On Monday it was announced that internet gaming software provider Microgaming, looking to break into the list of the top ten online poker networks in the world, had acquired the rights to the three dimensional technology created by the now-defunct British company Playwize PLC.
The revolutionary 3D software was created by Playwize in 2000 for such gaming consoles as the Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube and was moved over to online gaming by the company when it started their own online poker site called PokerWize. However, the recent worldwide financial downturn and legislation in the United States drove the company to the point where it couldn’t turn a profit.
Playwize delisted its stocks on the London Stock Exchange in July of this year after struggling since the 2006 enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the United States. This led to the chairman of Playwize, John Corre, to “…seek shareholder approval for the sale of the proprietary software technology and other assets owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, and contracts have been signed for the sale of these assets subject to the aforementioned approval being granted in a general meeting of the Company.”
Microgaming was more than ready to step in, looking to advance their software by adding in the Playwize technology. Company executives state that with the Playwize 3D technology added to their own software systems, they should be able to deliver high quality interactive gaming experiences to not only gaming operators but also the players on their network sites.
Roger Raatgever, CEO of Microgaming, said,
Microgaming is committed to delivering the latest innovation in gaming software to provide players with advanced gaming experiences. We are well known for our ability to stay ahead of the competition by providing our operators with the latest thinking, technology and game features. The Playwize acquisition brings advanced 3D functionality to our poker portfolio which will be enjoyed by thousands of players worldwide.
The Playwize 3D technology is innovative in that it allows the players to take part in poker in a three dimensional environment rather than a flat table presentation. Individual players can customize their online persona to match their personality and take part in every imaginable poker game there is.
Microgaming has also been undergoing changes over the last few months. In April of this year the network added DoylesRoom, the popular poker room endorsed by poker legend Doyle Brunson, which put them in company with other Microgaming sites such as PokerHost.com and 32RedPoker.com. Since that time, Microgaming has been beset by issues that have occurred in the American gaming market.
While the network still accepts American action, the recent legal actions to seize the domain names of online gaming sites by the state of Kentucky have led Microgaming to block thirteen states, including Kentucky, from participating in play on their sites. This has led to the Microgaming network being on the outside of the top ten poker networks in eleventh place, according to PokerScout.com. With the addition of the Playwize 3D technology, Microgaming is looking to increase their share of the online poker market and offset the loss of over 25% of their American action.
