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01-12-2006, 04:53 AM
Post subject: New Bodog Interface: Review
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#1 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
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I know a thread has already been started about the new Bodog interface...but I thought I'd start a new topic and give a review on what I think about it. I'll touch on a number of topics, including it's looks, navigation abilities, and most importantly, playability. If somebody else has a question about the new interface please leave a reply and I'll gladly answer it.
LOOKS: Overall I am okay with the new "look." They've changed their main color to red (from the poker-green color). The red is a little more flashy. It's more "cutting edge." That's what Bodog has been striving to be for so long. Not that there was *anything* wrong with their old looks, but this definitely is a step up from a design standpoint. I'm okay with the new looks...
NAVIGATION: The navigation while you're not playing has gotten a little bit better. It's easier to look at your account and change your preferences, and it's easier to look at which table(s) you'd like to play at.
While playing, though, navigation sucks. You cannot keep your table loaded up while you search for other tables to play on. This means that while you're searching for other tables you are missing out on the action that is taking place, which means you're missing out on valuable information that you could use for other hands. I hate that it's "one or the other," the lobby area or your table. Terrible, just terrible.
While not playing, the navigation is good...While playing, it's gotten worse. There's something VERY wrong with that....aren't we going to this site to actually PLAY POKER?
PLAYABILITY: This is by far the most important aspect of a poker room. The old interface was pretty standard, even if it was a little boring. Some people slammed it, but I actually liked it. It was just so basic. No bells and whistles. I never needed any of those because I was there to play poker. Just let me load up my three tables so I can watch them all at one time. Let me have my own little cool Johnny Bravo avatar, and everyone else have their dorky avatars so I can recognize them (I'm such a visual guy, I'll recognize an avatar I haven't seen in a long time and remember exactly how that guy plays).
Anyway, playing on only one table things are okay. It's pretty much like the old set-up, except for the fact that the felt is now red instead of green. You still have avatars, bet amounts, etc. A new change, though, is there are now two chat boxes; one for the dealer and one for chat, so it keeps those things apart. That change is absolutely unnecessary, it just seems to clutter up my screen that much more. But I can deal with it. One-tabling, it's pretty much the same thing....
If you are going to multi-table, though......welcome to HELL. The set-up they have for multi-tabling is absolutely TERRIBLE. You basically have two options, and they both suck. Option one is to multi-table using tabs. This allows you to look at only ONE table at a time. You have no idea (except for a blinking tab) if you have cards, or if it's your turn...The biggest thing is you have absolutely no idea what is happening on the other tables while you're at your "main table." What a joke!
Option number two for multi-tabling is to use the new "Picture in Picture" function. This concept is great, IN THEORY, but it is a huge bust when it comes to playability. Using the PIP function you have the ability to "watch" all three tables in the same window. You have your main table, or "focus table," where you can see player icons, money being put on the table, who checked, raised, reraised, etc. This table has been shrunk down in order to fit in the two PIP mini-tables, so all of the avatars seem on top of one another...
The other two tables? They're a complete joke. The PIP function allows you two view two mini-tables off to the side of your screen. With these tables you can see your two hole cards, how much is in the pot, how much it is to call.....and that's basically it. You don't have any information on who checked, who raised, who reraised, etc. You have no idea who is playing (no avatars, everyone is basically a "dot" on the screen) at your table, either. The only way to gain this valuable information is to click on this mini-table and it will trade spots with your current main table.
As a multi-tabler I can watch quite a few tables and gather a LOT of information in a short period of time about each player. I know who your the campers, TAGGs, LAGGs, and maniacs are within a few orbits. I've got a running "poker tracker" in my head, I guess. With the new features this has been taken away from me...
With this new set-up you only get to see one table at a time. Technically, you should have really strong reads on that table. But even that statement is a stretch. If you switch tables to play a hand and don't switch back...now you're losing reads on your previous table. So on average you are only seeing 1/3 of the hands played out on all three tables.
No reads poker, baby, just play your cards...
So what do I think about it? I think it sucks. I think it REALLY sucks, and I'm pissed about it. I've already called Bodog Customer Service and it sounds like there are many, many others that feel the same way I do. If you play at this site and you are not happy, PLEASE call Bodog and let them hear about it. It's the only way they'll make a change...
Just go back to the old Bodog and I'll be happy.
EDIT: Ohh yeah, another feature they added was the "what if" feature. You now can fold your hand but make it so that Bodog leaves "shadows" of your cards at your spot. Now you can see what really would have happened if you played that queen-five-offsoot UTG. OMFG I WOULD HAVE HIT A FULL HOUSE AND WON! I actually LIKE this feature a lot because you can turn it off. I know there are fish out there that just love the "what if game," so maybe they will start playing crap to see if they can hit.....I dunno.
Anyway, that's all I've got. Leave any thoughts/comments/questions here. Thanks.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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P.S. Can I clean this up a bit and get $50 for my review? 
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DoGGz
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Also, I hate the Avatar/Card setup now. It is so much more difficult to see who's in the hand and who has folded already.
