April 29^th, 2005 (12:27pm) - Myelin Media today revealed details about the online gameplay in STACKED, a Texas Hold ’em game for the Xbox, PSP, and the PC. The game will feature its own sanctioned multi-table tournament system called "STACKED Masters" and will also include involvement from the seven professional players associated with the game, providing the most in-depth online play and community experience for any console poker game. "STACKED" is planned for release in Q3 2005.

When playing online, players can choose to compete in either casual non-sanctioned games or officially sanctioned "STACKED" Masters games. Non-sanctioned games will allow for private or public games, providing the player with full tournament customization including game type, betting structure, maximum players, and tournament configuration. "STACKED" Masters includes the same customization features as non-sanctioned events, as well as a comprehensive multi-table tournament buy-in structure.

Players can gain entry into "STACKED" Masters events by either buying in with online earnings or by winning a seat through a single player career mode satellite tournament. There will be ten different levels of buy-in for "STACKED" Masters tournaments, allowing even novice players to take part in sanctioned competitions. At the core of the "STACKED" Masters structure is a detailed points system that ranks players based on performance rather than pure earnings, and accurately represents position relative to other online players. The "STACKED" Masters multi-table tournament structure is highly flexible, allowing any number of players to compete within a multi-table structure, and support for voice and text chat ensures that bluffing, boasting and table chatter will all play an important part in any online game.

The seven pro players associated with "STACKED" will periodically participate in online "STACKED" Masters tournaments. Josh Arieh, Jennifer Harman, Erick Lindgren, Carlos Mortensen, Evelyn Ng, David Williams and 2004 Card Player and ESPN Player of the Year Daniel Negreanu will take part in tournaments, allowing online players to test their skills and go head to head with the best players in the game. Each pro player will have an avatar accurately modeled after their likeness that is locked to the pro’s account, so players will be able to easily recognize when they are at the same table as a living poker legend.

"We understand that the social aspect of poker is one of the game’s most intriguing components," said Gene Mauro, CEO of Myelin Media Inc. "We have created an unparalleled online feature set for ’STACKED’ that will let players engage in large scale tournaments or a casual game with friends and even go head to head with pro players, all from the comfort of their homes.