GTP Poker Club
- Thread starter Digital-Nitrate
- 219 comments
- 20,264 views
- 6,009
- Austin, Texas
- D-Nitrate / GTP_DNitrate
Just a heads-up: PS Home just had a pretty big update, including a significant change to the poker game in EA's Sports Complex.
The first thing you'll notice is that they have removed one of the tables (from 5 to 4) for each server as well as rearranged them. The reason for this is that some people apparently were complaining that they got too much cross talk from one table to another as they were so close to each other.
Personally, it didn't bother me, but there it is.
You may also notice that one of the four tables has a red table top, while the other three remain green. The difference is that the red table is reserved for only players who have won at least 1,000 points. I suppose the idea is so more advanced players have a better chance of playing against each other... although frankly they should probably bump it up to 10,000.
Which brings us to the next change and that's individual updated bankrolls. You still start each game with 2,000 in chips, but now depending on how well you do, you'll earn points. It no longer is winner takes all, but rather you'll earn points based on what place you finished in and possibly on how many players were in the game.
In a full game of 8 the payout is as follows:
Related to this is another change that you might notice right away, and that is a couple large Leaderboard signs which like many of the other games in Home will display daily and seasonal (whatever that may mean) leaders ranked by how many points they have won. Your own ranking and points will be displayed at the bottom of the sign.
They have also changed the gameplay as well. Instead of the small starting blinds of 5/10 which only increased every 30 min, now they start at 50/100 and double every 7 minutes. In the game I played, by the time it got down to just two players the blinds had reached 800/1,600
While big blinds and rapid increases take away a good deal of strategy and skill, as you will no longer be able to play lots of hands in a game, and instead will have to rely on a lot of luck. The good news though is that it also means games don't last very long at all any more. I didn't check the time, but our game with 8 players lasted only about 30 minutes, and watching a couple other games, they seemed to end even quicker.
BTW: Another change is that as a spectator, while you still can't see the community cards and any showdowns, the table sign now also shows you the current level of blinds as well as a meter bar that fills up as it approaches the next increase in blinds... which definitely helps in determining when a game is about to end... especially when all but one of the players left has less chips than the big blind.
Another change was to the multiple viewing angle option. Before, by pressing L1 you could cycle through about five different "views" of the table, but really there were only 2, the other three simply replaced the table with some add for an EA game. Now there are 4 different views of the table:
They have also added background music while you are playing a game. You can change the volume and even turn it off by repeatedly pressing the R2 button until you find the audio setting you like.
If I find anything new I'll let you know.
One warning though, it seems the update to EA's space also added some glitches, and definitely needs patching so be warned. Not only did it cause Home to freeze on me twice, but when sitting down at the table, sometimes it causes players to sit where there are no seats, even in the middle of the table. Also the leaderboard is extremely slow to update.
So personally, if this starts happening to you as well, and it bothers you, then you may want to wait a little longer until they make the necessary patches.
The first thing you'll notice is that they have removed one of the tables (from 5 to 4) for each server as well as rearranged them. The reason for this is that some people apparently were complaining that they got too much cross talk from one table to another as they were so close to each other.
Personally, it didn't bother me, but there it is.
You may also notice that one of the four tables has a red table top, while the other three remain green. The difference is that the red table is reserved for only players who have won at least 1,000 points. I suppose the idea is so more advanced players have a better chance of playing against each other... although frankly they should probably bump it up to 10,000.
Which brings us to the next change and that's individual updated bankrolls. You still start each game with 2,000 in chips, but now depending on how well you do, you'll earn points. It no longer is winner takes all, but rather you'll earn points based on what place you finished in and possibly on how many players were in the game.
In a full game of 8 the payout is as follows:
- 1st = 1,000 points (+ Silver Poker Bracelet for your first victory, a Gold one if you win on the Red table)
- 2nd = 500 points
- 3rd = 250 points
Related to this is another change that you might notice right away, and that is a couple large Leaderboard signs which like many of the other games in Home will display daily and seasonal (whatever that may mean) leaders ranked by how many points they have won. Your own ranking and points will be displayed at the bottom of the sign.
They have also changed the gameplay as well. Instead of the small starting blinds of 5/10 which only increased every 30 min, now they start at 50/100 and double every 7 minutes. In the game I played, by the time it got down to just two players the blinds had reached 800/1,600
While big blinds and rapid increases take away a good deal of strategy and skill, as you will no longer be able to play lots of hands in a game, and instead will have to rely on a lot of luck. The good news though is that it also means games don't last very long at all any more. I didn't check the time, but our game with 8 players lasted only about 30 minutes, and watching a couple other games, they seemed to end even quicker.
BTW: Another change is that as a spectator, while you still can't see the community cards and any showdowns, the table sign now also shows you the current level of blinds as well as a meter bar that fills up as it approaches the next increase in blinds... which definitely helps in determining when a game is about to end... especially when all but one of the players left has less chips than the big blind.
Another change was to the multiple viewing angle option. Before, by pressing L1 you could cycle through about five different "views" of the table, but really there were only 2, the other three simply replaced the table with some add for an EA game. Now there are 4 different views of the table:
- Standard (as before)
- Over Head
- Table Top 1
- Table Top 2
BTW: It isn't obvious, but there is another view, and that is by pressing the start button you can access your Home PDA while sitting at the table. This also happens to give you a great up close view of the table, and you can even use your joystick to look all around you and at the table. 👍
To go back to the normal view, which you'll have to in order to actually play, don't press the O button as it says, just press the start button again... otherwise by pressing the O button you may accidentally fold your hand.
They have also added background music while you are playing a game. You can change the volume and even turn it off by repeatedly pressing the R2 button until you find the audio setting you like.
If I find anything new I'll let you know.
One warning though, it seems the update to EA's space also added some glitches, and definitely needs patching so be warned. Not only did it cause Home to freeze on me twice, but when sitting down at the table, sometimes it causes players to sit where there are no seats, even in the middle of the table. Also the leaderboard is extremely slow to update.
So personally, if this starts happening to you as well, and it bothers you, then you may want to wait a little longer until they make the necessary patches.
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- 5,603
- England, Warwickshire
- GTP_Sigma
I am up for playing tomorrow night I think, it's possible I may be dragged along to a party i don't particularly want to go to though. I will give an update on my availability tomorrow.
Chris if your interested, we play 22:00GMT Fridays. 👍
Chris if your interested, we play 22:00GMT Fridays. 👍
- 29,157
- Glasgow
- GTP_Mars
Another no show for me tonight, I'm afraid... it's likely that I will be unable to play on Friday nights for the next few weeks, due to a combination of being away from Glasgow and a few visitors in the next few weeks. I should be able to make midweek games, however - or even a game in Home? Enjoy the game tonight if you guys get a game 👍
- 3,105
- GTP_MisterWeary
I'm likely to not make it...super long/busy Friday makes it difficult to get up early tomorrow. If I'm up I'll come and check out the tables though 👍
- 6,009
- Austin, Texas
- D-Nitrate / GTP_DNitrate
Here is a pic of the gold poker bracelet for those curious:
BTW: It looks like I ran into Omnis' alternative cousin at the poker tables in Home:
- 6,009
- Austin, Texas
- D-Nitrate / GTP_DNitrate
If not, there are regular games being held in EA's Poker rooms inside PS Home as well as officially sponsored tournaments.
