a friends request - Master Phatchef is the tag - can't wait to take your cash. Oh yeah good luck.

Endless bad beats on the river

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: September 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Yeah, this game is horrible. Not sure who programmed the AI on this game, but come on now.. Runner-runner straight/flush/trips? Every hand that i've been in where I'm all in after the flop leading favorably, the damn CPU always manages to end up winning. Unrealistic AI, shoddy graphics, annoying canned commentary. Could a game get any worse? Holding hope that the WPT or Daniel Negraneu's version is substantially better. Hope they bought the WSOP to learn how NOT to create a poker game.

Decent poker game but it could have been better on-line

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 10, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I was really excited when this game came out. I thought it had to be top notch since its name was "World Series of Poker" like the ESPN TV card series. Overall the game is good. The graphics are acceptable and better than most poker video games being sold. The biggest problem I had with this game is in regards to online play. Basically a host player, which can be anyone, starts a room and people join. So far so good... However if that host person loses it boots him from the table and the whole table shuts down. Everyone has to start over at other tables. This majorly sucks when your on a winning streak and or the table has just gotten started. This is very stupid and poorly designed. The X-box live feature was the main reason why I bought this game. You can only play against computer players for so long. I like playing cards with real people and talk smack and chit chat. So Basically the game is rather good however dont waste your money if on-line play is important to you.

Fold This One

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

There is a problem with this game: instead of making a game of the fun to watch and dramatic ESPN show, it's a game of the mindnumbingly boring marathon the pros have to endure. Even if you stick with it long enough to get Men the Master or Chris Ferguson to your table - they don't really do or say anything. I didnt stick with it long enough to figure whether the pros are even higher AI than the average player. It's inexuable that the turn and the river come bang-bang, kills all the drama.

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