Poker NewsMuch more than just a poker blog...
One the biggest poker rooms out there, partypoker has performed a complete design change on their client. Players logging in yesterday found a smooth new dark lobby, green tables in front of a dark background and 4-color decks. Some believe it's much like the PokerStars client.
Industry rumors foresaw this one coming: on August 8th, partypoker introduced their client redesign.
According to the blogpost they posted on their website, they decided to implement the changes after listening to the feedback of a large number of their users. In the same post, they write that the new desing tries to be more suitable than the old one for players who tend to play long sessions. The dark lobby and background does seem to be easier on the eyes after a 6-hour grind and the 4-color deck helps those who multitable - if you have six table open, it may be a little hard to tell whether it's a Spade or a Club on the board if they're not in different colors.
The filters and the menu have also been changed in the lobby, from now on the filters are collapsible and the items that used to be on a left-hand menu are tabs on a top menu bar.
It is only phase 1 of the redesign, partypoker claims. Here's what more we can expect to come in phase 2, once again, from the partypoker blog: ability to view full screen lobby; further filter, display, game and tournament information improvements; enhanced tournament lobby displays; better table look and feel and more customisation options.
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Although the response to the changes has been positive on the whole, some felt that the new design is too similar to PokerStars'. The color schemes are virtually identical on the two major poker rooms and the filters are similar too. But please note that poker rooms adopting things that are popular with players from each other is nothing new in the poker industry - just see how Stars "ripped off" the Sit&Go format from the French room Winamax.
Please remember that there is a $5,600 Exclusive partypoker Rake Race [4] running on rakerace.com in August. Register here if you wish to take part [5].