Texas Hold Em: XBLA - Free from 8/23 for 48 hours, 800 points afterwards

Javery

Javery

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UPDATE #2 (8/15/06): Free for 48 hours, 800 points afterwards?
This appears to be the case, at least in Australia. CAG deadite76 found this:
http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/community/news/2006/0816-texasholdem.htm (page is now gone)

Quoted from NeoGAF

Texas Hold ‘em full version download available to gamers for free for 48 hours on Live Arcade

Enjoy poker night every night with friends, family and gamers around the world.

Microsoft isn’t bluffing: Gamers can log onto Xbox Live within the first 48 hours after launch and download Texas Hold ‘em – completely free of charge! This full-featured poker title for Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360 will launch on Wednesday, August 23 at 6pm EST.

For 48 hours only – Wednesday, August 23 through to 6pm EST Friday, August 25 – as a special limited-time only promotion, gamers can download and own the game at no charge (for all Xbox Live Gold and Silver members). Starting at 6:01pm EST Friday, August 25, Texas Hold ‘em for Xbox Live Arcade will be available for 800 Microsoft Points.

This title comes equipped with features that can only be found on Xbox 360. Designed to simulate the risk-reward of real poker gameplay, keep gamers honest, and discourage opponents from betting too recklessly, Texas Hold ’em has an innovative new feature called Persistent Bankroll. Your virtual bankroll is tied to your Xbox Live Gamertag and keeps a running tally of your chip count. If you lose all of your chips in a poker game, you’ll have to play lower stakes buy-in games to make back your stack and earn your way to the big tables.

Texas Hold ’em also offers multiplayer support for up to eight gamers, three modes of gameplay (Standard Games, Scenarios and Tournaments), Achievements, extensive online leaderboards, statistics and high-definition graphics. Enjoy poker night every night with friends, family and gamers around the world (please note that this title may not be available in some countries).

In addition to the exciting release of Texas Hold ’em on August 23, gamers can also look forward tonewgame titles and premium downloadable game content on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays from August 16 to September 6, including:

* Cloning Clyde Picture Pack, the action adventure/puzzle game created by Wahoo Studios/NinjaBee (developer of the popular Outpost Kaloki X for Xbox Live Arcade), will have four new gamer picture packs available on Xbox Live Marketplace on Wednesday, August 16, allowing gamers to check out more unique pictures of Clyde. Each gamer picture pack: 100 Microsoft Points each.
* Time Pilot, the futuristic fighter pilot classic from Konami, lets gamers fight through different eras like never before. High-definition graphics and enhanced gameplay designed specifically for Xbox Live Arcade makes this version even better than the original from 1982. Gamers can download Time Pilot on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday, August 30. Available: 400 Microsoft Points.
* Scramble, the classic side-scrolling ‘shoot-‘em up’ coin-op title from Konami, takes off on Xbox Live Arcade. The 1981 classic, widely considered the first ‘multi-level shooter,’ launches on Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday September 6. Available: 400 Microsoft Points.
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I think this is what it is going to look like. Hopefully they will figure out a way to deal with the people who go all in all the time. It looks pretty though and since it's going to be free I'm definitely picking it up!



pic from teamxbox site.









UPDATE: NO LONGER FREE (CheapyD edit)
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/joystiq-interviews-greg-canessa-of-xbla/
Besides Lumines Live!, one of the other games people are looking forward to is Texas Hold 'Em poker. Talk about what's in store for that.

First of all, it won't be free. We haven't decided on what the final price will be, but it will not be free. As far as incentives, we want to make sure gamers play with a purpose with a game like this that doesn't have any actual risk/reward. We will have a persistent bankroll system tied to your gamertag that will allow those who have built up enough money to enter higher-quality tournaments. Then, if you run out of money, you have to enter the freebie tournaments to build your bankroll back up.
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Looks sweet and the price is right .
Psyched about UNO as well , but I get pretty evil when playing it .
Hopefully there's a way to modify the rules slightly .
 
Its good to see they are trying to make it look nice.

They could've just done a something like the most free online poker games.
 
Yeah....free poker. I know it's not like the real thing, but this will be good to pass some time. When will we start being able to gamble Marketplace points ;)
 
[quote name='menikmati']I really need to learn how to play poker.[/quote]

Well, learning the rules takes about 10 minutes but mastering the game is almost impossible (and even moreso in a room with real people).

The Shuffle, The Deal and The Blinds
The dealer shuffles a standard 52-card deck.

(In casinos, the dealer never plays. A round disc -- known as a "dealer button" -- moves clockwise from player to player with each hand. The button marks which player would be the dealer if the deal were advanced from player to player as the game went along.)

Most Texas Hold 'Em Poker games start with the two players to the left of the dealer (the button) putting a predetermined amount of money into the pot before any cards are dealt, ensuring that there's something to play for on every hand. This is called "posting the blinds." Most often, the "first blind" -- the player to the left of the dealer -- puts up half the minimum bet, and the "second blind" puts up the full minimum bet.

Each player is dealt two cards, face down. These are known as the "hole cards.

Betting Begins
A round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the two who posted the blinds. Players can call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

The Flop
After the first betting round, the dealer discards the top card of the deck. This is called burning the card and is done to ensure that no one accidentally saw the top card, and to help prevent cheating.

The dealer then flips the next three cards face up on the table. These cards are called the "flop."

NOTE: Eventually, a total of five community cards will be placed face up on the table. Players can use any combination of the community cards and their own two hole cards to form the best possible five-card Poker hand.

After the flop, another round of betting takes place, beginning with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). During this and all future rounds of betting, players can check, call, raise, or fold when it's their turn to bet.

