Spotlight - CarbonPoker.com / Merge Network

[CarbonAtil]

6987

I think you meant to post this here: FREE $109 Tournament Coupon Inside!

[CarbonAtil]

I would probably keep an eye on the forums to see what the old players are thinking before jumping the gun and making notes on what they really dont like.

PlayersOnly and Sportsbook.com join Merge Network - Page 11 - Internet Poker - Online Poker Forum

Thanks Kaus. This is something that I'm working hard on getting feedback. If any of you have any concerns or questions from your players, just let me know.

[pokerprop]

I know this is Carbon/Merges thread, but we're mostly affiliates here right?

What are you guys seeing?

I decided to watch this move from the sidelines doing nothing extra to push it. I had a TON of players (5 figure count) at Merge sites and player value was horrible, so didn't want to jump on this too quick.

Anyways what I'm seeing on Cake side is my sign ups are were higher today than any day in past, but it's not an earth shattering # by any means - nice bonus - but not as much as the short time I spent thinking about it, I thought it might be,

Anyone on either side (affiliates only) have anything worth reporting? I'm sure its too soon to tell, but has this increased conversions yet? Are your existing players depositing more now, raking more now etc. I'm not asking for your secrets or exacts or anything - just more a curiosity post.

I'd like to hear from those outside Merge/Cake. What's you guys thoughts on the move so far?

Predictions:

In the long term is this better for Cake Affiliates, Better for Carbon Affiliates, or Neutral?

As far as skins: Is this better for promoting a Cake Skin (DoylesRoom etc) a Merge Skin (Now Sportsbook.com etc) or Neutral?

Same questions as above but replace long term with short term.

Thoughts anyone?

[kushmoney]

I'd like to hear from those outside Merge/Cake. What's you guys thoughts on the move so far?

Predictions:

In the long term is this better for Cake Affiliates, Better for Carbon Affiliates, or Neutral?

As far as skins: Is this better for promoting a Cake Skin (DoylesRoom etc) a Merge Skin (Now Sportsbook.com etc) or Neutral?

Same questions as above but replace long term with short term.

Thoughts anyone?

I have far more players on the cake network than the merge network. Even though I push merge network poker rooms harder than cake network poker rooms. Maybe this move will help convert the players easier?

As far as long term I don't have any idea how this will effect earnings for cake network affiliates but I think this will bring up the player value on the merge gaming network.

Short term I believe this will have the earnings bouncing a bit. Players maybe moving to the merge gaming network to see how things change since the traffic is higher. MTT players maybe moving back to the cake network within a week because the tournaments schedule is better on the cake network.

All in all, I think it will be good to promote at least one room on both networks.

[CarbonAtil]

Great topic pokerprop. I would like to see what members have to say. I'll sit back and watch for a while on their opinions before chiming in.

[wjb316]

This might be the death knell for Cake if they don't do something big soon. Their player traffic is not very good and just took a major hit. I don't see how they can continue offering the same tournament schedule.

Cake's software is absolutely terrible and on top of that I hear they recently gave up on the French market. Their player rewards system is confusing, with FPPs, gold chips, gold cards and gold stacks. It makes it feel like it takes forever to get anywhere.

When I played poker for a living, I avoided all Cake Network sites. Their software and traffic was so bad I just couldn't stand it. Not to mention their limited deposit/withdrawal options and (once again) their garbled loyalty program.

I hate to dump on Cake but this is just one dude's opinion.

Merge - Light, simple software that moves quickly + player boost = success.

[kushmoney]

This might be the death knell for Cake if they don't do something big soon. Their player traffic is not very good and just took a major hit. I don't see how they can continue offering the same tournament schedule.

Cake's software is absolutely terrible and on top of that I hear they recently gave up on the French market. Their player rewards system is confusing, with FPPs, gold chips, gold cards and gold stacks. It makes it feel like it takes forever to get anywhere.

When I played poker for a living, I avoided all Cake Network sites. Their software and traffic was so bad I just couldn't stand it. Not to mention their limited deposit/withdrawal options and (once again) their garbled loyalty program.

I hate to dump on Cake but this is just one dude's opinion.

Merge - Light, simple software that moves quickly + player boost = success.

If they going to continue offering the same tournament schedule cake, doyles, power, and the rest of the cake network will all have to work hard to gain new players over the next 6 months and hope merge don't come up with a good tournament schedule.

Yes, they no longer in the French market. They pulled out to re-enter legally (from what I read). Losing players in the move and pulling out of the French market there are some hard times ahead for cake.

I completely agree with you on that. Their player rewards system is confusing.

