I'm Stoked About STACKED

Less than a year ago, I was approached with an idea to do a poker video game. I'd already listened to several other similar ideas and wasn't too gung ho about it. Luckily for me, though, I listened to what was said this time, and it blew me away.

Who would have thought that poker would make it to Xbox and PlayStation 2? I've always been a gamer, and the idea of actually being a character in a video game sounded way too cool to pass up.

Over the next year, I plan on doing several other poker-related projects, but this one just might be the most exciting for me. Rather than have me fumble through the particulars, I decided to interview Ken Woo, a partner at Myelin, who knows everything there is to know about the game:

Daniel Negreanu: So, what will be unique about this game and why will poker players be excited about STACKED?

Ken Woo: Poker players, and the readers of Card Player in particular, will be excited about STACKED because it's the first poker video game that focuses on Texas hold'em as it is played at the highest levels across the country. We see poker as an emergent sport rather than just a televised phenomenon, and we've invested significant resources to make a game that embodies this new generation of poker. STACKED is all about realism, advanced strategy, and a level of competition that would impress even the most accomplished poker player.

DN: How did you guys come up with the concept for STACKED

KW: As gamers, we looked at everything that was happening with the popularity of poker and basically said that we needed to make a product that does the game justice. But in order to do so, we knew that we would have to really focus on every detail of the game in order to re-create the intensity and excitement of professional poker.

DN: What is the hardest aspect of poker to translate into a video game?

KW: Definitely the artificial intelligence. More than any other game, poker, and no-limit hold'em in particular, puts an emphasis on instinct. While computers are great at probability and statistics, knowing when to go all in from early position is something that is very difficult to program. That's why many products don't even have no-limit play as an option, and the ones that do have you playing a game that only looks like poker. With STACKED, we have an AI solution that is not only challenging, but will actually improve your real-world game.

DN: What makes you so sure that STACKED will be an improvement over past poker video games?

KW: I think previous poker games have been lacking because they are based on an outdated perception of the game. They are about poker within a larger casino experience, complete with slot machines and Elvis impersonators. A big part of what has made hold'em so popular is its depth and complexity, and that just can't be addressed in a generic gambling product. With STACKED, our focus and commitment to hold'em, and hold'em alone, has resulted in a product that will have poker fans saying, "Finally."

DN: What aspect of STACKED are you personally most excited about?

KW: Personally, I'm really excited about its multiplayer online features. Don't get me wrong, I like playing on Internet sites as much as the next guy, but hold'em is perfect for the pure competition of playing for bragging rights on your living room couch. I'm also looking forward to some fierce competition against hundreds of STACKED users in the multitable tournaments.

DN: STACKED uses a type of artificial intelligence called "Pokibot." What makes Pokibot such a poker powerhouse?

KW: Poki is based on more than 10 years of university research in machine learning and advanced game theory that was focused on creating a world-class poker opponent. Basically, what makes Poki so special is its ability to alter its tactics to adapt to your playing style in real time. Most poker games have static AI that can be cracked within a few hours of play. But because Poki is always changing, it makes for hours of challenging play while teaching you the most important elements of hold'em, perception and deception.

DN: How do the online tournaments in STACKED simulate playing in a real tournament?

KW: Let me start with scale. We're using exclusive technology to allow for hundreds and up to thousands of simultaneous competitors in our multitable tournaments, a first for poker video games. In addition, we've come up with a competitive league system that ranks players according to performance rather than bankrolls, and this will showcase the truly skilled players. This will drive an elite online tournament schedule, in which only the best of the best will have the opportunity to compete against you and the other STACKED pros.

DN: How will STACKED help players improve their game?

KW: Primarily through the in-game tutorial system. We've been very lucky to have the level of involvement and commitment from you in creating a tutorial system that captures your experiences and insights from years of winning at the highest levels. The best part is that you do such a great job of talking about hold'em in an innovative and relevant style that I personally believe STACKED has become the best poker tool for anyone who wants to get serious about the game.

DN: Flattery will get you everywhere! Besides myself, who are the other professional players in the game and what are their roles?

KW: We are really excited to feature Carlos Mortensen, Erick Lindgren, Evelyn Ng, Jennifer Harman, Josh Arieh, and David Williams in the game, as well. They will basically be video game bosses in STACKED, and to do so, we've spent a lot of time interviewing each of them in order to tune an advanced version of Poki to mimic their quality of play. We've also captured tons of video and audio so that you'll really feel like you're sitting at the final table with our STACKED stars.

DN: Thanks for your time, Ken. When will everyone be able to get STACKED?

KW: This summer on consoles and the PC, then on the Sony PlayStation Portable in the fall.