WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Owing to continued demand, again we have a central thread for questions, suggestions, complaints, and general discussion about WSEX.

Keeping everything in one thread helps everyone interested in WSEX to find full information, and those not interested know which thread not to read, so thank you for supporting the idea. The WSEX GM makes a point of reading this thread every day or two, whereas he doesn't have time to search for individual comment threads scattered about the forum.

For reference, the previous thread, #9 of 10, is here.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Thank you Mike and 2+2 for providing this venue.

When I first came on here, I stated I wanted WSEX to not only offer the lowest rake but the best platform. That's still the goal.

Last July, WSEX faced a technical "to do" list with 160+ items. Today, 110 have been resolved and another 10 have been scratched. There are very few features left on the list to add. It is mostly made up of hyper-technical back end tweaking projects.

The last upgrade cleaned up most if not all of the bugs brought up in last month's thread.

Are there any other complaints about the platform? Bugs or feature requests?

Fred Balfour
General Manager
WSEX.com

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

WSEX GM;

There has been speculation at the end of last month's thread that the recent downturn in traffic was due to aggressive screening for bots. Can you confirm or deny? Love your site, but we need more traffic and tables!

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Thank you Mike and 2+2 for providing this venue.

When I first came on here, I stated I wanted WSEX to not only offer the lowest rake but the best platform. That's still the goal.

Last July, WSEX faced a technical "to do" list with 160+ items. Today, 110 have been resolved and another 10 have been scratched. There are very few features left on the list to add. It is mostly made up of hyper-technical back end tweaking projects.

The last upgrade cleaned up most if not all of the bugs brought up in last month's thread.

Are there any other complaints about the platform? Bugs or feature requests?

Fred Balfour
General Manager
WSEX.com

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. I have noticed great improvement in the software in the last 6 months.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
how the hell do i put money on your site

us player here

[/ QUOTE ]

PSA to all potential US WSEX players.

THERE ARE WAYS TO DEPOSIT ON A SITE OTHER THAN EWALLETS!!!!

WSEX/WPEX does not use any ewallets open to Americans.

However, their money transfer option works fine, many many large credit cards still work on their site. Try a few things. I think it is actually the easiest site to fund.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Any particular reason why no epassporte? This is currently the #1 e-wallet for US gamblers I do beleive and it makes it a little easier to move money around for those that are not big fans of creditcards/checks. IMO this would help drive more US traffic to your pokerroom as well as your casino/sportsbook.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

epassporte is not available for sites having a sportsbook and/or casino. It is limited to poker only sites.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Touche. Thank you for the reply.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

i've cracked open teh ol wpex a few times over the last few days and without the bots there arent many games running. hard to sit in when i know all of the players and cant find any big fish to chase.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
i've cracked open teh ol wpex a few times over the last few days and without the bots there arent many games running. hard to sit in when i know all of the players and cant find any big fish to chase.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jeez Guru, you just need to think more like me. Once you follow my example and begin to overestimate your own skill while at the same time underestimating everyone else's, there's ALWAYS a game worth playing.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
i've cracked open teh ol wpex a few times over the last few days and without the bots there arent many games running. hard to sit in when i know all of the players and cant find any big fish to chase.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jeez Guru, you just need to think more like me. Once you follow my example and begin to overestimate your own skill while at the same time underestimating everyone else's, there's ALWAYS a game worth playing.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL. This is my modus operandi as well. I can always find a game.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are there any other complaints about the platform? Bugs or feature requests?

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.holdemreview.com/index.ph...wn-to-business
http://www.holdemreview.com/images/tableinactive.jpg
http://www.holdemreview.com/images/tableactive.jpg

I honestly think more people would play if there was an option to switch to something like this.

-----------------
now that I'm started:

a) as has been pointed out, HU (heads up) tables go really really well with rake free.

b) I don't think you can compete in SNG (one table tournaments) because most players need quantity. But I think you might be able to compete in multitable SNGs like 45 man or 90 man or 180 man. The reason I think this is that your guaranteed tournaments like the 5k guaranteed I'm playing in right now attract a lot of players, 152 , even if there isn't an overlay, although today there is quite a large overlay. I think things like medium sized tournaments like this would go even without an announced overlay, since even without overlay the rakeback is like 10% overlay anyway, which is huge. The main benefit of say a 180 man SNG is that it can go anytime so basically you are offering a guaranteed tournament whenever the players want it.
Also a sidepoint hand histories and HUD are typically not as widely used in tournaments as cash games, so some of the people who don't play cash because of that might play tourneys.

c) I think you should email all your players, especially the dormant ones, and describe for them how they can fund their accounts, since there seems to be some confusion about western union or moneygram and stuff.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Also (i'm being serious) add a jingle or somthing when you open/close the client.

