Friday, March 09, 2012

Poker Is Like Mike Tyson's Punchout

Yes, you read that correctly.

Mike Tyson's Punchout! was a game for the NES console.  If you don't know what that is then (a) I feel sorry for you, and (b) you suck.  If you had a NES and didn't play Punchout! then you probably won't get what this post is about. 


In the game, as with poker, you start off as an inexperienced fighter looking to make a name for yourself.  In your first few matches you get your ass handed to you.  They beat the shit out of you and laugh about it afterwards.  After you play with them for a while, you begin to notice their tells.  When you see a tell from them, you pounce on them and take the chance to kick their asses.  With time and experience, you become the best in your league and decide to take a shot at a higher level.

Guess what happens?

Yup, you get your ass kicked again.  If you get beat bad enough you have to step back down to your old level and work your way back again.  Eventually in this higher level you start to learn your way around these guys (who are, of course, much tougher) and you start whooping ass.  Once you've conquered this bunch of assholes it's time to step up again.


As you work your way up to being a world class player, you start to run into the guys who you were playing when you first started out.  These guys have evolved their games, too, and you have to re-learn how to beat them.  With time, practice, and training you finally become one of the best in the world.

Then you meet Mike Tyson and he obliterates you.
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For those of you who had trouble downloading or streaming the latest podcast I have to apologize.  We've had nothing but issues with Podbean and their hosting since it started.  I don't understand how these huge podcasts churn out an episode a day on there without issue but we have trouble with our little twice a month operation.

Anyway, it's all fixed now and you should be able to enjoy it.  If anyone wants hard copies on disc or flash drive email me and we can work something out.