Poker release notes 3.23 (Banzai 2.0)

[BillyR23]

Today I have buttons, so nothing to complain about lol... I like the graphics, I also prefer how we have 'life'(heart) instead of the usual percentage to show our equity... The animations are also a big plus IMO and will make recreationals enjoy the experience at the tables more because it will be giving something similar to a game experience too and we all know how much people love games nowadays... 

[Whoever]

@Turbo_Boy Luckily/Sadly you werent the only one who became Sensei ... 🙂

[fornicator99]

Ok, played for like half an hour:

- really like the graphics, animations all running smooth. really like the thunder. Good job on this!

- overall pace is faster, I like it personally

- I really like the level up idea but I think it should be improved. Right now graphics are pretty similar for all levels and you just see different similar avatar with small differences and you can't really tell which one is better just by looking at them. Also, recs should be incentivized to play more and level up. Not by rake but by different graphics and abilities for each level. I suggest more bombastic avatars for each level with some perks like special emoji maybe some throw objects animations like on other sites. Also, as an idea, there should be the ability to customize your avatar if you reach some thresholds, etc. Bottom line: the main idea is very good but it needs a little tweaking.

- I understand the anonymous tables thing, fair enough but there at least should be unique nicknames for all users. Main idea is for protecting the players, I get that and I respect it but with multiple instances of the same nick on different table is straight out confusing. Pretty sure I saw two Slobber Knockers on different tables.

- Also, I lost 2 buy ins, confirmed unbeatable 😅.

 

 

[Panamera]

Only thing I don't like is nl5 DOJO graphics, could be smoother, makes eyes hurt.

[0rdvl0]

What thunder are you talking about? I've played 30 mins on NL1 and I saw no thunder. Is it stake specific?

I really like everything about the new format, graphics, nicknames. Hope I won't be booted out on my journey to sensei today 😅

[Stubbe-Unibet]

1 minute ago, 0rdvl0 said:

What thunder are you talking about? I've played 30 mins on NL1 and I saw no thunder. Is it stake specific?

I really like everything about the new format, graphics, nicknames. Hope I won't be booted out on my journey to sensei today 😅

Nit alert, nit alert 😄

When pot is bigger than 50bb, there is a thunder animation and sound 😉 

[Rushbie]

1 minute ago, 0rdvl0 said:

What thunder are you talking about? I've played 30 mins on NL1 and I saw no thunder. Is it stake specific?

You have to turn on the sounds from settings to hear it.

 

[BillyR23]

13 minutes ago, fornicator99 said:

 

- Also, I lost 2 buy ins, confirmed unbeatable 😅.

 

 

Ask Stubbe to turn on the run good button and you'll be just fine... it worked for me lol

Spoiler

I like the level up idea- it took less then an hour to reach the 'last level'(from my friends that are 'addicted' to games- I know they put a lot of money into them to reach the top as fast as possible, so recs should like this...) and also becoming Sensei isn't 'game over' as you have an 'activity bar' and if you don't play- you get demoted... I agree that improvements/ some fixes are necessary but the mod was just lunched and things look great so far 👍

Edited December 14, 2022 by BillyR23

[Livertool]

46 minutes ago, Stubbe-Unibet said:

Curious to hear what you think about the visuals, thunder, vs screen etc. 🙂

It was pretty laggy playing with mobile browser, haven't played via browser before so dunno if it was just banzai or are other formats the same. (Lenovo yoga tab)

What it comes to visual, yellow colour for call button is bad or then writing should be black or something that pops more out. My eyes ain't what they used to be but still 😄 Couple of miss calls cause saw wrong amout in there playing 4 tables and there for bit hurry.

And those banzai betsliders seem to only be there in portait mode.

[Livertool]

18 minutes ago, fornicator99 said:

but there at least should be unique nicknames for all users.

Agree with this, would be better for playing sake.

19 minutes ago, fornicator99 said:

Right now graphics are pretty similar for all levels and you just see different similar avatar with small differences and you can't really tell which one is better just by looking at them.

And this too. Didn't quite get what was difference nor what those bars meant there, sometimes one bar, sometimes two. Got sensei avatar at one point, did that mean i got to sensei level already etc.

[Stubbe-Unibet]

Great feedback! Keep it coming!

For the avatar and belt progression. Avatar is supposed to become more "tough" as you level up but the differences are probably too subtle so if you dont know your karate belts I agree it might not be obvious enough

[GR1ZZL3R]

    Just played for a while and I have to say I like it. I was confused with the bars but it seems obvious when you've played a while, and I agree there seems no difference in levels. Once you've played a while this will probably become intuitive as well.

