PokerStars unveils eSports-inspired game Power Up.
The company StarsGroup, previously known as Amaya Gaming, is broadening its real-money gaming options. Recently, they introduced a new form of poker called "Power Up" on PokerStars. This game fuses No-Limit Texas Hold'em with aspects from video games. The corporation aims to profit from the eSports trend. Will this succeed?
"Power Up" is played in the Sit & Go format. Three players engage in No-Limit Texas Hold'em against one another. Once the buy-in is completed, everyone begins with the same chip count. On top of the two conventional hole cards, players are given Power Cards. These cards permit the utilization of special abilities that can impact the players' own hands, the shared community cards, or even the deck itself.
The specific Power Cards a player gets is randomly chosen. Currently, there are nine cards to choose from, with two initially used and a maximum of three allowed to be possessed. Each utilization of the abilities is linked to expenses, and each hand grants players 15 energy points to spend, consuming two to five points per use.
Depending on the Power Card, abilities like inspecting an opponent's hand, destroying community cards, acquiring new cards, or even inhibiting another player's use of Power Cards can be obtained. For instance, with the "Scanner" card, the player can perceive the following two cards in the deck and potentially exchange them. Since every Power Card is played prior to the hand's distribution, players can significantly adjust their tactics.
The Power Cards of opponents frequently remain unknown to players, which makes it difficult to assess the strategic situation. The gameplay more closely resembles that of a computer game rather than conventional poker due to the new elements. The influence on gameplay is so substantial that even experienced poker players will need to modify their tactics. Additionally, the energy expenses for using the cards produce an added method of resource management, alongside the blind levels and the player's chip stack.
Is poker in need of this transformation?
Despite online poker's ongoing profitability for industry leader PokerStars, the golden age of this internet game has passed. Player numbers and turnover have been stagnant for years. In comparison, the gaming industry is thriving. While poker initially had a niche appeal, games now cater to a much wider audience. Furthermore, "social games" from social networks have contributed to this mainstream acceptance. Huge gaming studios like Riot Games, Valve, or Blizzard draw millions of leisure players, who have gambling-like budgets for game creation.
Considering this development, the recognition of high-performance games has grown. Individuals playing games better understand the skills of leading players. The viewer market for poker broadcasts, on the other hand, is relatively small. This could partly be attributed to poker's simple visual presentation. Although Hold'em poker is exceedingly complex, it doesn't appear "contemporary." PokerStars' decision to focus on "eSports compatibility" is logical. Whether "Power Up" meets the expectations of developers remains to be seen. It should already be considered a significant improvement in the world of poker.
Poker has persisted in popularity for almost two centuries due to its ongoing progression. PokerStars Power Up advances this tradition by incorporating a modern aspect into traditional poker, making it enticing not only for poker players, but also for gamers in general. The tests conducted during the Alpha phase in July and August were encouraging, and we're optimistic that Power Up will not only attract mobile gamers to poker but also reignite the interest of existing and former players. Rafi Ashkenazi, CEO The Stars Group
Although the game experienced issues shortly after its release and was momentarily deactivated, it is expected to return soon.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