I've withdrawn and filed a complaint. There goes $200 of rake per day for them.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by DoGGz
Also, I hate the Avatar/Card setup now. It is so much more difficult to see who's in the hand and who has folded already.
I've withdrawn and filed a complaint. There goes $200 of rake per day for them.
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Good point. Instead of having full-sized cards they've cut them in half (literally) to save space for their crappy-ass layout.
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Grand_MasterB
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Flush
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 466
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Does anyone elses keep freezing up on them? I played in a SNG yesterday and it cost me atleast one place. Every 8 hands or so it would freeze and i would have to restart the whole program. This got really bad when i got down ot the final 3. I see AK with a short stack all in but it freezes and by the time i get back i was "Sitting Out". I would have knocked him out and gaurenteed myself atleast second place. Instead i ended up getting 3rd.
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salsa4ever
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Full House
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,073
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FANTASTIC!
i never had the luxury of seeing all three tables because i play with a laptop (do not ask why. i'm a nomadic dance teacher)
now, good players who CAN, and do multitable are gone! I'm gonna go try it tomorrow...
but seriously, the change irks me. Bodog was my fave site to play... but i've been losing the last few days and hopefully a change will jolt me back to winning form
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by bigred
Would you bone your cousins? Salsa would.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by salsa4ever
well courtie, since we're both clear, would you accept an invitation for some unprotected sex?
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Fnord
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01-12-2006, 03:14 PM
Post subject: Re: New [url=http://www.flopturnriver.com/Referrals/Bo-dog.h
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#7 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: I'll Do You Like A Truck
Posts: 19,339
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ultimate George
EDIT: Ohh yeah, another feature they added was the "what if" feature. You now can fold your hand but make it so that Bodog leaves "shadows" of your cards at your spot. Now you can see what really would have happened if you played that queen-five-offsoot UTG. OMFG I WOULD HAVE HIT A FULL HOUSE AND WON! I actually LIKE this feature a lot because you can turn it off. I know there are fish out there that just love the "what if game," so maybe they will start playing crap to see if they can hit.....I dunno. |
BEST FEATURE EVER!
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Miffed22001
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Straight Flush
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Marry Me Cheryl!!!
Posts: 8,181
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Just out of interest does anybody think this might be the start of a 'crackdown' on multi tabling features etc?
Or is it just a donk-up ?
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Irisheyes
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4-of-a-Kind
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: over there
Posts: 3,708
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Why would a poker room wish to drive away the highest rake generating players?
Stoopid..
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Miffed22001
Just out of interest does anybody think this might be the start of a 'crackdown' on multi tabling features etc?
Or is it just a donk-up ?
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Me thinks that it has to be some sort of HUGE 'eff-up on their part. Think about it. More tables = more rake. Yeah, I may play tighter and not contribute as much rake per table....but per hour (all they care about) I'm sure I'm contributing way more by being on 2-3 instead of just one.
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UG
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01-12-2006, 03:59 PM
Post subject: Re: New [url=http://www.flopturnriver.com/Referrals/Bo-dog.h
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#11 (permalink)
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Fnord
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ultimate George
EDIT: Ohh yeah, another feature they added was the "what if" feature. You now can fold your hand but make it so that Bodog leaves "shadows" of your cards at your spot. Now you can see what really would have happened if you played that queen-five-offsoot UTG. OMFG I WOULD HAVE HIT A FULL HOUSE AND WON! I actually LIKE this feature a lot because you can turn it off. I know there are fish out there that just love the "what if game," so maybe they will start playing crap to see if they can hit.....I dunno. |
BEST FEATURE EVER! |
Quoted for truth.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by salsa4ever
i never had the luxury of seeing all three tables because i play with a laptop (do not ask why. i'm a nomadic dance teacher)
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Depending on what my fiance is doing I am either on my regular PC or on a laptop when I play poker.
With my regular PC I have an outstanding set-up. I have two monitors (one 17-inch and one 19-inch) hooked up. Both have a resolution of about 1200 x 1000, so it's not perfect but it gets the job done nicely. I could play on three different tables (with a tiny bit of overlap) *and* see the lobby all at the same time.
I also play on a huge laptop. The resolution is a little bit better and I could play two tables comfortably at a time (with a little bit of overlap), and easily do three (sometimes it'd feel a little cramped so I wouldn't like it as much, but I dealt with it).
Even my old set-up wasn't perfect...there was some overlap, especially playing three on one monitor (laptop)...but I could at least see all three tables at a time, seeing all of the action as it took place right there in front of me. If I saw a good hand (or something interesting) that I felt would give me good information later I could watch it play out in front of me live...or if I was in another hand on a different table I could make a mental note to go back and check a different table's HH to see exactly what happened.
I have the ability to multi-table and get reads on (at least) three tables at a time...This advantage of mine has been taken away from me. Now you only get to see one table at a time so there's no way to have a clue if anything "important" is happening on your other table(s).
I'll stop beating a dead horse (at least for the time being) now.
