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Bluff Magazine Catches Poker Wave
Published: 2005-01-14
 Bluff Magazine Catches Poker Wave
Business Wire, Jan 14, 2005
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Bluff Magazine, now in its third issue, has been caught up in the poker phenomenon that is sweeping the nation. The magazine, in its third issue, has surpassed more traditional poker titles in terms of popularity and distribution by focusing on the new breed of poker enthusiast that has been spawned by the omnipresence of poker on television, in the papers and in the stores this Christmas season.
"We have been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. The poker bug has bitten America, and we had the right blend of entertainment and information to become the nation's best selling poker periodical," said Editor Michael Caselli.
But it's not just the poker players who are getting famous off America's favorite card game. Bluff Magazine co-founders Eric Morris and Eddy Kleid have appeared in numerous television programs and publications, most recently on CNBC, talking about the poker craze.
More than 80 million Americans play poker at home, in card rooms and online, where over $170 million is wagered each day. If this trend continues, more than $250 million will be wagered on poker on the Internet alone each day by January 2006.
"We have seen an exponential growth in poker," says Morris. "In our first issue we printed 90,000 copies. To meet demand, we increased our second print run to 150,000 copies, and our third issue will have 170,000 copies printed and distributed. Additionally, we've already confirmed that the print run for our fourth issue will exceed 200,000, further securing our position as the largest poker publication in the nation."
It's not just the public that are enamored with the game of poker; "Poker is huge in Hollywood," says Kleid. "We have had James Woods and Donald Trump grace our covers, and Issue 3 will have Kevin Nealon on the cover to coincide with his hosting of the new TV show Poker Royale. There are a few new poker movies in the pipe and every channel seems to have something poker related in its line up - who knows how big this thing is going to get?"
With Bluff being sold in such mainstream outlets as Borders, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart and 7/11, it looks like poker has finally made it mainstream.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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ThumbPlay Launches Sly Guy-Versus-Gal Networked Wireless Poker Game on U.S. Carriers
Published: 2005-01-06
 ThumbPlay Launches Sly Guy-Versus-Gal Networked Wireless Poker Game on U.S. Carriers; Sly Guy-Versus-Gal Game to Be Promoted in Major Media
Business Wire, Jan 6, 2005
NEW YORK -- ThumbPlay Enables Networked Play with Java Game, Launching Today
ThumbPlay, a leader in the delivery of wireless content to a wide variety of networks and devices, has launched a mobile poker game that is sure to have men clicking their phones this year. The sly poker game launches today on participating U.S. mobile carriers, allows users to play against a series of virtual female models who change clothes during the course of the game. The game involves a unique feature in which players who lose against the models can click a "cheat" button, for 99 cents, that buys garments from the model.
Popular in Europe, the mobile Java -based poker game concept is being brought to the U.S. by ThumbPlay, which will ensure that the content fits U.S. decency standards. Users download the initial poker application for $3.99 and bet accordingly during the game. Players can dynamically download additional pictures to the application, as well. The"cheat" button enables players to buy garments and win the game, at a cost of 99 cents.
"We have seen a great interest in humorously produced games, such as poker, where users can play against a model, and building a networked version of this game, where friends can join in, is very appealing," said Are Traasdahl, founder and president of ThumbPlay. "There is no nudity in the poker game; it is quite tasteful, challenging, and addictive. We believe that we can prove that the audience for this kind of mobile networked game is substantial."
Thumbplay, headed by mobile media experts, is headquartered in New York City, and serves the needs of the growing mobile media industry, enabling television producers, music artists and producers, film and Internet producers, mobile handset manufacturers, retailers, and mobile operators to deliver mobile content in creative promotional packages that can be programmed over any wireless network and any mobile device.
ThumbPlay, which is backed by i-Hatch Ventures and Redwood Partners, will eventually produce a consumer media portal, which will enable users to download content, regardless of network of handset.
ThumbPlay has a content management system that enables video, audio, and text to be delivered through all channels and networks, and can be seamlessly billed through participating mobile carriers, enabling greater revenue shares for its partners.
To contact ThumbPlay, call 917-941-6804 or send email to info@ThumbPlay.com.
ThumbPlay
ThumbPlay, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless entertainment services to the media and telecom world. The company develops, aggregates, promotes and distributes mobile content directly to consumers and through media companies and mobile operator partnerships. The company offers a leading-edge portfolio of services and content, including ringtones, wallpapers, games, chat, dating and mobile streaming services. These products are marketed through a multi-channel strategy that includes partnerships with telecom companies and media groups. ThumbPlay, headquartered in New York, is backed by leading venture capital firms, including i-Hatch Ventures and Redwood Partners. For more information, visit www.ThumbPlay.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: If you would like a color photograph of ThumbPlay president Are Traasdahl, or screen shots of ThumbPlay applications, please contact Chris Pfaff on 201-218-0262 or c.pfaff@att.net.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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