slamdunkpro
04-06-2004, 04:55 PM
After some searching I was able to find 4 poker tournament management software packages: Here are my thoughts on each:
Poker Countdown by Party Software - http://www.partysoftware.com/ $14.95 Downloadable? Yes Demo Available? Yes
Poker countdown is a well-designed blind structure/ timer system for running both limit and no limit tournaments. Unfortunately it does not have any kind of prize pool management built in. Poker Countdown was the easiest to set up blind structures as it was the only semi automated blind creator. You just specify an amount or a percentage then tell the SW the number of levels you want and presto!
Rating – B: I would like to have some chip and money management built in as well.
TourneyTime 2004 Home Edition by Tourneytime SW - http://www.tourneytimesoft.com / $19.99 download / $29.99 CD
Downloadable? Yes Demo Available? Yes
TourneyTime is the next step in tournament management as it will not only control blinds and timing but players; tables assignments; fees; and prize pool. Perhaps it’s just the demo but I found the data entry requirements to be excessive and in many cases manual. For example you need to enter the player’s name but there is no report function to allow a final results tally sheet to be printed You also have to input the player’s table number manually, as well as page out of the clock screen to add re-buys and or add-ons.
Rating – C: In addion to the above I would like to be able to see the remaining players and chip counts on the main screen.
Poker Clock by C & T Entertainment - http://www.pokerclock.net/ $39.95 Downloadable? Yes Demo Available? Yes
Poker clock sits in-between Poker Countdown and Tourney Time as far as functionality yet has some of the sophisticated features of more expensive programs such as The Clock.
You can manage time; blinds; players, and Prize money all from the main screen. One of the nicer features is the ability to save certain structures such as 3 place payouts, 4 place, ˝ no limit, 20/40 limit, then reload them at will. This feature helps to make up for the somewhat tedious set up you will encounter.
Rating – A-: Allow the end user to set up a HE/limit/No Limit game the way that Poker Countdown does
The Clock by ? http://www.tournamentclock.com $1400 (est)
Downloadable? No Demo Available? No
The Cadillac of poker event timers. Can track multiple time periods which allow for multi-games, penalties, and more. Allows for rotating banners on same system.
The Clock is currently only being sold to licensed cardrooms (?) and there is no demo available. From the screen shots and from personal experience in card rooms, This is the most comprehensive package out there. Is it 30x’s better? Perhaps/perhaps not – It really depends on what you are looking for.
Hope this helps – BTW I am not affiliated with any of these companies – I’m just a guy who runs a good sized home game.
PM me and I’ll tell you which one I bought and why .
Poker Countdown by Party Software - http://www.partysoftware.com/ $14.95 Downloadable? Yes Demo Available? Yes
Poker countdown is a well-designed blind structure/ timer system for running both limit and no limit tournaments. Unfortunately it does not have any kind of prize pool management built in. Poker Countdown was the easiest to set up blind structures as it was the only semi automated blind creator. You just specify an amount or a percentage then tell the SW the number of levels you want and presto!
Rating – B: I would like to have some chip and money management built in as well.
TourneyTime 2004 Home Edition by Tourneytime SW - http://www.tourneytimesoft.com / $19.99 download / $29.99 CD
Downloadable? Yes Demo Available? Yes
TourneyTime is the next step in tournament management as it will not only control blinds and timing but players; tables assignments; fees; and prize pool. Perhaps it’s just the demo but I found the data entry requirements to be excessive and in many cases manual. For example you need to enter the player’s name but there is no report function to allow a final results tally sheet to be printed You also have to input the player’s table number manually, as well as page out of the clock screen to add re-buys and or add-ons.
Rating – C: In addion to the above I would like to be able to see the remaining players and chip counts on the main screen.
Poker Clock by C & T Entertainment - http://www.pokerclock.net/ $39.95 Downloadable? Yes Demo Available? Yes
Poker clock sits in-between Poker Countdown and Tourney Time as far as functionality yet has some of the sophisticated features of more expensive programs such as The Clock.
You can manage time; blinds; players, and Prize money all from the main screen. One of the nicer features is the ability to save certain structures such as 3 place payouts, 4 place, ˝ no limit, 20/40 limit, then reload them at will. This feature helps to make up for the somewhat tedious set up you will encounter.
Rating – A-: Allow the end user to set up a HE/limit/No Limit game the way that Poker Countdown does
The Clock by ? http://www.tournamentclock.com $1400 (est)
Downloadable? No Demo Available? No
The Cadillac of poker event timers. Can track multiple time periods which allow for multi-games, penalties, and more. Allows for rotating banners on same system.
The Clock is currently only being sold to licensed cardrooms (?) and there is no demo available. From the screen shots and from personal experience in card rooms, This is the most comprehensive package out there. Is it 30x’s better? Perhaps/perhaps not – It really depends on what you are looking for.
Hope this helps – BTW I am not affiliated with any of these companies – I’m just a guy who runs a good sized home game.
PM me and I’ll tell you which one I bought and why .