One small quibble (so far) it states the more all-ins you see the more belts you'll unlock...

 

... but I noticed one player levelling up when going all in from the small blind but not being called, thus levelling up without seeing an all-in. This poses the question "Could Richie Rich McMoneybags reach Sensei level by simply throwing money on the table and being all-in quite often rather than seeing all-ins?"  

I'm not going to be the one to experiment.

Quite enjoyable (but isn't it always when winning?)   👍

[Groggy]

Whoever came up with the name 'Denzel Hexaproson' should be fired.

Maybe could take some alias requests from the community, implement the better ones and then give the ones that get chosen a free buy in to the park or dojo.

[Groggy]

I look forward to seeing what promotion ideas you have for them. Is there plans to run one there soon with the games being new? I think the rake is perfectly reasonable and the games are certainly still beatable. Sky poker offers similar games with higher rake and regs still win. Games are generally self regulating anyway. If rake is too good the games are tougher and if it's bad the games are softer. I see this is a big improvement. Auto rebuy is a must though. 

[GotKot99]

I had the time to do some testing too (about 50 min). Here are some of my initial observations (some probable overlap with previous comments).

Overall, I think the idea and format is great. Really liking the graphics and atmosphere! (Technically everything seemed to be working without any problems with iPad browser version.)

Some more specific feedback:

a) Got few of those thunder effects during my initial “elf-testing”. I think it is a nice touch. However, from my experience, the timing could maybe be tweaked a little, i.e., the thunder/quaking to stop before further cards are dealt. I will have to try again how it feels though and how one gets familiar with it. (Didn’t have sound on, so cannot comment on that aspect.)

b) The “life-bar” was also a great nuance and fitting for the new Banzai 2.0 instead of the hand strength percentages. However, I was wondering if the percentages could be squeezed within the “life-bars” in some way. It works fine as it is currently, but being already accustomed with the percentages showing elsewhere, I don’t know. Just a thought to ponder on

 

c) In my opinion the belt system is a great idea. It gives some special feel to the game. Yet, I struggle somewhat to understand the benefits of levelling-up with one’s belts (I really need to read more closer the instruction etc.) in the short- and/or long term.

If level up happens via going all-in or calling an all-in, that could be considered as experience.

 

But while I kind of understand it within the Banzai game setting, it seems somewhat counterintuitive with regards to real life: In Banzai you can go all-in and win or lose, and either way you level up. In real life you don’t level with belts in any martial arts I know of by failing belt tests or by losing.

This was just an observation, and I really don’t know could there be some other or better way of implementing the level up in Banzai 2.0 other than only by winning (all-in) hands you level up.

d) If I understand the game correctly, anyone with a biggest stack (at least 50 BB) could become a Sensei. Again, this probably works within the context of the game, but does not reflect real life. 
 

In my understanding Sensei is considered as someone who for example teaches and has mastery over one’s field of teaching. If someone with - let’s say - with an orange of a green belt can become Sensei, that would be non-sensical in real life. (Having a few years of martial arts background as a junior myself, lower belt teachers would be not called Sensei but rather Senpai.)

What I’m getting at with respect to Banzai implementation, maybe some more merit should be required for the title Sensei.

Of course this is a poker game, so it soesn’t have to reflect real life. These were just some random things that came to my mind while playing. 
 

e) There have been some nagetive feedback about the pacing/tempo of the Banzai 2.0. To me it felt just about right. Quick, fast-paced Banzai!

Summa summarum: After my initial test playing session, the new Banzai 2.0 is a very welcome and original update! Maybe some tweaking here and there, but the core is already there 💪. Of course, I will have to test/play more to get even better grasp, but I think this has great potential!

 

 

[Stubbe-Unibet]

Again, great stuff guys!

47 minutes ago, Groggy said:

Whoever came up with the name 'Denzel Hexaproson' should be fired.

Maybe could take some alias requests from the community, implement the better ones and then give the ones that get chosen a free buy in to the park or dojo.

We are investigating who came up with this one 🤣

We can definitely add more aliases to the list, so please don't be shy with suggestions! Just keep in mind we'd like to keep the structure with a first and last name. Aliases also shouldn't be longer than 12 characters.

42 minutes ago, Groggy said:

I look forward to seeing what promotion ideas you have for them. Is there plans to run one there soon with the games being new? 

