Convention Coverage: New Games and Technologies

Transcription

1 NIGA 2010 Convention Coverage: New Games and Technologies NIGA s annual tradeshow, Indian Gaming 2010, is an opportunity for gaming professionals to network and for tribal and industry leaders to discuss the direction of the industry. The tradeshow is also an opportunity for game manufacturers to roll out their new products and systems. We spoke with 12 of the leading game companies about their new products... Ainsworth Game Technology (954) NIGA Booth #2045 A i n s w o r t h i s proud to showcase the latest outstanding GamePlus products at this year s NIGA conference. Taking center stage at Ainsworth Game Technology s stand is Players Paradise, a four-level link progressive that headlined with three Vegas-themed titles: Vegas Fantasy, Vegas Fortune and Vegas Fever. Based on max bet jackpot play, Players Paradise provides four levels of link-progressive jackpots, four levels of explosive bonus prizes and a rapid free-games feature. In addition, Players Paradise is Ainsworth s stunning new innovation, where with each increased bet, extra long arrays of stacked wilds are added to provide players with even greater anticipation. The other huge new release at NIGA 2010 is Ainsworth s highly innovative, wild-west themed, Rodeo Riches fourlevel link-progressive product. Featuring five big, new Play 50Lines games, Rodeo Riches offers a special interactive rodeo jackpot feature where players ride their way to a guaranteed big progressive prize. Ainsworth Play 50Lines and Play 100Lines range continues to perform tremendously well and has just released a huge lineup of new and exciting Play 50Lines games, including Dragon Lines Hold Em, Dolphins, Roaming Reels, Dragon Festival, Busta Bucks, Sheer Magic, Wild Jester. This great new installment of games offer even more stacked wilds, frequent free Ainsworth is a strong supporter of Indian gaming and we are very excited about NIGA With the strong success of our brands, combined with our continued commitment for providing high-performing, innovative and engaging games to the American market, Ainsworth really looks forward to an outstanding 2010 for all our Indian gaming customers. game retriggers and symbol multipliers, in addition to the highly acclaimed two-level mystery SAP option. Ainsworth now offers additional exciting titles to its successful Double Hit range: Enchanted World, Fortune Fountain, Royal Diamonds Deluxe and OX. Also look out for Ainsworth s new concepts with the highly innovative Super Game game range, featuring Red Hot Dragons, The King & The Queen, as well as the unique 50 Ways / 100 Ways brand, launched with the first exciting game Money Maze, incorporating two ways for one-credit play and exciting, wild multiplying stacks during free games. Both Super Game and 50 Ways / 100 Ways are very innovative first-to market concepts that were huge hits at their G2E 2009 sneak preview. Aristocrat Technologies (702) NIGA Booth #919 Danny Gladstone, CEO Ainsworth Game Technology Aristocrat Technologies is the company trusted by tribal gaming operations for both games and systems. Aristocrat leads the way with penny slots that helped many tribal casinos increase their player base and bottom line, and now Aristocrat has chosen NIGA 2010 to premiere its latest innovation, the Viridian WS. Last year, Aristocrat s award-winning Viridian cabinet 78 Indian Gaming April 2010

