FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

These are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Holdem 3D. A misnomer,
to be sure, because we'll add a question that's only asked once if we suspect
someone else may ask it again later. If you're having trouble with the software,
this is the best place to look first.

Q: Holdem 3D doesn't show the game, but I can hear it play. What's wrong?

A: This is probably an incompatibility with DirectX hardware, or your
display card has DirectX disabled. Holdem 3D can only display the game
using a video card with a DirectX driver. Here are a few things to check
that may clear up the problem:

1. Try running Holdem 3D in its lowest screen resolution (640 x 480).
If this works, try the below steps to see if you can get the display
card to perform 3D in higher resolutions.

2. Go to your display card's website to see if there is a newer driver,
or other documentation for DirectX support. We do know Holdem 3D
runs well with DirectX version 8 and version 9 drivers.

3. Try lowering the colors used by your display card. If the card is
set to 32,000 or 24,000 colors, try 16,000 colors. Some DirectX
drivers don't perform right in high color modes.

4. See if Microsoft has a better DirectX driver available for your
system (it's free). Go to their site at:
http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp.

5. Try Holdem 3D on another system. (We hope you don't need to do this)

Q: Holdem 3D looks better on my desktop system than on my laptop.

A: This is common. Laptop display cards often lack some of the hardware
that desktop display cards have, to save energy or cost. See the steps
above for fixing DirectX problems to determine your best display mode.

Q: Holdem 3D brings up a "TERMS OF USE..." dialog that sticks around
for 15 seconds before I can start the game. How do I get rid of that?

A: Your copy of Holdem 3D is not yet licensed. When you purchase a
license and enter the License Key in the settings window, that dialog
will be gone forever, and your luck and karma will improve greatly. You
will also be able to play as many hands as it takes to finish the game,
instead of being limited to 10 hands. Remember, you're just playing the
demo. The good news is the license is only $20.

Q: Other 3D games cost more. Why is Holdem 3D so cheap?

A: We want to foster the best relationship possible with our customers.
If we could make twice as much money from the game, but ended up with
customers who resented the price, then that price is too high. Our hope
is that everyone who likes the game will license it legally, and not
copy it from friends. That's the point of the low price.

Q: I want to play Holdem 3D with friends. Is there an internet version?

A: There is not yet an internet version, but we're looking forward to
adding that capability. This is a young version of Holdem 3D, and with
sales fuelling further development, an internet version is one of our
higher priorities. Assuming we sell enough of this version, internet
play will come (without gambling real money).

Q: The other players often get more aggressive later in the game, why?

A: Just like real poker players, the players in Holdem 3D adjust their
game to their competition. They react to aggression by increasing
their aggressiveness. It may be that they're reacting to another
computer player's aggression, yours, or both! They consider aspects
like excessively high bets, a high number of large raises, folding
too often, and more.

Q: It seems like the computer players know my hand at times, do they?

A: Absolutely not. They never have any unfair information in the game.
They probably see your bets as indications of the strength of your hand.
If it seems like they always know your hand, you may not be bluffing
enough to throw them off.

Q: Are the cards predetermined?

A: Not at all. The cards are "shuffled" for every hand, and are never
reorganized in any particular order. From what we've seen, our
shuffling is as effective as about 10 shuffles of a real deck.

Q: Why does the table move like it's floating?

A: We found this "floating" movement helps read the cards better.
Especially in lower resolutions, cards can be mis-read if they're not
seen perfectly clearly. The 3D aspect is fun, but doesn't show the
cards as well as if they were perfectly flat on the screen. The slight
variations of the table's position in space increases our ability
to see the card values right the first time we look. We also think
it's cool.

Q: My children are interested in the game. Should I let them play it?

A: This is not our call. We believe in good parenting, but your idea
of good parenting is not the same as other peoples'. If you want your
kids to learn about poker without any risk of real money, or meeting
people you don't want them to associate with, then Holdem 3D may be a
good way to accomplish that.

Q: Why does Holdem 3D use the names of famous people for the computer
players?

A: We just thought it was fun to imagine some of the greatest minds in
history sitting down to a game of poker. Holdem is definitely a
thinking game, so we settled on this instead of coming up with a bunch
of fake player names. If you'd like to change them, it's very easy to
do so in the Settings screen.