Texas Holdem' No Longer Free?

[bapenguin]

The Gamerscore Blog addresses (http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2006/07/20/536276.aspx) comments made in a recent interview (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/joystiq-interviews-greg-canessa-of-xbla/) Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com) did with Greg Canessa of XBox Live. Greg flat out mentions the game won't be free. The Gamerscore guys give us the lowdown.As Greg Canessa pointed out in an interview with Joystiq, Xbox Live Arcade's upcoming Texas Hold ‘Em Poker will be coming soon, and he said something about it not being free. After talking to the product team to see what the story is, I'm told that specific details regarding the launch of Texas Hold ‘Em Poker have not yet been announced, and it's too early to say anything yet. I'm told we should stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

I guess it came down to the nature of the game and the legality of it. Especially with the recent laws passed in congress with gambling and online. By giving it away for free they essentially allows minors direct access to it, and that's going to ruffle a few feathers.

[51|RandoM]

I guess it came down to the nature of the game and the legality of it. Especially with the recent laws passed in congress with gambling and online. By giving it away for free they essentially allows minors direct access to it, and that's going to ruffle a few feathers.

it isn't gambling when nothing concrete is wagered, I'd think.

[MSUStud911]

It's just a video poker game. There's nothing wagered, won, or lost. I'm sure you can download many free Texas Hold 'em games right to your computer. What makes the 360 version so different? If that's the excuse they give for adding a price to the game, that's weak. They should just come right out and say, "This wasn't free to make so it's not going to be free to download."

[bapenguin]

it isn't gambling when nothing concrete is wagered, I'd think.

Right. But the problem was the sponsor WAS a gambling site. And that's where things got hairy. I wonder why they couldn't just get a non gambling sponsor...say Mountain Dew or something. I'm guessing there's a whole mess of legal mumbo jumbo surrounding something like that, so who knows.

[Klade]

Unless theres a way for kids to access the site through the game I would say that the game not being free had absolutely nothing to do with illegal gambling.

I would venture the shocking conclusion that market research showed that card games like texas holdem were popular and that they could make money if they charged for it.

I mean its not like underage kids have a hard time getting access to a deck of cards in the real world. Heck when I was 7 I would get them for birthdays.

[bapenguin]

Unless theres a way for kids to access the site through the game I would say that the game not being free had absolutely nothing to do with illegal gambling.

I would venture the shocking conclusion that market research showed that card games like texas holdem were popular and that they could make money if they charged for it.

I mean its not like underage kids have a hard time getting access to a deck of cards in the real world. Heck when I was 7 I would get them for birthdays.

Look at it from a drinking perspective. You aren't allowed to give out alcoholic memorabilia to minors. I imagine this is the same thing.

[Savok]

I mean its not like underage kids have a hard time getting access to a deck of cards in the real world. Heck when I was 7 I would get them for birthdays.
Dude, you just got your parents arrested.

[Watership]

Considering that the game would be sponsered by online gamblinging websites I think MS probabkly ran into some legal issues. I also read the theory that the various partners MS was trying to get were just too unstable and didn't make good business plans.

But really, we'll probably never know. Just release it :)

[Roc Ingersol]

It would actually be better for the game, if there was a nominal cost and they let you wager with MS points.

(MS points aren't real money, so there's no legal problem there)

[Salesmunn]

Considering that the game would be sponsered by online gamblinging websites I think MS probabkly ran into some legal issues. I also read the theory that the various partners MS was trying to get were just too unstable and didn't make good business plans.

But really, we'll probably never know. Just release it :)

As soon as I heard it might be free, I was stunned they would be stupid enough to take a risk like that. Children and gambling is a big problem right now in this country and the Xbox line doesn't need anymore controversy. (http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/07/13/ap2878105.html) I can hear the news story now,

"So where did Bobby learn to play poker? Well, on his Xbox 360, where he could play for free as much as he wanted with fake money. While playing Texas Hold'm, Bobby made a bunch of friends in Microsoft's Xbox Live service, friends that also played poker for real money, over the internet on their home computers.

Now, thoroughly a gambling addict thanks to Texas Hold'm, Bobby just couldn't resist the temptation to try it out."

[Salesmunn]

It would actually be better for the game, if there was a nominal cost and they let you wager with MS points.

(MS points aren't real money, so there's no legal problem there)

That's a pretty rediculous idea, I just have to come out and say it.

Since when do MS points not represent real money? They're basically just another form of currency that takes away the confusion of conversion rates between regions of the world.

Aside of the fact that gambling online is illegal.

[51|RandoM]

Now, thoroughly a gambling addict thanks to Texas Hold'm, Bobby just couldn't resist the temptation to try it out."

So its ok to create assassination addicts but not poker addicts? Lol, twisted.

[Roc Ingersol]

That's a pretty rediculous idea, I just have to come out and say it.
Since when have arcade tokens ever represented real money?

Read your EULA. MS points aren't money.
And since they have substantial uses beyond being a proxy for gambling, I don't think you can make the case they're just a trivial digital poker chip.

Points have no monetary value. You may not obtain any cash or money in exchange for Points, regardless of how you acquired those Points. Points are not your personal property. Your only recourse for using Points is to obtain the specific online services or digital goods that we offer for Points redemption.

[EGO]

I doubt it's about the legality of gambling for minors.

"Little Jimmy" will be just as corrupted by shuffling through the menus and loading it up after his parents have paid $5-$10 for as if he were getting it for free, so I think the point is moot.

It's always about money.

Texas Holdem is hot right now. EVERYBODY plays it, to the point where I can't even get a REAL poker game going (anybody ever heard of Draw Poker?!?!). Why give away something that you KNOW people will pay for?

[Laughing_Penguin]

I can see why they would charge for it... it will likely sell very well. BUT, if you really enjoy playing poker online with people, there are dozens of really good programs out there on the PC that are free, have multiple game types, and are almost definitely going to play better than what XBL will offer. I can go to Full Tilt Poker right now and get into a free Razz tournament or play in a freeroll twice a day to win some actual money, all with no cost. I play TruePoker now and then because they have Sit N' Go games running around the clock, and Holem Tournaments running every hour. The list goes on, or course... just watch TV for a little while and you'll see ads for PokerStars, UltimateBet, Party Poker, and many, many others.. and you can play absolutrely free with play money. XBL really can't match that, so if it will cost anything to buy it, I hardly see a point.

As for it being illegal, playing poker online is still legal in most places (for now), and I expect the current bill being floated to get shot down before being signed into law. It's basically a lot of grandstanding during an election year, and will likely be glossed over soon enough.

[Sazime]

Right. But the problem was the sponsor WAS a gambling site. And that's where things got hairy. I wonder why they couldn't just get a non gambling sponsor...say Mountain Dew or something. I'm guessing there's a whole mess of legal mumbo jumbo surrounding something like that, so who knows.
Who was the original sponsor?

See, this is what Party Poker does. They advertise a free website where no gambling is going on, then that site has links to their real site. That way they can advertise on television and in magazines, and it's perfectly legal. Couldn't they do the same thing here?