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RFID-based video poker table ensures no one plays at your house
It looks like those wanting to practice for their TV poker debut now have at least one, completely impractical lead to follow, as one Andrew Milner has now built what may well be the very first RFID-based, video-equipped DIY poker table. To reproduce the complete TV poker experience at home, Milner employed four cameras to keep watch on the players, with the elaborate RFID system and some custom-made software doing all the dirty work of keeping track of the cards (yes, each card has an RFID tag). As you might have guessed, the build was far from simple, with it taking Milner three months in his spare time, and it obviously wasn't cheap either, although he won't go any further than to say that it was "rather expensive." Be sure to hit up the link below for the full rundown of the project, and a video of it in action.
First Look: Texas Hold 'Em
I've been having such a good time getting my virtual wallet cleaned out by my Texas Hold 'Em opponents that it's taken me three days to write this post!Texas Hold 'Em is an iPhone port of the popular Apple iPod game that came out a few years ago. If you're a fan of poker tournaments or just intrigued by Texas Hold 'Em, this $4.99 game is a heck of a lot cheaper and less stress on your home life than going to Vegas and playing the real thing.The play action, as you can see in the gallery below, is amazingly realistic. Each of the players even has a "tell" (distinctive physical cue that they're either bluffing or have a really good hand) that you can pick up after a while. There's music that plays in the background, a Wi-Fi multiplayer mode, a number of poker rooms (including a garage that has a shelf full of old computers on one wall), and a good assortment of well-rendered virtual opponents. Frankly, I think it's one of the unsung bargains of the App Store. %Gallery-27918%
There's plenty to do in Dragon Quest V
Dragon Quest V is going to be one of the most feature-packed games on the DS. Don't try and argue with us, for Famitsu's recent look at the title only cemented that fact in our mind. There is a lot going on here. Famitsu's article highlights not only a DS-exclusive character, Deborah, but also documents some of the other timesinks available in the game, should you wish to take a break from the main story. You can enjoy some Poker or Slots over at the casino, or partake in one of the other many mini-games available. You can even enjoy some combat in the Fight Field. If you want to check out some new screens, head on over to Famitsu. %Gallery-12146%
Jennicide places in poker, poses for Playboy, and plays on Proudmoore
Jennifer Leigh knows games -- she finished 5th at the Poker Royale: Battle of the Ages series. She's known as Jennicide on PokerStars, and finished "in the money" at the World Poker Tour in 2006. Other folks might know her from May's issue of Playboy magazine. In a recent interview with the RPG Vault on IGN, she talked a little about her history with games and World of Warcraft. WoW's the only MMO she's played recently, but she's been known to play Everquest, Guild Wars, and others. She picked up World of Warcraft during a losing streak of poker, and figured paying Blizzard a monthly fee was would be less painful than continuing her streak. Of course, she runs into the same problem many people do: while she loves her WoW, she has trouble explaining to people who don't get it. She's surprisingly open about her server information. (For the record, she plays a Night Elf Druid on Proudmoore, and helped found the guild Fate and Fury. Also, she's planning a Blood Elf Warlock.) Between this and the politicians coming out of the closet, I can't wait to see what other interviews crop up.
X10 automated Poker / Blackjack table is decidedly drool-worthy
Every so often, a completely unnecessary gizmo hits the scenes that hardly anyone will be able to afford, yet nearly everyone could imagine having as their own. Feast your eyes on one such device: the X10 Ten Player Automated Table from Play Hard Gaming. This masterpiece seats ten (presumably wealthy) players and features a central 27-inch LCD alongside ten 12.1-inch touch panels. The computerized dealer dishes out the cards, and individuals play along by simply tapping their dedicated touchscreen. Both Texas Hold'em and Blackjack are loaded on, and you'll even get free game upgrades for life when you commit to taking one home. Now, if only $29,950 were easier to come by.[Via OhGizmo]
Q&A with PotCO lead developer Jason Yeung
Jason Yeung is one of the lead developers for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Online. During a recent Q&A he dishes out some very interesting info on what's coming for this free-to-play piratey good time.Both Davy Jones and the Kraken will eventually be included in the game, but the when remains locked up as tight as Jones' fabled locker however. Adding pets (such as a parrot, which every pirate must have) is something they want to do in future expansions, but they're more focused on creating end-game content for their hardcore players, which is a sign that they do listen to feedback. In fact, their biggest challenge at the moment is rolling out new content fast enough.If you've never given PotCO a try you really have nothing to lose -- it's free-to-play. If you like what you see, and over the last few months a great deal of new content has been added, a monthly fee will get you unlimited access to all the game's content (like the poker games).
WoW laser etching impresses and inspires
Here's an example on how to take a really cool concept and make a bad choice. Not that we think the etching itself looks bad, but there are all sorts of other cool WoW designs the owner could have put on this Macbook. We certainly understand the meaning of putting the very image players see when entering World of Warcraft's uh, world, onto your machine. To be honest we were half-expecting to see a Horde or Alliance symbol when we first heard of this homebrewed homage. That being said, the skills of whoever etched this are quite impressive; can we resist saying level 325 etching skill? Nope, we can't.If it were up to us, there would probably be something ridiculous on there like a bunch of Murlocs playing Poker or maybe some kind of breakdancing Troll.