2 Aristocrat Technologies is honored to be a trusted games and systems partner by tribal gaming operations, and we are thrilled to premiere our latest innovation, the Viridian Widescreen, at NIGA Nick Khin, President Aristocrat Americas became an instant industry-wide sensation. Now Aristocrat is proud to introduce three new cabinet innovations to its product portfolio in the Viridian Widescreen, the Vii slant and the exciting new Verve. Powered by the GEN7 platforms, these new cabinet offerings will provide players an even more enjoyable gaming entertainment experience through improved ergonomics, 13-button panel support, exciting new LCD button technology, easier accessibility, and larger 22 LCD screens. Aristocrat s Oasis 360 system is trusted by more tribal operators than any other system. In fact, Oasis 360 is used by more than 270 casinos in North America, and was most recently enthusiastically embraced by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Oasis 360 now monitors more than 9,300 devices in Choctaw casinos throughout Oklahoma, including all devices at the stunning Choctaw Casino in Durant, which celebrated its grand opening earlier this month. Aristocrat installed and deployed the Oasis 360 system at seven casinos in just over a year s time, with each property becoming entirely Sentinel III Ethernet. The response at the property has been overwhelmingly positive, both from management and from customers. Oasis 360 s monitoring for Choctaw includes: Broken Bow, 458 games; Durant Bingo, 717 games; Durant Resort, 4,617 games; Grant, 1,239 games; McAlester, 623 games; Pocola, 1,396 games; and Stringtown, 260 games. Aristocrat is also showing a wealth of games, including the community-style gaming sensation Beijing Bonanza, new games Kentucky Derby, Beat the Bandits, Jeff Foxworthy s Redneck Rumble and Kiss my Cash, and XRP RFX, as well as proven performers like JAWS and Hit the Heights. Aruze Gaming America (702) NIGA Booth #939 At the 2010 NIGA tradeshow and convention in San Diego, Aruze Gaming is poised to further expand throughout North America and increase its presence in tribal casinos. As 2010 unfolds, Aruze Gaming will capitalize on the momentum begun in 2009 with additional titles that capture the essence of the player experience. Combining proven game mathematics and a strong, reliable platform, Aruze Gaming will continue to build upon the players experience across multiple demographics on the gaming floor. This includes multi-terminal G-Station machines such as Shoot to Win Craps and Lucky Sic Bo, to interactive deluxe entertainment EGM products such as Pretty Pigs, Memories of Love, or Bow Wow Buck$. Taking center stage is Aruze s notable and ambitious Rock You Queen deluxe multimedia gaming machine based on the music and videos of the mega rock group, Queen. This game features videos, music clips, and our most ambitious graphics and animations package to date. The game has multiple bonuses from free spins with added multipliers and a second screen bicycle race, which occur frequently, keeping players entertained. The 2010 NIGA tradeshow is important for us because it allows us to further build key relationships, and make new ones as we expand into new jurisdictions. Steve Walther, Vice President of Marketing Aruze Gaming America Beyond the exciting products listed above, Aruze gaming is displaying their most ambitious set of games at NIGA including G-Series, G-Deluxe and G-Link categories. Examples of G-Series games include Giant Panda, The Last Emperor, San Guo Shi Dai and Showgirl. These games include exciting bonus features, high energy graphics and strong game mathematics. Our link products include Jackpot Battle Royal, which features a competitive tournament style bonus event where April 2010 Indian Gaming 79

3 NIGA 2010 players race to win the bonus jackpot as well as other standard mystery products. G-Link products feature Aruze Gaming s popular stand alone games in the links, such as Shen Long and The Legend of Qin Dynasty II. As Aruze Gaming s product portfolio further grows in 2010, more markets and jurisdictions will see placements of their games. Our challenge for 2010 is to capitalize on the right opportunities at the right time and in the right markets. Participation at NIGA with a comprehensive tradeshow display and a strong product portfolio gives Aruze Gaming a step in the right direction to deliver the best gaming experience to tribal casino players and provide a strong return for those casinos who invest in their products. Bally Technologies (702) NIGA Booth #1517 Bally is showcasing its newest games, systems, and server-based solutions at Indian Gaming 2010 (NIGA). A highlight is the sleek, modern, and environmentally friendly Pro Series Slant gaming platform. The video display and armrests are slanted at the ideal angles for optimal player comfort. A 26-inch display eliminates traditional top glass, and is perfect for progressive and other top-box features. Also on display will be Bally s new SpinNation series of spinning-wheel slots featuring a mystery or symboltriggered spinning-wheel bonus top box. One of the most exciting games in the SpinNation series is Cash Spin, an industry first. With its unique U-Spin g esture-control technology, Cash Spin allows players to spin a virtual wheel right We re thrilled to showcase our games, systems, and server-based solutions at NIGA. We always look forward to seeing our customerpartners in tribal gaming and demonstrating our most cutting-edge new solutions to help drive revenue and deliver efficiencies for their operations. Laura Olson-Reyes, Director of Corporate Communications Bally Technologies on the screen backwards, forwards, slow, or fast just as if it were a physical spinning wheel. This dramatic breakthrough in dynamic player control is destined to revolutionize the slot floor unlike anything before it. Bally is also showcasing Vegas Hits, another game featuring U-Spin. Another booth standout is Hot Shot Progressive Cash Wheel, which adds a spinning wheel bonus feature to the exciting five-level, Game- In-Game progressive feature that is the hallmark of Bally s Hot Shot Progressive brand. In Systems, Bally is showcasing an array of server-based solutions, including iview Display Manager (DM), which enables casinos to display marketing and players club messages on the main game screen without interrupting play in a format similar to picture-in-picture technology; Bally Command Center for centralized floor configuration control; and the CoolSign Media Management Solution for centralized control of all digital signage throughout the property. Bally is also highlighting its new world-class SDS Version 11 slotmanagement system, now available on a Microsoft Windows platform, which delivers flexibility, easy maintainability, and horizontal and vertical scalability for any size of casino operation. Cadillac Jack (770) NIGA Booth #1717 Cadillac Jack is excited to present an expanded lineup of products at NIGA that enrich the player experience and improve ROI for our customers. Cadillac Jack is demonstrating its newly customized Genesis cabinet. Based upon valuable customer feedback gathered during the preview at G2E, Cadillac Jack has modified Genesis for improved player comfort and time on device. Sporting a sleeker design, Genesis features dual 22 high-resolution monitors and an enlarged ergonomic button panel for player comfort. Cadillac Jack has also improved serviceability on the cabinet, providing operators easier access to internal components. Already server-based compatible, Genesis enables slot managers to expediently make game changes and thus achieve quicker floor optimization. Genesis will initially be exclusive to the Mega Money Maker multi-level progressive and Cadillac Jack s new family of 40-Line video reel titles. Cadillac Jack s most popular game theme, So Hot is now part of its new 40 Line series. Featured in the Genesis 80 Indian Gaming April 2010