My advise to cake network is cake poker, doyles room, and power poker need to step up their promotions to gain new players. If that doesn't work, merge/buy a smaller network to make up the player lose.

[CK]

I think Cake will hold for a while - but I think Merge is gonna have to grab this and run with it alot stronger if they want the players to stick around. Glad to see you jumped in that thread Antil (although I suspect a few of those members that have issues with Gold Cards/VIP points would like PO or SB to also jump in on how they plan to honor the bigger rewards player). Losing a Q or K gold card sucks - and basing the value of that card the same as a 2 sucks even more.

are they seriously going to start us off at the lowest level. what a joke if true.

Thats only one comment about the rewards and granted its only day 1. - but hopefully this stuff gets worked out to please everyone

why have i not been given a vip status? i DID receive a "platinum vip" 2k freeroll ticket; wouldnt that indicate that i should be vested at that level? i would at least expect to be vested at SOME level. i do NOT have the ability to exchange pts for cash at this point, and was assured i would have that ability.

im a bit disappointed with the number of vip points i received. i have played on PO a huge amount over the past 2+ years (1700+ chips and thousands of cards). this has to be worth a bit, i would think.

I think if Merge is gonna make it they are gonna have to start listening to players and affiliates. Way to often Carbon/PDC people have asked for opinions over the last two years and only half committed themselves to the changes (no disrespect guys). Rarely have the suggestions from affiliates been followed through and I think that needs to change or it's gonna be the same.


Rakeback Options -
I think for rakeback players - two options should be made available and once a player signs up for rakeback and makes their choice between daily or whatever they are locked in and cant change that. But as the thread shows there is a mix of people who don't want to see chump change every day, but instead want a lump sum and some who do like the daily payments.

Tournament Schedule
I think the tournament line-up needs changing, always has. Antil I dont think the guys on that thread were asking for a $300 GP with a $22 buy-in. I believe you have this already and that's what they are giving you as an example of it being crappy. I wouldnt pay $22 for a $300 GP, not when I can go elsewhere and see bigger prize pools and quite possibly an overlay.

Your tournament line-up in my opinion is off the wall - there's no reason or rhyme for it really. I dont know who thought of it but why you have a $300 GP with $22 buyin and yet a $3000 GP's with a bunch of different options like bounty etc but with buyins well under the $22 mark. Only 8 people joined the $300 game today - which to me is just a waste.

I guess its a wait and see but I really hope we don't see poaching from one skin to another. I personally feel thats been a big problem with the Merge network as the players tend to move freely from one skin to another and it benefits noone.

Anyway thanks Antil for jumping in that thread - and a thanks to Seth at RPM.

I hope all you Merge guys and the higher ups are paying attention to these types of threads - these are your players and if you want to keep them your gonna have to keep an open mind. It's gonna be way to easy for them to move back to what they liked, and find another room, especially if other sites are going to honor the rewards comps etc

My two cents anyway.

Edit - In case someone misses it I'm linking the thread again. This is where the feedback from today starts

PlayersOnly and Sportsbook.com join Merge Network - Page 11 - Internet Poker - Online Poker Forum


Stephen I know your busy as hell today likely, but maybe you could get someone to post in that thread as well since it's pretty much your players (not trying to sound demanding or anything just a suggestion) and btw the PO lobby is slick as hell - you should have matching tables though which would totally step it up. But I still love the purple

Another Edit lol - Thanks for your post below Stephen!

[Stephen]

Hey Guys

I can assure you that everyone is not only watching this thread but all others related to the changeover...

We are currently working on the tournament schedules etc, and I think we will see changes in the very near future.

Anyway, if anyone has questions, shoot me an email, ask me here, or find me any other way

Stephen

[pokerprop]

So far it only appears to have taken a slight hit. Of course it might take a bigger hit over the long term with less fresh sign ups.

As far your other comments, why does Cake software suck? That was always one of my favorite things about Cake was the software. That plus th games were the softest of any rakeback sites.

This might be the death knell for Cake if they don't do something big soon. Their player traffic is not very good and just took a major hit. I don't see how they can continue offering the same tournament schedule.

Cake's software is absolutely terrible and on top of that I hear they recently gave up on the French market. Their player rewards system is confusing, with FPPs, gold chips, gold cards and gold stacks. It makes it feel like it takes forever to get anywhere.

When I played poker for a living, I avoided all Cake Network sites. Their software and traffic was so bad I just couldn't stand it. Not to mention their limited deposit/withdrawal options and (once again) their garbled loyalty program.

I hate to dump on Cake but this is just one dude's opinion.

Merge - Light, simple software that moves quickly + player boost = success.