Author: GEORGIA

Iron Man 2 from Marvel Movies was released in 2010 and became a huge hit. It was nominated for an Oscar Award for the Best Achievement in Visual Effects. Industry-leading online gaming software developer, Playtech, has a contract with Marvel Movies to create slot games based on superheroes from different movies. Due to the success of the movie, Playtech was quick to launch the Iron Man 2 slot game.

Since the movie displayed incredible visual effects, the slot game also had to be amazing. Playtech did not fail in this aspect. The graphics in the Iron Man 2 slot game are much sleeker and more realistic than the original game. The six symbols in the game appear graphically as a single image that occupies two rows. However, each section of the image on the reel is considered independent and applies to that reel.

At the beginning of the game, the reels display the three main characters in the movie which include Natalie Rushman, Ivan Vanko, and of course Tony Stark, the alter ego of Iron Man. The highest possible payout in the game is granted by the wild symbol which is the American Eagle icon. This represented the United States government which is heavily involved in the plot of the movie.

The free spins round is generated by at least three Iron Man 2 logos appearing on any of the reels. Unfortunately only 10 free spins are awarded and the bonus round cannot be retriggered. However, this round pays a handsome sum. Within this round, Playtech grants users an increasing multiplier which begins with payouts being multiplied by two and increases by one with every two spins. Also, an extra wild symbol remains in the middle throughout the round.

Being that Iron Man 2 is a progressive slot and linked to the Marvel Jackpot Network, players have another way to win big. The four-level jackpot increases levels in the following order:

• Power
• Extra Power
• Super Power
• Ultimate Power

Although the progressive jackpot round is activated at random, a higher chance of hitting exists when larger wagers are placed. Once this round is triggered, it is guaranteed the player will hit one of the four levels. The jackpot round is played in the same manner as for regular slots, only with a much larger payout.

Iron Man 2 the slot game offers all the same excitement as the movie. Playtech surpassed the expectations of players with this game. The visuals are nothing short of incredible and the gameplay is unmatched. This is sure to become an instant hit and turn into a classic slot game.

Pacific Poker is the flagship poker site for leading online gambling company 888. By some estimates, 888 is the most successful online gambling brand in the world, and yet for some reason, few fans of 888’s other sites are showing Pacific Poker support. Find out if the snub is warranted in the comprehensive review of Pacific Poker below.

Pacific Poker Bonuses And Promotions

Pacific Poker’s lack of popularity certainly can’t have anything to do with their bonuses and promotions. 888 is essentially synonymous with online bonuses, and Pacific Poker is no exception. Their promo page is two to three times more packed than comparable poker rooms of the same size. So many poker rooms shirk their members on the sign-up bonus, but Pacific Poker is doubly generous.

First of all, the 100% first deposit match worth up to $400 goes above and beyond the industry average, but Pacific Poker makes it even more generous by awarding 25% instantly. That means that even irregular players will get a sizable reward.

Furthermore, the site replaces the small first deposit freerolls favored by other poker rooms with their bankroll-building $50,000 first depositors challenge. The site also shows appreciation for returning depositors by offering weekly $1000 depositor freerolls.

Pacific Poker’s generosity isn’t limited to new players and depositors. Their satellite offerings are among the very best. Currently, the room is offering eight different ways to earn a WSOP package, and with 88 packages available you’ll have many opportunities to win. International players looking to stay closer to home can also earn entry into big European events like the Irish Open or offshore events like the Caribbean Poker Cruise.

Though Pacific Poker has good guarantees, they’re not great when compared to the rest of their tournament package. Still, daily guarantees of $10,000 to $50,000 are nothing to sneeze at, and when they’re combined with the site’s other many special tournaments players of every level are sure to find plenty of promising action.

It’s worth noting that Pacific Poker’s promotional program is so expansive that we don’t even have the space to enumerate all their offerings. Fortunately, Pacific Poker posts them all their regularly updated promotions page and is so proud of these promotions that they even offer up info on past events so new players know what to look for in the future.

Banking

Quite frankly Pacific Poker’s list of approved payment methods is awe-inspiring. If they don’t accept your preferred payment method then you probably shouldn’t be using it. They make banking especially easy by offering in-depth depositing and withdrawing sections that explain any logical question a first-time online player could have about the process.

Though the site offers significantly fewer withdrawal options (this seems to be the industry norm), there are still sufficient options for international players of any origin to get their money quickly and securely.

Software

Pacific Poker runs on its own proprietary 888 software. In the past, this fact was a bit of a hindrance since 888’s developers were more experienced with casino software, but a recent overhaul has yielded a more efficient, player-oriented platform. Though the site’s lobby and game tables are still lacking in many of the newer player features, what the interface does offer is done impeccably well. The table graphics are simple and dated, but they’re also bright and clear, and the introduction of 3D avatars adds some flash to the otherwise bare-bones format.