Reminder: Last chance to win a year of PotC from Disney and Massively
Just in case you missed it earlier this week, let this be your reminder: today is your last chance to leave a comment on our contest post (not this post-- all this post will get you is keelhauled on the mizzenmast) and enter to win not only one of two minature Pirates of the Caribbean Online ships, but also a year ingame with a special account direct from Disney themselves. And if you're not sure you want it or not, our own Robin Torres wrote up a First Impressions a long, long time ago (even before our site went live) about her experiences during the beta. Sure, there were a few drawbacks, but there's poker! Texas Hold 'em!So yes, don't forget-- before this afternoon, go back to our contest post and leave a comment (just one per person, thanks), and then make sure to check your email this evening to see if you've won. If you do, you'll get an official PotC ship packed in a PotC shipping (get it?) crate, as well as a key to a free year in the game. Good luck!
High Stakes Poker gains Remote Play function
The SOE developed PSN game, High Stakes on the Vegas Strip was recently updated. The patch allows players to play the game on their PSPs through Remote Play. Currently, the list of games playable through the feature is quite small, with Lair being the most notable of all the releases so far. A poker game is ideal for Remote Play, as the lag players may experience will feel quite insignificant compared to action-intense games. Now, bored employees can simply turn on their PSPs and play poker from anywhere with a wi-fi signal.[Thanks, Scott S.!]
Pirates of the Caribbean Online extends Founders program
Disney has announced that they are extending the Pirates of the Caribbean Online Founders program which was supposed to end the midnight before Halloween. It has been extended for a limited time, presumably to attract more paid players.The Founders program includes a Founder title which looks like a pretty gold coin with an F on it next to your name as well as some goodies that come in the mail at a later date. Pirates of the Caribbean Online is a free to play browser game with optional Unlimited access for $9.95 a month. I signed up to be a founding member because I wanted to see the goodies, but I didn't realize that free players don't get access to my favorite part of the game: poker. It's not listed in the Unlimited Access features list -- I only found out from the tips on the loading screens. I'm not sure what other ingame-only documented benefits I'm enjoying that aren't on the list.If you'd like unlimited access and the Founder's benefits, you can go to their signup site to enter your payment info. The official list of Unlimited Access benefits is after the jump.
High Stakes on the Vegas Strip hits the PSN this Thursday
SOE's multiplayer poker game, High Stakes on the Vegas Strip will be released this Thursday through the PlayStation store. The title will go for $9.99 and supports a variety of features, now fairly standard for Sony PSN releases. High Stakes will support 1080p resolution, online play with up to six people, audio chat and online leaderboards.The game is looking to offer a lot to the hardcore poker fans out there, with five different types of poker, online tournaments and extremely detailed statistics on players. In addition as you play you'll win points to unlock extra content like special items and clothing for your in-game avatar so that you can customize your character to your liking. Supposedly, there will even be 'bling' so that everybody at the table knows what a ballah you are. Any other poker fans out there looking forward to High Stakes?
Minimize your poker losses at Amazon
22 bucks for a poker game seems high to us, but we don't play poker at all. We understand, however, that other people tend to enjoy card games from time to time, and for regular poker players, this may be a steal. You can get World Championship Poker: All In for the cost of a replacement shirt and get your gambling fix in a safe virtual environment.Is it any better or worse than other poker game on Wii? We don't really know, since nobody seems to have reviewed it. We'd quote The Gambler here, but we don't know whether buying this game without an idea regarding its quality falls under "holding 'em" or "folding 'em." It seems like a "hold 'em."
Texas Hold 'em champs face off with pokerfaced computer
While highly intelligent computers have been pwning humans in backgammon, checkers, and chess for years, machines haven't had nearly as much luck against poker sharks. According to a number of researchers, however, that will surely change over the next decade or so as the programming is honed to better anticipate the human's moves. Nevertheless, poker champion Phil Laak and fellow professional Ali Eslami will soon sit down for a two-day contest at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. Up for grabs is a $50,000 prize, but moreover, University of Alberta's games research group will be interested in figuring out how to better prepare computers to understand and deal with the complex scenarios that only apply to poker. 'Course, with one-petaflop supercomputers now available for civilian use, we're sure it won't be too long before silicon and PCB rule supreme over our feeble brains in yet another facet.
