All they would have to do is announce a time when they want people to test, that would bring hundreds if not thousands.

inb4 Kiwikaki

I do believe that the proclamation of Zooms death might be premature...

Are there any new limits on the test client? Hope they start it soon.

In b4 the FT inspired cease and desist order to protect their pending patent

I'm optimistic after hearing the Steve D interview at the end of the pokercast. He doesn't give a release date but just the fact that he's talks in detail about it is a good sign. He says "the product is close to being ready to go" I think as soon as it tests smoothly in real money games with player pools over 1,000 players it will go live.

So there have to be more than 1000 ppl in the testclient playing it? I heard that there were much smaller numbers of ppl playing there.

le kiwikaki

There is no legal basis to prevent using something which is patent pending. They have to wait for the patent to be issued, and can then ask for reasonable royalties for the time it was used patent pending.

i dont think i ever saw more than 100 (althoguh i wasnt on there that much)

There doesn't have to be. Just saying FT used to run Rush with pools of 200-800 players. Stars will have bigger 1000+ pools and need to make sure the games run problem free.

Hi all,

Thanks for all your comments and replies regarding Zoom, our new fast-paced Ring Game product.

Based on player feedback we have added two new features on the .TEST version:
1) Sit out next BB – Fully operational with the checkbox on the table.
2) “Fold & Watch” – There is still some graphic work to be done on this feature, but for now you can test it by pressing Ctrl+Shift while you click the Fold button. This feature does not work with the ‘Fast Fold’ button.

You are welcome to test the new features on TestPokerStars (or just test Zoom in general, if you haven’t had the chance yet). Please send any feedback you would like to share to beta@pokerstars.com. If you have never visited TestPokerStars, here are the instructions on how to do this:
http://www.testpokerstars.com/instructions.html

We are finalizing the last few details regarding the product and expect Zoom to be released as Real Money beta in mid-March.

Perfect timing!!!

In before late march/early december

Lol im just done expecting after something gets delayed 3 times.

Better in late march and a work thing than in early december with tons of bugs.
If you do the things right will get more time but you dont lost with problems.
Congratz Stars.

Here is a short 4 tabling Zoom video I made last month, but just uploaded.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90mPobpRYaI

What does real money beta mean? As in only avaliable on the TEST stars? As in not really worth playing since the fishes don't know about it? As in probably still months away for actually playing it?

I think it means on the main site, but I could be wrong.

If I remember correctly Rush was called a real money beta when it was released to the masses.

don't think he means the testclient. there are other functionalities available as beta versions in the normal client (easy seat and hotkeys for instance). So I think when he says available for real money as beta it means on the regular client. Also don't think we can play for real money on the test client (just a guess though)

"please note that all games are played for play money only. "
http://www.testpokerstars.com/

Mid March release date as per Stephan in the stars software improvement forum.

Just my 2 cents, but i think it will be at regular client, due the definition of beta software or product, as said before, we got many things beta in regular client, so no problem if they add one more (zooom).