You won’t be wowed by Pacific Poker’s game or stakes selection but they do toss non-typical poker players a bone with their Seven Card Stud tables (even if said tables are almost always empty). No Limit and Pot Limit stakes start at the bottom with $.01/$.02 but climb very little to top out at $10/$20. The Fixed Limit spread stretches a little higher up to $75/$150. Though low and middle stakes MTT players will have their pick of juicy pots with buy-ins starting at a mere penny, high rollers looking for a big guarantee may be disappointed by the site’s maximum $215 buy-in. Sit ‘n’ go fans, on the other hand, should have no trouble finding their niche with buy-ins ranging from a quarter up to $750.

If you can find a stake you like at Pacific Poker, then by all means take a seat. Few poker rooms of this caliber offer such fishy competition. Across the board the flops seen percentage is ridiculously high, so whether you’re tight or lose you’ll get plenty of chances to double up on unsuspecting calling stations.

Summary

Despite its mediocre appearance, Pacific Poker is better than average in almost every other respect. Reviewers have repeatedly been hard-pressed to explain the site’s notoriously weak traffic, but players are finally catching on. Establish your position now and you’ll be well-prepared to fleece the influx of fresh players.

The ever-expanding PartyGaming brand has dominated all facets of the online gambling industry for over a decade, and Party Poker is a good example of why. Party Poker is one of the most consistent online poker rooms available today. The site meets expectations across the board, even if it rarely exceeds them, but as a member of the uber-popular PartyGaming brand, new members can rest assured that this room is only going to get bigger and better with time.

Party Poker Bonuses And Promotions

Party Poker does a great job of offering something for everyone with their bonuses and promotions. The site’s promotions page is chock full of ongoing and ever-changing promos and events. Unfortunately, they fail to make a good first impression with their underwhelming 100% sign-up match which is worth a measly $100. Players must earn this bonus in ten increments, but on the upside, Party Poker gives players an ample amount of time – 60 days – to do so and also requires a significantly lower than average playthrough (6-9x).

At any given time, Party Poker has at least half a dozen special promotions and half a dozen permanent ones. It gives both new and returning players plenty of opportunities to optimize their time at the tables and a good incentive to memorize the tournament calendar. Seasonal promotions could be satellites to WPT or WSOP events, major online tournaments, special site-related events, or short-term guarantees like the current Monthly Million series.

Long-term Party Poker members can rely on the site’s expansive added-cash tournament offerings. These include a freeroll package that promises at least $150,000 in money and prizes every month with at least $30,000 dedicated to their rookies-only games and much of the remainder spread over the site’s famous $1500 freerolls. Party Poker’s guaranteed tournament package is worth a cool $6 million every month which includes daily $35,000 guaranteed and $300,000 Sunday guaranteed.

Whereas most other poker rooms of the same size and caliber as Party Poker put the squeeze on their players by charging big tournament fees, Party Poker recently razed their fees for STTs to a measly $10. Even if you’re playing at the max buy-in of $5000, the poker room’s add-on is a mere $10. Additionally, the site offers an extremely popular steps program that lets players work their way up to $2000+ with an initial buy-in of as little as $3.

Party Poker recently revised their loyalty points program per the frequent requests of their players. This new program offers a rake-back that you can cash out but still pushes players to choose the larger bonus play option. The play-through requirements for the bonuses are now also half the size. The only downside is that the levels are still reassessed monthly, making it hard for sporadic players to reach the upper tier.

Banking

Party Poker openly promotes their “comprehensive range of payment methods,” but honestly the selection isn’t that impressive. Players may deposit via Moneybookers, credit card, Neteller, Paypal, Ukash, Paysafecard, entropy, wire transfer (Western Union), UseMyBank, FPS e-passport, Inter-Account, or e-check. At least all of the services are fee-free.

Party Poker is notably more reluctant to promote its withdrawal process. Players that are dissatisfied with the site’s even more limited selection of withdrawal options can get some support from Party Poker’s dedicated 24/7 cashier-specific customer service team.

Software

Party Poker is powered by their parent company PartyGaming in conjunction with the accomplished minds at iGlobalMedia. You won’t see anything new when playing at Party Poker, but the software does a commendable job of juggling the considerable traffic while keeping the games fast and error-free. What isn’t always fast is the loading time for the actual lobby. Feature-savvy players may be disappointed to find that most of Party Poker’s extras are thinly veiled marketing ploys geared toward encouraging poker players to try the new side blackjack games or to wander over to one of Party Poker’s many sister sites (PartyBets, PartyBingo, PartyCasino, etc).

The game selection – much like the payment method selection – is sufficient but far from expansive. Players can choose from all the popular poker standards: Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Seven Card Stud, and Stud Eights or Better. The limited game options are subsidized by an ample stake spread. No Limit and Pot Limit ring games range from $.02/$.04 to $25/$50 and Fixed Limit games range from $.05/$.10 to $250/$500. As we mentioned previously, Party Poker is best-suited for tournament players. The site supports hundreds of tournaments of every format and buy-in level in a single day. The low buy-ins and big prizes translate to uncharacteristically soft competition, making this poker room a good hunting ground for skilled amateurs.

Summary

Party Poker’s site, software, and bonuses are lacking in the bells and whistles that many players have come to expect when playing online, but their superior security and customer service and their ambitious tournament package still make them a reliable choice for long-term players.