Hands-on: High Stakes on the Vegas Strip
There's one thing we can confidently say about the upcoming PS3 Network title, High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: it's a good deal. While other poker games have retailed for full price, this download-only title will be available for only $10 in the new few weeks, and it comes loaded with features.In addition to the now-requisite 1080p graphics, High Stakes has a few unique features. There's a fast-forward mode, which allows you to cut past any unnecessary action of AI opponents. The "Turbo Fold" function lets you fold without having to wait for computer AI to play their cards. Most excitingly, we saw the EyeToy in action, which allowed you to capture your image while playing the game. Video appears on the screen, showing your opponents' faces as they play their hand. It was surprisingly easy to set up, and will work with most USB video cameras, not just the EyeToy.High Stakes isn't the most exciting game to come out on the PSN. However, it shows Sony's continued dedication to providing a variety of gameplay options for an affordable price.%Gallery-4861%
Joystiq impressions: High Stakes on the Vegas Strip (PS3)
There's one thing we can confidently say about the upcoming PS3 Network title, High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: it's a good deal. While other poker games have retailed for full price, this download-only title will be available for only $10 in the new few weeks, and it comes loaded with features.In addition to the now-requisite 1080p graphics, High Stakes has a few unique features. There's a fast-forward mode, which allows you to cut past any unnecessary action of AI opponents. The "Turbo Fold" function lets you fold without having to wait for computer AI to play their cards. Most excitingly, we saw the EyeToy in action, which allowed you to capture your image while playing the game. Video appears on the screen, showing your opponents' faces as they play their hand. It was surprisingly easy to set up, and will work with most USB video cameras, not just the EyeToy.High Stakes isn't the most exciting game to come out on the PSN. However, it shows Sony's continued dedication to providing a variety of gameplay options for an affordable price.%Gallery-3086%
High Stakes poker brings EyeToy-enhanced Network play
Sony Online Entertainment has just revealed a new downloadable title for the PLAYSTATION Network. The much too awkwardly titled High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition will be released this summer on the Network for $9.99. A variety of play modes will be available, including Texas Hold'em, Super Hold'em, Billabong, Tahoe and Shanghai. Each style can be played as limit, pot limit or no limit poker.The greatest draw for the title will be its online multiplayer, with up to six people playing at once. Players will be able to play quick matches, or choose to play through an entire season. There will be online leader boards, in-depth statistics, and customizable characters. Over time, players will be able to collect points and unlock new items for their characters.One of the unique features of the game has to be its integration with cameras. Users will be able to connect a camera to the PS3 to enhance the game play experience. "Being among the first PLAYSTATION Network publishers to release a game that takes advantage of the EyeToy™ USB Camera (for PlayStation®2) and other PC compatible USB cameras is not only exciting, but also puts the player into a realistic game play setting featuring live audio and video feed," said Michael Lustenberger, VP of Marketing for Sony Online Entertainment. Screenshots can be found, after the break.
New Touchmaster screens - bar favourites on the way
Here are a bunch of new screens for Touchmaster DS, which should awaken a few hazy memories. The collection of 23 minigames will be familiar to bar patrons everywhere, as they come from Midway's touch screen range.The minigames include trivia, solitaire, and a range of card and puzzle games. You'll also be able to upload your high scores onto worldwide leaderboards. Better start saving that beer money now-- Touchmaster DS goes on sale June 11th in North America.
Naughtiness on the Nintendo DS
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Naughtiness_on_the_Nintendo_DS'; The Nintendo DS's software library is diverse enough to satisfy almost every genre craving or niche interest. If what you're looking for, however, is a game with more mature themes -- nudity and sexual content -- it's doubtful that your needs will be met. Japanese dating sims and witch fondling titles notwithstanding, the DS doesn't have any Leisure Suit Larrys, Hot Coffee mods, or even porno-Tetris clones.But just like any other scene, the Nintendo DS has a network of people working outside of the fringe to create those illicit goods you'd never ask for at a respectable shop. They hustle their homemade software from the back-alleys of the internet, each downloaded bit transferred in a nondescript paper bag.We're going to take you through that DS underworld, previewing a selection of homebrew games that are sure to arouse your interest. So put the kids to bed, light those candles you've been saving for a night like this, and slip into your robe and wizard hat. This feature is for adult eyes only!
Leaked UK retail list raises questions
Nanostray 2 ... on Wii? Orb, Thorn and Midnight all coming this year? When they leak retail information sheets in the UK, they do it right. Wii UK got their hands on a retail list (origin and destination unknown) with few concrete dates and a lot of unexpected, and even unknown games, as well as a few old favorites we're always happy to hear about. Hit the jump for the full list, but keep in mind that these are UK titles and games ... and since there's not much source information, you might want to keep a few grains of salt handy. But it's okay to get a little excited. We won't tell anyone.
Memorex Poker Chip USB flash drive knows when to fold 'em
While the poker sharks in the crowd are probably elated about the recent WSOP in HD news, we're going double or nothing with Memorex's Poker Chip Flash Drive. This 1GB device sports a design that any chip stacker would appreciate, and aside from giving you something to flip between your nervous fingers when pondering a fold, it also includes "software to play Texas Hold 'Em right from your PC." Additionally, a blue LED lights things up when data is being accessed, and while we're not exactly sure how much you'll have to wager in order to claim one as your own, they'll be situated in Target stores by the end of the month.
