It seems that you just can't escape the poker bug these days. Whether it be playing online, down the local casino, or just in a good ol' home game with your pals, poker is available almost anywhere. With 'World Championship Poker' and 'Texas Hold'Em Poker' hitting the Gameboy Advance, Sony have followed suit and introduced poker on the go to the Playstation Portable (PSP).
2K Sports have officially announced that the imaginatively titled 'World Poker Tour' will hit shelves in the second quarter of 2006. This would suggest a wise intention to release the title around the same time of the WSOP, when poker hits its annual peak of hysteria.
In true WPT style, there will be a host of familiar faces within the game. Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Laak, and Mike Sexton are just a few of the pros who have donated their personas for players to interact with, whilst female star Evelyn Ng also makes an appearance.
Hardcore gamblers may be disappointed by the lack of any financial risk beyond actually purchasing the item, but poker enthusiasts will be intrigued to hear that the game will include several alluring features.
With an extensive career mode, real-life venues, and the ability to customize the appearance of your character, there is much fun to be had within the game. However, perhaps the most enticing addition is the ad hoc wireless play and the ability to test your poker wits against hoards of online players. Although not a unique option for regular Internet users, this inclusion will be embraced by console gamers who love to compete against their American counterparts.
So, with poker swiftly swamping all forms of media, can we confidently say that the boom is showing no signs of slowing down? Victims of the poker bug are ever increasing, and with advancements such as portable poker, we shall soon have an epidemic on our hands.