Joel grabs a chat with Kenneth Woo on the the various Poker iterations in Stacked with Daniel Negreanu, as well as the exciting game connections between the PS2 and PSP versions.

Hi and thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us about Stacked with Daniel Negreanu! So can we start by you telling us your name and your involvement with the development of the game?

My name is Kenneth Woo and I am the producer for Stacked with Daniel Negreanu.

So what type of Hold 'Em formats can we expect to see in the game?

We'll have every iteration of Hold'em, including No Limit, Limit, and Pot Limit. Most generic poker games include other variations of poker, but our goal was to create the ultimate Texas Hold'em experience, and that required a dedicated product. Everything from the tutorial system to our exclusive learning A.I. has been developed solely for Texas Hold'em, as we believe that its what most people are playing, takes a long time to master, and has a great sense of drama.

Are we going to be able to create our own character to play in the game?

Absolutely. Our character creation tool will let you customize virtually every element of your player avatar, right down to your hat and sunglasses. Players will have a lot of fun creating very distinct personalities for themselves online.

What sort of modes can we expect to see in the game?

The foundation of the single player experience is Stacked's Career Mode. Our exclusive license with the Poki Artificial Intelligence system truly allows us to recreate the competition of professional poker - it learns and adapts to your playing style. We think gamers will enjoy the challenge Poki presents, and their game will improve against an A.I. that forces you to change your strategy and play unpredictably. Players will live the life of a professional poker player, beginning as a rookie in small events and building up their bankrolls to qualify for larger tournaments and ultimately, compete for Player of the Year honors. Along the way, you'll unlock some pretty cool in-game features as you take down bigger tournaments. Another great feature about single player is the ability to qualify for select online tournaments by winning tough events in-game.

We have heard that you can go into different views in the game, what is the purpose of this, and how will it be implemented in the game?

Basically, we want Stacked to mirror the excitement and drama of what we're seeing in televised poker coverage. We've worked with an experienced broadcast design talent to recreate this in terms of graphics, sets, and camera angles. At the same time, we've also built in the flexibility to adjust the pace and flow of the game to allow more seasoned players to accelerate overall gameplay and play the maximum number of hands.

Is the game going to include online play? And if so what sort of options is the game going to include?

The foundation of the game's online play is the Stacked Masters tournament system. We knew that players were going to be eager to test their skills against each other online, so we designed Stacked to provide the most complete and competitive tournament system ever created for a poker video game. Stacked will be able to accommodate thousands of simultaneous users in massive multi-table tournaments. The system also tracks a multitude of statistics and was designed specifically to identify and rank the most skilled players competing online. But at the same time, you'll also be able to invite your friends to join you in a private game or create your own tournament structure.

How closely did Daniel Negreanu and other poker professionals help out in the development process of the game?

Daniel has been invaluable in keeping Stacked relevant to poker as it is being played at the highest levels across the country. He's put a great deal of effort into making sure that the in-game tutorial system provides the player with the insights and expertise that have brought him success at the tables for so many years. From basic terminology to advanced mathematical strategies, Daniel has logged countless hours in the studio and with our developers, making certain that Stacked provides everything you need to take your game to the next level. We've been privileged to have a great deal of access to the six other Stacked All-Stars as well. They've done considerable motion capture and audio work for us that really brings their in-game avatars to life. They've also helped us tune Stacked's A.I. to match their playing styles. For example, Carlos Mortensen is a very aggressive player, and I'm sure you'll find yourself folding to some very forceful betting.

If you had to pick your favorite feature so far in this game, what would it be and why?

I count myself among the millions of newly minted poker buffs, so I'm still working on my game, to put it mildly. What I really like about Stacked is the realism and challenge that the A.I. provides. I can play meaningful hands and I get real satisfaction out of outsmarting a bot with a bluff on the river, because it's not an easy thing to do. But the best part is that I really think that my real world game is improving. Think of it this way, the AI is going to adapt to the game that you start the game with, so the only way to win is to stay ahead of Poki and take it to the next level.

What platforms can we expect Stacked to be released for?

Look for Stacked with Daniel Negreanu on PC, Xbox, PS2, and the PSP. I forgot to mention that the PS2 and PSP versions of the game will feature interoperability. What this means is that you'll be able to take your character on the road with you and play against console and handheld users online.

And finally when should we be expecting this game to be released?

Look for Stacked in stores this October. Also, watch Stacked on MTV after we launch.

Click for more info on Stacked with Daniel Negreanu for the PS2, Xbox and PSP.