House of CardsPoker Boom in the Video Game Industry

Paweł WederCIO, GameDesire Company

• Poker became mainstream

• Poker vs Video Games

• What changed in the game industry

• Some thoughts about the future

Agenda

Poker

Where it took off (aka the Poker Boom)

• Movie: Rounders (1998)

• 2003 World Series of Poker

• + introduction of online Poker @ Planet Poker

Online Poker

Poker became mainstream

StarCraft/Poker

StarCraft/Poker Poker and SC are games of incomplete information

Both are games which require◦ psychological ◦ Tactical◦ Strategic Thinking

StarCraft/Poker Multi tasking

◦ Ad hoc Strategy◦ Changeable Tactics

Spectator sport◦ Fun to watch (even on multiple tables)◦ Easy to understand rules

Easy to differentiate colors/ shapes

Starcraft/Poker Booth games are easy to understand / learn but hard to master

Commonalities between Starcraft & Poker Pros

Commonalities between Starcraft & Poker Pros

•Making correct decisions under pressure

•Mental strength

•Ability to create strategies and new tactics on the fly

•THEY ARE insane good in Multi Tasking

Fighting games vs Poker Fighting games are about position and space control.

◦ Poker -> Betting position◦ Fighting game -> Fighter Position

Fighting games vs Poker Multi tasking

◦ Ad hoc Strategy◦ Changeable Tactics

Spectator sport◦ Fun to

Easy to understand rules

Easy to differentiate colors/ shapes

….

Fighting games vs Poker Multi tasking

◦ Ad hoc Strategy◦ Changeable Tactics

Spectator sport◦ Fun to

Easy to understand rules

Easy to differentiate colors/ shapes

….

Random?

Poker defined modern gaming

Poker defined e-sport before e-sport

Poker defined e-sport before e-sport

Spectator sport◦ Fun to watch (even on multiple table)

Easy to understand rules

Easy to differentiate colors/ shapes

Poker defined e-sport before e-sport

Spectator sport◦ Fun to watch (even on multiple table)

Easy to understand rules

Easy to differentiate colors/ shapes

Affinity effect Poker players started to be interested in video games Pro Video Gamers start to be interested in Poker

Affinity effect Poker players started to be interested in video games Pro Video Gamers start to be interested in Poker

Poker Stars Tournaments for Heartstone Players Heartstone player tournaments for Poker Players

Future

Thank you