Banzai 2.0 will be a key part of the December/Xmas missions starting on Monday. Will also be some ticket giveaway around Xmas. From original post in thread:

On 12/7/2022 at 3:25 PM, Stubbe-Unibet said:

CG Banzai 2.0 Launch Campaign 19^th Dec – 31^st Dec

• Free Ticket give away presented to player via new client gift animation (19^th – 26^th Dec)
  • Segmented giveaway (not all players will receive something)
• XMAS Missions (19^th – 31^st Dec)
  • Each day a new mission primarily pushing Banzai 2.0 cash game

On 12/7/2022 at 3:25 PM, Stubbe-Unibet said:

• Banzai Flips 23th Jan – 28^th Feb
  • New take on King of Flips – Banzai Flips!
• Cash Game Banzai 2.0 Casino Brands Launch Mission, 23th Jan – 26^th Feb (5 weeks)
  • Banzai 2.0 weekly missions for Casino brands

 

[fornicator99]

Have an idea: how about when you win a big pot against a higher level the loser gets demoted or something like that. Or when you suck out on someone higher rated he gets demoted or something in this direction. Statistically, weaker players will get it in worse a lot more and will suck out more so I guess they'll like it. Bottom line: it might be more fun if the outcome of an all in will have an impact on the other player's status, to feel more like a fight. The rules and the way of how it will impact should be, of course, in the advantage of recreationals.

[Turbo_Boy]

3 hours ago, Stubbe-Unibet said:

Curious to hear what you think about the visuals, thunder, vs screen etc. 🙂

these graphics are pretty much eye candy. When i played these 10minutes, i didnt see anything that is annoing.

[Groggy]

The demotion idea is really good. I think with sensei being fairly easy to get to, it devalues it a bit and makes it less interesting for the casino players. Once they've made it to sensei they've basically completed it and might not come back. Getting sensei should be an accomplishment and very hard to do. The kind of thing you might only be able to get once or twice a month if you played every day. I didn't play long enough to see if going up the ranks takes longer but I think this should be the case. Move up the first few quickly then each subsequent one is slower. Losing your ranking would make it harder and give games more replay value. It would make it more personal when you do lose that all in which I think would be good for the games and fits the fighting theme.

I don't know if this is something that could be implemented but i think it would make it more fun for recreationals. If you show someone a bluff for a pot over a certain size you can derank your opponent or make them lose some points, or maybe you get double the points on your quest to move up the ranks.

The most important thing for everyone is that this appeals to the casino players so everything should be designed to maximise enjoyment for those players and to provide replay value so they keep coming back. 

[Groggy]

Maybe you could have it where the avatars at the table have different states. When some guy is running hot his avatar is really zen. When he's on a cold streak his avatar is angry and some in-between. Any little additional features that casino players will enjoy to keep them coming back. 

[Livertool]

1 hour ago, Stubbe-Unibet said:

so please don't be shy with suggestions!

As someone who is always concerned about equality 😋 i wonder why all men characters and not females at all😤... Like Sister Miyagi

 

[Livertool]

3 hours ago, Livertool said:

was just banzai or are other formats the same.

Tried couple of hexas later and they ran smoothly so i guess it is just banzai that is heavier for my tab.

[FreedoM]

A_BANZAI_2.0_Experience:

Had a lovely day at the PARK with lots of action, while rolling around in the grass, and collecting stacks the DOJO caught my eye, so I entered and it didn't disappoint, but unfortunately had to move up to the ARENA where they say that you will get more respected, it was a disappointment, they don't even defend the BB vs BTN to an x2 Open, what a bunch of NITs, but still yours truly did some DAMAGE. Overall it's a FUN GAME and I had a Great Time.

Edited December 14, 2022 by FreedoM
+Gif

[SShcherbyna]

Liked:
Design. Atmospheric, beautiful, fun.
Convenience. If you want to play a little poker while waiting in line at the store or before going to bed, then banzai is even better than hexapro.
Disliked:
Thunder animation. Unpleasant to the eyes.
There is little time to make a decision, especially when multi-tabling.
That I would like to receive more:
Satistics in the gamelab. At least the ratio of all-in ev/real winning all-ins.
Belt/Sensei Award. For example: Get a black belt and play penalty  banzai hero. Or become a sensei for 3 days in a row and play king sensei of flip. 

[Panamera]

Would be great if there would be a counter (visible/invisible) what counts for time one has held Sensei status consecutively. Who has held most time, ones name would be displayed in Game Lab. Could be also absolute total time one has been Sensei. So game would never end, someone can always do better.

Edit: Maybe real initials for bragging instead of system given name. Just a thought.

Edited December 14, 2022 by Panamera