4 NIGA is the perfect venue to showcase our newly designed Genesis cabinet, entertaining multi-level progressive and some of the most exciting products we ve developed to date for tribal casinos. cabinet, So Hot Forty Lines and Genesis strike the perfect balance between sleek, ergonomic design and fiery action. All of the new 40-Line games on display in Cadillac Jack s booth, including Murphy s Luck, Galapagos, Trippin for Cash and Pasture & Beyond are sure to ignite excitement on the slot floor. Mega Money Maker, the new multi-level progressive, is also being showcased. Mega Money Maker increases player excitement and participation through five independent Mini Game bonuses linked to five multi-level progressives. Each Mini Game has its own unique paytable, symbols, and progressive jackpot value. Cadillac Jack is excited to feature Mega Money Maker exclusively in its new Genesis dual-screen cabinet. During NIGA, Cadillac Jack will also introduce Diamond Inferno, the newest game theme for its Class II wide area progressive Cadillac Cash. Diamond Inferno features Vertical Wilds, credit multipliers and up to 20 free spins. IGT (702) NIGA Booth #1219 Gina Lanphear, Director of Marketing Cadillac Jack IGT s showing at Indian Gaming 2010 further solidifies the company s position as the market leader in driving games and systems performance. Highlights at Indian Gaming 2010 include three games that have rocked gaming floors nation-wide: Sex and the City, The Amazing Race and Top Dollar. IGT is three for three, as each game has exceeded house averages. IGT has brought the movie theater to the slot floor with its new Center Stage Series. It s an eye-catching, awe-inspiring platform, designed to deliver extra-large fun to players and big time flexibility to operators. Casinos will install the platform (screens, seats and all) just once, and change out software for themes as they become available. First up is Wheel of Fortune Experience with American Idol Video Slots coming soon. Everything s better in 3-D, and there s no other 3-D experience like IGT s. IGT s 3-D games kick the entertainment value up countless notches, and this year s offering includes more jawdropping, symbol-popping bonuses and animations. Filled with 3-D action is The Little Shop of Horrors game, with a unique, hexagonal interface. In the Free Games bonus, extra symbols turn wild. The iconic plant continues to grow larger each time it feeds on more wild symbols, and when it gets to be full size, the player scores more free games. IGT has given all the control to our operators and players with IGT DynamiX - a bundle of IGT s most innovative technologies (3-D games, MLD, AVP and Multi-Games) in a complete solution. Consistent with our history in the gaming industry, IGT is leading the charge to the next level of casino gaming with competitive games and products all designed to help our customers thrive. Knute Knudson, IGT Vice President for Native American Development The sbx Service Window was designed based on Gaming Standard Association (GSA) protocols, and provides a unique player interaction experience. The sbx Floor Manager means ultimate access to the IGT game library, while the sbx Media Manager enables targeted messages and services to the Service Window. Incredible Technologies (800) NIGA Booth #1149 Incredible Technologies (IT) - the new Class III EGM manufacturer and largest developer of pay-to-play amusement video games in the U.S. is proud to showcase Magic Touch, their revolutionary collection of video slot, poker and keno games, at Indian Gaming For the first time, IT will be exhibiting their innovative suite of multi-denominational games complete with GLI certification and exceptional testing results from major casino partners. Magic Touch is the first system of its kind to package a full-immersion amusement experience into a sophisticated gaming device. National testing of the product began in early 2010 and the company is planning an aggressive rollout in select gaming jurisdictions this spring. Magic Touch features four video slot themes, including April 2010 Indian Gaming 81

