The future is here. PokerStars recently announced the debut of PokerStars Next Gen, which is a new and improved mobile gaming app. The new sleek app debuted in Denmark and will be rolling out to other countries shortly.
The future is here. Sleek. Slick. Smooth. PokerStars HQ recently announced they have been hard at work improving how everything looks on a mobile platform. In the global gaming world, it's all about speed. As Goose from Top Gun once said, "I feel the need for speed!" Nothing it more tilt-inducing than a slow-to-load page and other clunky presentation on a smaller screen.
I'm old enough to remember a time when I played online poker via modem and a dial-up connection on your phone. Yeah, I'm dating myself here, but I had to log onto AOL first to establish an internet connection before I could fire up PokerStars. Even though dial up is arcane and slow, PokerStars and other online pokersites operated smoothly. It's amazing to think that the majority of us played vial dial-up together almost 15 years ago. Technology has vastly improved since then.
We connect to the digital world in different ways. I have a phone, tablet, and laptop within arm reach as I write this. Luckily, you can play PokerStars on all of those platforms.
The desktop world is no longer dominant. I don't know the exact numbers, but I'm betting that more than half of you are reading this on your phone or tablet. Which is why, programmers have to switch to a sleeker design. Minimalism is in. You have a smaller space to work with, especially on phones, and the load speed is essential. If a page doesn't load within a half-second, you've lost the game. No one likes to wait as your life goes spinning in circles.
The R&D and design techs at PokerStars HQ have been hard at work designing the newest piece of tech for PokerStars. Behold... PokerStars Next Gen.
Simple name. You know exactly what's up with this new product. Here's what they are saying about it at Stars HQ. I'm lazily copy/pasta the PR blast:
"Completely redesigned around the player, providing seamless navigation and poker personalisation, PokerStars Next Gen takes mobile poker experiences to another level.
Slick visuals bring the game to life and special features better cater to every kind of player's personal preferences. The new, state-of-the art app allows for more time spent playing and less time spent browsing with curated game categories, easy access to recently played games, and suggested buy-in levels according to playing history . Registered tournaments can be synced to players' calendars so no action is missed.
PokerStars Next Gen, which is powered by a new graphics engine for a smoother and richer visual experience, is fun and easy to use for new and experienced players alike. Players and bettors can seamlessly multi-table and switch between poker, casino or sportsbook for the best gaming experience, with handy how-to guides and tutorials on hand when needed."
The keywords here are: smooth, seamless, and switch. Smooth is vital for any redesign, especially with a mobile gaming device. Seamless is vital if you are going to multi-table online poker. And the switch is more of a suit term. The suits would love for players to seamless switch between the smooth visuals of multiple Stars verticals. Bust the donks, then donk that off at the casino and sportsbook.
It's about time we got a smooth and slick app that's state of the art. The future is now. You do not have to be tethered to an internet connection in your basement to play SNGs. All you need is any connection with your phone and you can play on the go. Which means, check-raising donks while sitting on the can. Or doubling up in an SNG while waiting in line at the local grocery store. Or multi-tabling cash games on the stealth at work when you should be paying attention to the conference call from finance guys in the head office, but instead of looking at the quarterly projections, you are trying to semi-bluff the biggest calling station at the table.
Your life is always on the go. You never know when you will have some unexpected downtime. The new sleek mobile app lets you play poker on the go and help fill up those idle minutes while waiting... in security lines at airports, at the post office, waiting for the girlfriend to get ready for dinner, waiting for dinner at a crowded restaurant, bored at halftime of the football game, killing seven-to-ten minutes on a smoke break, stuck in the pickup line at school, waiting at the doctor, killing time before you can sneak out of the office, filling the void during insomnia hours, playing online while playing a snails-pace live game, or simply sneaking a few hands while on vacation in paradise.
PokerStars New Gen launched in Denmark. The Danes get first crack at the new sleek design. Other countries will finally experience PokerStars Next Gen in the coming weeks and months. Stay tuned for an official release date in your country. For more details, head over to PokerStars Blog.
By the way, PokerStars recently introduced 6+ Holdem, which is their version of Short-Deck Hold'em. Short Deck is the rage these days, especially among the high-stakes community.