I'm thinking of the betfred poker client it had a really cool jingle I don't know if it still has it, kind of a classy jazz maybe bossa nova muzak thingee.

I really liked that for some reason. Sometimes I would just open it up even though I had no money on there. (bonus whore days when you moved a bunch of money aruond and played a lot of sites). True story.

If you used the betfred one honestly I would play more at wpex, I know that sounds silly but really half the battle is just to have people have your client open all the time.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Are there any other complaints about the platform? Bugs or feature requests?

[/ QUOTE ]

The platform is fine. In terms of connectivity and bugginess you now compare well to Poker Stars.

The existing player base is as baffled as you as to why the player base isn't bigger. There's not much you can do in the way of improvements. WPX is a great place to play. It stands to reason that the rest of the poker world may eventually figure this out but shortcomings on the site aren't keeping players away.

Maybe from an attraction standpoint you could add no/low cost frills like tournament leader boards or rakeback leader boards. These things might appeal to the ego side of the poker mind and tie players onto the site more tightly. Perhaps there could be a token cash prize given to the weekly, monthly or yearly leader in these categories.

It seems there's some psychological attraction that players have to the VIP tiers found at sites like Poker Stars. Maybe mimicking these ideas would build the base.

Otherwise, keep up the good work.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Other ramblings:

Maybe we WPX regulars at 2+2 can figure out an informal way to get some of the other games going. Perhaps there can be a tradition where :

Sunday is O8B day,
Monday is Stud/8 day,
Tuesday is Stud day,

etc.

We could try to to build the player base around something low, like a 1/2 game and hope for expansion. It can be thought of as an informal mini-trout games for the 2+2 player base.

If it was possible to track winnings from these specific days perhaps WPX could have the "Monday Stud/8 Leaderboard", etc. This might serve as a lure for regulars of these games at other sites to learn the advantages of a rake free format (especially for those playing hi/lo split games).

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

We should have Stud day on an aces never lose day. I'm down with 3/6; I don't want to play 1/2.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
We should have Stud day on an aces never lose day. I'm down with 3/6; I don't want to play 1/2.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think the promo covers stud anymore so I reasoned that more players would be likely to dabble in these games on the non-promo days.

I don't have a limit preference but I figured that a 1/2 game would be most likely to draw recreational play. The idea is to build a player base so higher games may develop. I have no objection to 3/6 (or whatever the limit chosen), it would just be nice to have a wider array of games being played.

The particulars are open for discussion and tweaking.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

jfk -- Stud hi games are eligible for aces. More than that, your 7th street card counts, not just your first two.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

I'll be damned. Thanks for the correction. Maybe Wed. night becomes 3/6 Stud night.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]

It seems there's some psychological attraction that players have to the VIP tiers found at sites like Poker Stars. Maybe mimicking these ideas would build the base.


[/ QUOTE ]

I think there's something to this. I personally like the idea of a rakeback leaderboard. Players like to know how much others are making in rakeback IMO and a weekly leaderboard would add a sense of competition, and probably inspire people to play more. Of course, this is still unlikely to attract people who don't understand the value of rakeback in the first place.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Of course, this is still unlikely to attract people who don't understand the value of rakeback in the first place.

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps if prospective players saw actual hard figures it would open their eyes to the amount of money in play. WPX has people dragging in thousands in rakeback weekly and it isn't hard to earn several hundred in rakeback.

Perhaps if a recreational player who normally plays FTP or Stars sees that the guy at number 35 on the rakeback list made $850 by playing just x amount of hands the concept would seem both real and approachable.

It seems that recognition has become a commodity to many poker players and such lists may serve that market need. The leader board(s) could be on the pop-up at sign in and on the main page.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Suggestion: tie some poker promotions to sports betting. Example: have a complimentary entry into a tourney once per month if a certain level of sports betting is attained. But then, also allow anyone to buy into the same tourney. That should generate a fairly large (and fishy) tourney field.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

have a 100k FFP tournament every 3 months or something . lol i got points 2 kill

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

WPEX GM,

You really need to fire your entire marketing department. You shouldn't advertise as rake-free, rather you should advertise as the only site that pays you to play. Something like "Play at WPEX and we will Pay you $20 per hour per table!!" This seems like a no-brainer to me. Why haven't you tried this approach?