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DoGGz
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Still waiting. I hope they fix this soon. 2pm today and not nearly as many players online when I logged to check. Apparently I'm not the only one not happy.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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I took my money out. I plan on not putting any back in until they get this problem fixed. I will also be checking daily to see if they have changed things...
For what it's worth, I talked to "Dave" from Bodog Customer Service last night. "Dave" told me that he had received a ton of complaints about the new features (let alone the many complaints he was having because of bugs with the software). From what he made it sound like (remember, though, that this is just "Dave" that I'm talking to) he said changes will definitely have to be made because of how many upset people there are...He said the new interface has been almost a unanimous failure.
We'll see.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by DoGGz
Still waiting. I hope they fix this soon. 2pm today and not nearly as many players online when I logged to check. Apparently I'm not the only one not happy.
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The numbers weren't dramatic, but it did appear that there weren't as many people online at 4:30pm EST as normal.
There seemed to be more people playing NL1000, though. I guess if you're going to just one-table you need to go big or go home.
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siknd
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Flush
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 359
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they dont accept canadian players, so i already hated them.
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'If you think a weakness can be turned into a strength, I hate to tell you this, but that's another weakness. '
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by siknd
they dont accept canadian players, so i already hated them.
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And they hate you.
Just kidding. On a side note, I stepped over to the "evil forum" today to see what they had to say about Bodog's new interface.....Again, it was almost unanimous, all except for one guy hated it.
There was that one guy who typed, "I actually like it," but he's probably gay. Or he works for the Bodog Poker Room. Which, right now, if you think about it, would make him gay too. So yeah, he's gay.
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Xianti
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Administrator
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: facebook.com/xianti
Posts: 5,289
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ultimate George
P.S. Can I clean this up a bit and get $50 for my review? |
A lot has changed since Eric wrote our current Bodog review (the interface being a major one).
Ask Eric via PM.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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UPDATE: I've e-mailed my complaints to Bodog a number of different times. I called them last night and the initial feedback after one day's use was definitely negative.
I got a wild hair up my butt and decided to call again to vent to a different person (hoping that my words actually do get passed on), while also trying to find out if changes would actually be made. Here is what "Reggie" had to say to me.
1) There have been a LOT of complaints. The Bodog Poker Customer Service has been log-jammed with people complaining about various things.
2) Something will definitely be done about the new interface. There have been way too many complaints about non-bug related issues. Too many people have cashed out over the last few days. The message has been sent: people hate the new interface.
3) By far the biggest complaint about the new interface that people have is with it's playability, and more importantly, the navigation between tables.
4) The second biggest non-bug issue is problems with the color scheme. The red screen freaking SUCKS. It's hard on the eyes after thirty minutes of play. WTF they were thinking, I will never know, but they know that's their second biggest problem.
I've taken the nice guy approach when talking with customer service. I haven't complained about any bugs, like how I can't get the damn thing to work on my PC (I have to play on a lap-top). Bugs are going to happen with any new product, and I understand this.
My biggest complaints were about multi-tabling and the color scheme.
We are being heard, through our e-mails, phone calls, and most importantly....in their pocket-book. Lots of people are fed up and have taken their money out, vowing not to return unless things change. I am one of them.
Okay, I think I've beaten this dead horse enough for tonight. Good day.
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UG
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Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,855
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UPDATE: Our Voices Have Been Heard!
I just got off the phone with Bodog Customer Service and it appears that, "over the next month or so," the current bugs will be fixed and new changes will be added that will allow the new Bodog interface to actually become PLAYABLE. The changes are listed below.
1. You will be able to open multiple tables without having to tab between tables or use the "picture in picture" function. You will be able to open up to three full-sized tables at a time, just like you used to be able to. This is a good change because playing more than one table on this site is next to impossible with the way things are now.
2. You will be able to change the color of your table. The "blood red" will still be an option, but you'll also be able to pick between "poker green" and a "light blue" color. This is a good thing because their "blood red" color was not easy on the eyes, and it even made my stomach a little queezy looking at it for more than thirty minutes.
3. They may change the size of the cards in the future. Right now their cards are very small, and they're located within a box, with avatars twice their size sitting next to them. When I tried out the new interface I played a few hands thinking I was heads-up when there were actually other people in the hands. After screwing up like this a few times, I found myself looking at every player's position on the table to determine who was in the hand and who wasn't. It was annoying. This change is a good one.
So...It looks like our voices have been heard. All of those e-mails, all of those phone calls, and more importantly, all of us taking our rake elsewhere really did the job.
Expect to see these changes (at least 1 and 2) in the next month or so.
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samsonite2100
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Full House
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Your loosing, lolololololololololol
Posts: 858
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Good to know--thanks for the info. I've actually gotten kinda used to the new interface and don't hate it quite as much as I did at first, but I do wish they hadn't changed it. I still play there, though, b/c the players are so fucking clueless. Probably the worst on the web, IMO.
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06-02-2012, 08:10 PM Merge Network 6.0 Looks to Retain Current Player Base
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