Fourth Street
The dealer burns another card and plays one more face up onto the table. This, the fourth community card, is called the "turn" or "Fourth Street." The player to the left of the dealer (the button) begins the third round of betting.

Fifth Street
The dealer burns another card before placing the final face-up card on the table. This card is called the "river" or "Fifth Street."

Final Betting and The Winner
Players can now use any combination of seven cards -- the five community cards and the two hole cards known only to them -- to form the best possible five-card Poker hand. The fourth and final round of betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer (the button). After the final betting round, all players who remain in the game reveal their hands. The player who made the initial bet or the player who made the last raise shows their hand first. The player with the best hand wins.
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and here are the rankings of hands (out of any 5 cards)...

Royal Flush
Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10, all of the same suit.

Straight Flush
Any five-card sequence in the same suit (e.g.: 8, 9, 10, Jack and Queen of clubs; or 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of diamonds).

Four of a Kind
All four cards of the same value (e.g.: 8, 8, 8, 8; or Queen, Queen, Queen, Queen).

Full House
Three of a kind combined with a pair (e.g.: 10, 10, 10 with 6, 6; or King, King, King with 5, 5).

Flush
Any five cards of the same suit, but not in sequence (e.g.: 4, 5, 7, 10 and King of spades).

Straight
Five cards in sequence, but not in the same suit (e.g.: 7 of clubs, 8 of clubs, 9 of diamonds, 10 of spades and Jack of diamonds).

Three of a Kind
Three cards of the same value (e.g.: 3, 3, 3; or Jack, Jack, Jack).

Two Pair
Two separate pairs (e.g.: 2, 2, Queen, Queen).

Pair
Two cards of the same value (e.g.: 7, 7).

High Card
If a Poker hand contains none of the above combinations, it's valued by the highest card in it.
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Whats the story on the free RiverBelle Texas Hold Em for 360? Is is coming out or not? I heard rumors that Microsoft won't release it now for free because its promoting a casino.
 
[quote name='CaboWabo']Whats the story on the free RiverBelle Texas Hold Em for 360? Is is coming out or not? I heard rumors that Microsoft won't release it now for free because its promoting a casino.[/quote]

Between this and Street Fighter II, I'm almost ready to give up on XBLA... when the Wii's VC comes out in full force Microsoft is in big trouble...
 
They need to dump the "sponsored by" thing and just release it as a 400 point game like Uno was. People will still be all over it.

[quote name='javeryh']when the Wii's VC comes out in full force Microsoft is in big trouble...[/QUOTE]

Which is why I think MS is purposely holding back now. They'll probably relase a ton of games in the weeks leading up to the other consoles coming out.

That is, they will unless they are fucking retarded.
 
[quote name='KaneRobot']Which is why I think MS is purposely holding back now. They'll probably relase a ton of games in the weeks leading up to the other consoles coming out.

That is, they will unless they are fucking retarded.[/quote]

I'm going to go with option #2. They are retarded. It has been 7 months since launch and they are still having problems getting a steady flow of XBLA games up and running. That's inexcusable - most of the games offered are just ports and Microsoft has enough money so they should be able to license a ton of stuff...

Outside of Sony and Nintendo in-house/second party stuff shouldn't developers be jumping at the opportunity to do a quick port of an existing game in their backlog and release it for $10?
 
I hope there is an option to play "limit" Texas hold 'em, that way I won't have to deal with some jackass going all in every hand.
 
[quote name='2Fast']I hope there is an option to play "limit" Texas hold 'em, that way I won't have to deal with some jackass going all in every hand.[/quote]

This would be even worse... a slow game with some jackass raising multiple times every betting round, no thanx
 
I'll give credit for Jek, since its his appraisal of the situation.

Any bets Microsoft is holding back this release to give it as the "free" Arcade title with the camera?
 
So, is this actually legal?
I remember on a CAGcast about Cheapy explaining why it isn't. Something about all the online poker website being from out of the US and how its illegal here. And since MS would be releasing this it would be illegal?
 
Nope, not free anymore.
See, sometimes I am right!
[quote name='Mattte']So, is this actually legal?
I remember on a CAGcast about Cheapy explaining why it isn't. Something about all the online poker website being from out of the US and how its illegal here. And since MS would be releasing this it would be illegal?[/quote]
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/20/joystiq-interviews-greg-canessa-of-xbla/
Besides Lumines Live!, one of the other games people are looking forward to is Texas Hold 'Em poker. Talk about what's in store for that.

First of all, it won't be free. We haven't decided on what the final price will be, but it will not be free. As far as incentives, we want to make sure gamers play with a purpose with a game like this that doesn't have any actual risk/reward. We will have a persistent bankroll system tied to your gamertag that will allow those who have built up enough money to enter higher-quality tournaments. Then, if you run out of money, you have to enter the freebie tournaments to build your bankroll back up.
Click to expand...
 
Major Nelson was saying he was going to get Canessa on the show to get the real information about the release. I think we've got the makings of a good ol' fashion shit storm.
 
eh Doesn't surprise me. I'm just hoping it will be 400 points, I'd get it for sure. at 800 points, I'd probably still get it since I just picked up a couple cards at BB with the GGC. I don't mind 400 points, it's good to support the industry I suppose so we can get some other quality games on the marketplace.
 
Hopefully it ends up being only 200 points since they built it up as being free for so long. That would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath.
 
I guess the company/website didn't pass thru there msft legal team. Oh well, I had though at e3 I had read/heard on a podcast that the poker game may be bundled with the camera?
 
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