Also, spend way way more on advertising. Give back only 90% of the rake, and use the other 10% for advertising (or an affiliate program) if necessary. It is amazing how you have the only site that gives back 100% of the rake and you can't manage to get more than a few hundred players onto your site.

If you are worried about advertising in the U.S., please explain why. Can you direct me to a law or statute that forbids you to advertise?

To summarize, please answer the following questions:

Why don't you advertise more?

Have you considered an affiliate program that would reduce the rakeback given to players by a marginal amount?

Why hasn't your site grown exponentially?

Thank you.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

think its time for wsex to get rid of the non-HUD display stance and allow more tables. there are already programs out there to let you use HUD display for wsex. for me personally, HUD display doesnt help much at all at wsex, its more player specific reads etc. please lift these 2 bans, it will help will traffic.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
think its time for wsex to get rid of the non-HUD display stance and allow more tables. there are already programs out there to let you use HUD display for wsex. for me personally, HUD display doesnt help much at all at wsex, its more player specific reads etc. please lift these 2 bans, it will help will traffic.

[/ QUOTE ]

well stars has/had disconnect protect tables and tables with no disconnect protect.

If wsex wanted to they could have full hand history tables and limited hand history tables.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Adapt or dont play. WPEX isnt hurting for TAGs, its hurting for some live ones, having people 8 tabling will just deplete the few live ones even faster.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Adapt or dont play. WPEX isnt hurting for TAGs, its hurting for some live ones, having people 8 tabling will just deplete the few live ones even faster.


[/ QUOTE ]

OMG wpex introduces holdem tables (limit and no limit or maybe just no limit) with antes.

seriously would those not be the greatest games ever? I think wpex should consider it, they could have a seperate tab for "holdem with ante".

I mean what do they have to lose? Its not like they'd be putting rocks scissors paper or some dumb game like that in ...

-----
tech note: maybe someone better than me could explain how adding antes would increase the luck factor and thus be better for casual players which is totally in line with wpex's stated goals.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

i couldnt give 2 [censored] about Tags, i care more for the growth of the site, it [censored] when i always have to start tables. this site hasnt done anything for the traffic growth, even worst, after they got rid of the bots which were at least 2/3rd of the player base at any given time. now, i check the site, its a ghosttown with the numbers on pokerscout. i will continue to support this site, but games were mostly base around those profitable bots, now their gone, and nobody left except the few familiar regulars.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

I think the rakeback should be contributed rather than dealt. (Or just pay back exactly what an individual pays). It is fairer but also IMO it will be better in the long run by encouraging looser play and not going out your way to reward nits.

I know that this would seem to disadvantage most on this site but we really need to see the bigger picture. (If WPEX ever realy took off it would transform the poker world). I'm a tight player too, by the way.

It would also create a new game off poker where, with the rake removed, players would have better pot odds which makes it correct to give more action making for a better game.

James

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Hello Fred,

I think a great way to increase the profile of WSEX is to offer a store where people can use poker points to buy low-cost merchandise with the WSEX logo. This would not only make the points useful for something, but it would provide you with a lot of cheap advertising.

For example, I would use a WSEX or WorldPX card protector when I play live. If I had a WSEX t-shirt I would sometimes wear it when I work out at the gym. I would use a WSEX deck of cards when I play gin with friends. I don't think these items would cost you very much, but they might make for effective advertising.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

People saying they should allow the bots to come back are [censored] morons.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Hi WSEX GM,

I'd like to again request that the programmers give us the 'wait for big blind' checkbox after we have returned to a table after sitting out and have clicked the 'I'm Back' button.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Please add Heads Up No Limit Hold 'em cash games and tournaments.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hi WSEX GM,

I'd like to again request that the programmers give us the 'wait for big blind' checkbox after we have returned to a table after sitting out and have clicked the 'I'm Back' button.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, please! There's nothing more annoying than coming back with auto-blinds unchecked only to post the dead blind. I keep meaning to see if this can be avoided by turning off auto-post before clicking away, but I never remember to.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

I like all these ideas about marketing WPEX poker client. We need an official WPEX marketing ideas thread and let it build up with ideas on how us 2+2ers and lurkers can contribute and ideas WPEX can use and put into motion.
I say here, here! Need more players and I'm tired of playing all you same olds.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

[ QUOTE ]

I think a great way to increase the profile of WSEX is to offer a store where people can use poker points to buy low-cost merchandise with the WSEX logo. This would not only make the points useful for something, but it would provide you with a lot of cheap advertising.


[/ QUOTE ]

I second this. Existing players are a big potential resource for helping to increase traffic.

Also, are you working on improving the cashout speed for US players?

