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It's usually not much fun to play poker with fake money. Strategy disappears as players throw chips around with no restraint, knowing they can just click a button and make more magically appear.
Live Poker takes a novel approach to this problem. Aside from a small per diem and the bankroll you're given when you first join up, the chips don't come free--you earn them by inviting new players, participating in sponsored offers, or paying real money at the rate of up to 7,500 chips per dollar. (In fact, the only difference between this paid app and its free counterpart is that this one starts you off with 40,000 chips as opposed to the free version's 1,000.) This makes players a bit more careful with their chips than in similar online arenas, which makes for a more interesting and rewarding game.
By interfacing with the popular, cross-platform Texas Hold 'Em game that's tearing up Facebook and MySpace, Live Poker makes it easy to find open tables at any stakes. And once you sit down at a table, the game itself is generally clear and functional--if unexceptional--with a clean look, a straightforward interface, and helpful features like a vibrate option for when your turn comes around.
Sure, at times the interface can almost be too simple. For example, it would be helpful to see the all-in amount before your turn and more details on split pots and side pots. But considering that the game taps into such a huge and constant pool of players (nearly 90,000 as of this writing), "functional" will do just fine.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The game itself is solid enough, but the real draw is the ability to
play against tens of thousands of players on Facebook, MySpace, and
elsewhere. And the smart decision to limit players' chips raises the stakes.
Live Poker 40K 1.01
COMPANY: Zynga
CONTACT: www.zynga.com
PRICE: $9.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPhone or iPod touch with 2.0 software update.
Cross-platform play makes for a huge pool of potential opponents.
Simple, straightforward interface. Limited chips makes for slightly
more realistic play. Text chat.
Ultra-simple interface can cause confusion when paying out split pots or side pots. Some sluggish animation. Tiny chat text font.
Live Poker 40K 1.01
COMPANY: Zynga
CONTACT: www.zynga.com
PRICE: $9.99
REQUIREMENTS: iPhone or iPod touch with 2.0 software update.
Cross-platform play makes for a huge pool of potential opponents.
Simple, straightforward interface. Limited chips makes for slightly
more realistic play. Text chat. Ultra-simple interface can cause confusion when paying out split pots or side pots. Some sluggish animation. Tiny chat text font.
COMMENTS:
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40,000 Chips Never Showed Up
Submitted by TonyInDallas on Sun, 2009-03-29 07:45
I bought this app after trying the free one for a few fun hands of poker. I was convinced it would be worth it.
But, the 40,000 chips never materialized. Not that day. Nor the next. Not even any day within the next two weeks.
Their toll-free customer service numbers is always answered by a voicemail message and there's no way to get a live person. They don't return messages. Apple is no help in getting a refund. I finally emailed their Advertising, Business Development and Public Relations email contacts with the complaint. They don't list an email address for customer support.
Apparently billing issues and refunds are a big item with them because they go through the trouble of mentioning it prominently on their web site. But they make you go through a registration process just to get to the page where you can submit your complaint, they figure making you jump through hoops will make you give up asking for a refund.
DO NOT buy this paid app. Use the free one and count your lucky stars that reading this review has saved you $10.
Submitted by TonyInDallas on Mon, 2009-04-13 20:00
After I sent Zynga a copy of the review I posted here, Wendy sprung into action and after a few bits of account-identifying information were verified, she not only had the 40,000 chips added, but some extra for all of my inconvenience and upset.
Their customer service automated emails finally started spinning into action, too, but Wendy'd already started helping me.
Since then, the game's been lots of fun and had it not been for that one big blip, I'd give this a 5-star review. I'd like to hear from other people about their experience.
Thanks MacLife!
Submitted by Raise on Sun, 2009-06-28 05:45
Live Poker 40K by Zynga is about as fun as online poker can be without the stress of wagering real money.
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