November 18th:

Couple items:

1. Facebook is taking a bit longer than anticipated. If you aren't finding Poker West there yet, that's why. They'll be a final post here when the app is added to the public.
2. Some of the new game code is being pushed through here a bit faster than normal. As a result of that (not a surprise), there have been a few errors, including one where the servers were forcibly taken down. If you think this has affected your play chips, email support@pokerwest.com and we'll add them back. (This only applies if you were winning and have more than the 1000 daily allotted chips.)

November 13th:

First of all, thanks to everyone who has been a part of the Beta testing.

Poker West is now on Facebook.com (or will be in a day or two). If you have an existing account here, you can continue to play directly through the web or you can login through facebook.com and play (you'll have a different account for each. Later we'll have a tool to combine accounts).

We now, in addition to our Proforma Holdem game, have limit, pot limit and no limit games (cash and tourney structures).

Our prize system has been removed for the time being. In the following months, the goal is to improve and reimplement it. So build up your free chips as they'll most likely be tied to the prizes.

Again, thanks to all of the players who've helped up to this point!

7pm November 12th:

Poker West is going to integrate with Facebook. During this migration process the game servers will be down.

• If you have an existing login, it will be moved over to the new system and continue to work once the games are up again.
• New games will be added: limit holdem, no limit holdem, pot limit holdem (cash games and tourneys).
• The downloadable client will not be updated for the next month, so please come back here or on Facebook to play the no download version. (The new no download version has graphics comparable to the old client.)
• Also, the prizes for Nov. 1st - 12 will be prorated and paid still, as mentioned in the news.

Thanks for everyone who has helped Beta test!

 

Nov 3rd, 2008

Payouts for the Oct. prize schedule have just been made. Thank you to everyone who participated!

As the previous news has mentioned, we are going to be switching some stuff around here this month, which includes our prize schedule. Instead of completely removing the existing prize system until then, we're to just prorate it. So what that means is if you are ranked highly and that is the day we switch systems, you'll win and receive the prorated prize amount.

Oct 23rd, 2008

This month has been very busy. Major changes are being made to the poker system. Part of that includes adding ring games and tourneys. So we'll have No limit, Limit cash games plus NL, Limit and Proforma Tourneys (Pot Limit Holdem too, most likely). The goal is to roll out the new system by the end of the month, but that may be a little ambitious. The first two weeks of November is probably more realistic.

The biggest change, which affects pretty much everything at Poker West, is that we will be integrating with MySpace and FaceBook. My goal with this project was originally to promote Proforma Holdem. While working on that, a second goal arose, which is providing a game where people can play free poker, yet win real money. That will be the main direction now.

Oct 1st, 2008

The second prizes were awarded this month. Thanks for everyone who played!

What's next at Poker West?

Later this month we will most likely be adding more games.

 

1:30pm Sep 17th, 2008

Rework finished on the Events... We've opted for simplicity. We are going to focus on one main event for the games: Monthly Main. All players have to do now to qualify is play 50 points total: 10 five player tourneys or 9 six player tourneys. That should be totally doable over a month, for all players. That should ensure that we actually have more players getting awarded prizes.

The next update, later today, is going to be a clean-up of this website:

• Proforma tips, game rules and help. Better docs to get players up and going. Proforma Holdem is easy to learn, but the site here doesn't describe it in an approachable way.
• Tighten up the site and remove unnecessary pages.
• Create a simple page that describes everything:
  - players get paid via paypal.com
  - bots will join tournaments that you join, even if there aren't any other real players available.
  - bots can't win money
  - etc
  

 

4pm Sep 16th, 2008

Cell phones are no longer required to join.

12pm Sep 12th, 2008

There have been significant changes and improvements made to the poker system this week.

Please make sure to update the downloadable Poker Client when it requests to update, otherwise you may not be able to view the games correctly.

Over the following week we will be changing three main things:

1. Events. The events will remain for now, but the amount of tourneys one has to play to qualify will change. The initial numbers are too high. We're going to most likely make the old Mini the Monthly Main and the Monthly Main the Grinder. Any changes we make won't negatively affect your current scores; instead, you'll just be qualified for more events (which is a good thing). If you play 5 tourneys over the course the of month you should qualify for the Mini. If you play 10 tourneys, the Monthly Main, etc.
2. Cell phone requirement. We're going to remove this for signup. Many players are getting half way through signing up only to not complete registration with their mobile. This mobile verification was only done to prevent cheating, but since it is being such a stumbling block to new players joining, we'll remove it for now.
3. Help Docs. Essentially more info on our game Proforma Holdem -- tips, rules, strategy, etc.

If you have an suggestions or input, please email us and let us know. (support@pokerwest.com)

Have a good weekend!

 

12pm August 26th, 2008

The initial two weeks of Poker West's Beta release has been a success. We've released the no download version, squashed some bugs, and continued testing our tournaments.

This is a Beta period, which means testing our software but also our overall game play. Changes in the following month:

• More help docs. Our goal is to have a game system that is easy to play and understand. We'll be adding more information on how to play the tournaments and win, especially details on Proforma Holdem.
• Easier ranking system. The ranking system is good, but can be better. One of two things will happen next month:
  1. The qualifying points will be reduced. Players should be able to play a couple times a week and qualify for the prizes. Right now, they are too high.
  2. We scrap this ranking system in favor of a simpler one.

7pm Friday August 22nd, 2008

The no download version is now up in Alpha.

Only four players have qualified so far for any of the events. We want more! On the first, we want to be able to post our winners, so please play more tourneys.

Public Beta Open!

1pm Monday August 11th, 2008

Our doors are now open to the public. Real money will be paid at the end of this period. It is a short amount of time, but it is still possible to qualify for the events.

The biggest news right now are the bots. Since there are no players, yet you need players to attract new players, we have some novice computer players filling seats. Bots can't win any money. There are there only to keep tourneys running 24/7.

Thanks and welcome!