I believe that my money is safe, but potential new players on here aren't going to be encouraged when they read that checks are taking over one month to receive by mail. (I know Fedex is slightly faster, but that option is too expensive for non-ballas).

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

great idea, how about marketing all their sports betting and casino clients harder to play poker. Look at the maniacs at Pacific Poker, they come from the casino etc. Back in the day Pacific was my home and after my hard lessons and a few k at 2/4 limit, I did great. The fish were mind blowing, really teaches you to play ABC poker, a good start. Anyhow, there is no reason WPEX can't draw more customers to the poker client from other platforms. WPEX , take what you have learnt and learn from it. Marketing RAKE FREE means nada, re-word it as the best bonus EVER or something. structure it as rewards or something, come on twist it up, lets go!!!!!! LEts do it... I'm a graphic artist and business owner in the restaurant marketing biz. I will do the artwork for you FREE, say the word and we can talk and get it going.

other idea!!!!
Hey WPEX manager guy, how about hosting a contest amung your exisitng players, 2+2 and everywhere else that fits. A contest aimed to drive new players to the site. "WPEX wants a new marketing plan but we want it from you for FREE! Get people to sumbit real ideas to you, and once you have plenty of raw ideas then extrapolate a new plan. Then, another contest for logos, ads, images etc to fit in with your marketing plan. Ask for it and it will come!!! Artists and creative people from all over are dying to get published, you will be surprised.

Ps, sorry for the poor grammer and spelling, don't fell like proof reading.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

Fred mentioned a couple of months ago that he was looking into affiliate opportunities. I asked last month what the status was on this, but no reply. Also, a while back somebody else commented that WPX needs to snag one of Absolute's heavy-hitting recruiters. Considering the amount of complaints I've noticed lately about Absolute, it would seem that is just one of the big opportunities out there.

It is time for everyone interested in seeing this thing take off to realize that we cannot have our cake and eat it. WPX has done more than their share (between the 100% RB, Aces promotion and fixing the bugs). The only thing I can think of that would motivate them to take further action is profit incentive - directly from the poker games they spread, not just from some insignificant bleed-through action they receive at the casino and sportsbook.

So how could this be restructured so that everybody wins? I don't know enough about how the industry works to assign an accurate number, but it seems like 75% or so RB plus Aces- coupled with some sort of sign-up bonus for the affiliates to lure new shooters- would be in the ballpark. Referrals from normal players could result in a higher rakeback % (with the highest volume resulting in the greatest return).

Hopefully some of the money saved by the reduced rakeback would be used by WPX in the form of advertising where possible. "Get Paid to Play", "Fastest and Most Hassle Free Pay Outs in the Industry" and "Easiest Deposit and Withdraw Options" and would be just a few slogans that should get peoples attention in the current climate.

Between Party dumping the skins and the new legislation, online poker took a major hit. WPX had the balls to tell the powers that be to go [censored] themselves and offered players a fantastic deal. Unfortunately the little punk-ass bitches that get off on whining about 'spammy' posts (by people who's enthusiasm about 100% RB is pretty goddamn justified IMO) seem to have somehow dissuaded potential recruits. (Yeah the platform, bot and HUD issues play a part, too.) Whatever. Bottom line is that Fred & Co. have really tried to do something legendary for players. And they have pretty much been [censored] on in return.

Anyone who has ever bothered to read one of my posts should quickly come to the conclusion that I'm pretty dumb. I'm sure many technical flaws can be found in my ideas. But Jesus [censored] Christ, man! This all seems like a total no-brainer! Easy deposits and cashouts, a stable platform, sign-up bonuses and substantial rakeback featuring no f*cking around trying to get paid by affiliates. Is there something I'm missing?

Let's use the brain power of smarter posters, and our collective passion for the model WPX has established, to come up with a way to make Party, Stars and Tilt the 'also rans' of the industry. And let's start by accepting that (to get WSEX motivated) 100% rakeback has to be compromised.

Re: WSEX: Official Monthly Thread: June. (#10 of 10.)
 

WPEX has a budget for the poker biz and a plan obviously. They wouldn't offer 100% rake free if there wasn't something in it for them, they are counting on human nature for the spin-off biz (which will work of course, once there are 10s of thousands of players at the site).

Thru ideas,feedback and now experience in the rake-free market, WPEX can effectively re-create their wheel and its due time to launch a new attack to grab a bigger piece of the market.
Your ideas are good, all ideas are good for what they are "ideas". I feel they shouldn't change the 100% rake free thing but reinvent it. Maybe charge a monthly club fee with rewards???