US poker players still waiting for Ultimate Poker 2.0

After completing their field test and receiving the go-ahead from the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) to unveil their updated version 2.0 software, Ultimate Poker players are still awaiting the launch of the updated software, which Ultimate Poker has promised will be a major improvement over their current product.

As PokerFuse.com reported last week, during a Bloomberg interview the background happened to show what appeared to be the yet-to-be-launched Ultimate Poker version 2.0 software. The software itself looks eerily similar to Full Tilt Poker, especially the avatars, which is a strange coincidence for Ultimate Poker considering their entire brand is sounds eerily similar to the now defunct Ultimate Bet –Perhaps someone working at Ultimate Poker is nostalgic for mid-2000’s online poker rooms and we’ll see side tables with customizable drinks like Paradise Poker next?

Some of the changes seen in the screen-captures included tons of new 3-D avatars (no longer pictures within squares) as well as what appeared to be resizable table options. We also know that the site will be launching a VIP Program with version 2.0, known as Color Up. What we know about “Color Up” at this point is scant, with Ultimate Poker revealing only the different monthly levels (without any of the requirements to attain each level, although it appears to be based on the chip’s real casino value) as well the yearly levels.

Monthly Levels:

• Tier 1: White Chip
• Tier 2: Red Chip
• Tier 3: Green Chip
• Tier 4: Black Chip
• Tier 5: Purple Chip
• Tier 6: Yellow Chip
• Tier 7: Orange Chip
• Tier 8: Cranberry Chip

Yearly Levels:

• Gold Plaque: $10,000 in total rake
• Platinum Plaque: $100,000 in total rake

We also know that Ultimate Poker will be using a “Winner Take All” rake method, where the winner of the hand is credited with the entirety of the rake contributed to the pot. Ultimate Poker is the first room to my knowledge to attempt this method, as most rooms have historically used a “Dealt”, a “Contributed” or a “Weighted” method – each method progressively awarding looser play, with Ultimate Poker’s “Winner Take All” method the most extreme.

Since their launch Ultimate Poker has done very little to attract new players or build a loyal player base, considering anytime rumblings of the launch of South Point or Caesars has poker players saying things like “thank god” and “finally.” So far it appears that Ultimate Poker has squandered its nearly four-month head-start in Nevada, and if they are unable to bring version 2.0 to bear before other rooms launch they may find themselves relegated to a second-tier poker room.