5 NIGA 2010 Money, Cars, Fruit and Fish Store, along with 16 revolutionary video poker and keno games. Each slot theme features IT's ground-breaking Versatile Volatility technology a patent-pending innovation that asks players to choose "How do you like to win Often, Steady or Big?" Based on their selection, a low, medium or high volatility version of the theme is activated. In addition, Magic Touch features a flexible math engine that allows operators to tune pay back percentage with half-percent accuracy between %. These novel concepts allow Magic Touch slot themes to be configured with a high degree of resolution and make IT games the most flexible in the industry. What NIGA attendees experience in the Incredible Technologies booth represents four years of intense research and development. With laboratory approval and successful testing data to support us, we re excited to kick off the Magic Touch sales effort with the tribal gaming community at Indian Gaming Don Pesceone, Senior Vice President of Sales Incredible Technologies Magic Touch video poker games feature up to 10 pay tables each, as well as the groundbreaking ProTip innovation where loyal players are rewarded with perfect play tips. Magic Touch Keno games feature exciting graphics and animations with up to 11 pay tables per game. Konami Gaming (702) NIGA Booth #1633 We are very excited about exhibiting at the NIGA show as the Native American market is extremely important for Konami. We always look forward to this show and getting quality time with our Native American customers. Leah Steinhardt, Marketing Manager Konami Gaming At the NIGA show Konami is excited to be showcasing several new products. Konami s new Advantage Revolution cabinet features two highdefinition video screens combined with traditional mechanical reels that switch back and forth to keep players engaged and entertained longer. The Advantage Revolution mesmerizes with a first-of-its-kind, two-in-one rotating machine design. It features two hi-def LCD digital screens with nostalgic spinning reels, incorporates the successful Advantage 5 attract-mode lighting system, and increases attraction even more with additional perimeter lighting. In addition, multiple game surfaces allow for unique, exciting bonus events. One LCD shows wheels with credit wins while one LCD shows 3-reel bonus. Konami s Advantage Revolution has just been launched at Sycuan Casino located 30 minutes outside of San Diego and has been a huge hit with customers. Another new cabinet Konami is showcasing is the new Podium video cabinet. Utilizing the feedback from avid slot players, Konami enlisted renowned firm Stuart Karen Design to bring fruition the players input. The result is an amazing culmination of sights, sounds ergonomics and innovation. The Podium is currently available with all of Konami s proven performing K2V video game titles. Multimedia Games (512) NIGA Booth #1339 M u l t i m e d i a Games is showcasing its revolutionary TournEvent slot tournament system at this year s NIGA tradeshow. TournEvent is the easiest system of its kind to use in the market today. The system provides a number of quantifiable benefits for slot floor managers and is changing the way casino operators utilize slot tournaments to maximize their 82 Indian Gaming April 2010

6 Rocket Gaming Systems (877) NIGA Booth #717 TournEvent takes slot tournaments to the next level. When you add sound, lights and live video to something that is already fun for the players, the place goes crazy. Too much fun! Mick Roemer, Senior Vice President of Sales Multimedia Games promotional programs. With a few clicks of a mouse, operators can change banks of high performing stand-alone video titles to exciting tournament spectacles sure to draw a crowd. And when the tournament ends, a few more clicks take them right back to those high performing titles, which are backed by a large library and refreshed as often as any other game on the floor. The ease of switching between the two outrageous tournaments and top performing stand-alone games will keep both operators and players happy. TournEvent is the first server-based gaming system that clearly demonstrates significant operational enhancements for slot managers while simultaneously providing the tournament player with a higher level of entertainment. It allows a slot floor manager to create a slot tournament at the push of a button without the need to conduct time-consuming chip changes or machine moves. Also, bill validators and printers are non-functional when the machines are placed in tournament hold percentage. The secret to TournEvent s success is its robust back office system that provides floor managers with a host of features and benefits: automated enrollment quickly gets players in the action; real-time tracking allows constant event monitoring; and push-of-a-button operation enables efficient use of slot floor space. All of these features are housed in a self-contained, easyto-use control center conveniently located at the end of the slot bank. With TournEvent, operators can even upload customized advertising to the system and display the content via the cabinet s upper display. It makes it painless for marketing departments to promote events and amenities at their casinos. With all of TournEvent s features, it is clearly the future for slot tournament management. Each year Rocket Gaming Systems looks forward to the NIGA show to unveil its latest products for its Class II customers. And this year, there is a lot to show! Leading off are the newest members of the Rocket family: the company s first-ever mechanical, spinning-reel games. The new Winners Edge steppers include four brand new titles: Blazing Diamonds and Dollars, Reel Magic, Mountains of Money, and Majestic Gold. These are 5-reel, 25-line games available in multiple denominations, and each include a top-box video with exciting bonus rounds. Rocket is focused squarely on the needs of Native American gaming. We look forward to catching up with our friends to share the exciting new developments we ve been working on. Ron Harris, CEO/President Rocket Gaming Systems Rocket s Gold Series is a major hit! The Gold Series now includes five unique and entertaining video titles, each with a wide range of bonus rounds and, best of all, a top prize of $1,000,000+ that s designed to hit frequently. The first titles in the series, Burnin Up, Golden Sunrise, Kingdom Cash, and Lucky Year are already some of the best performing games in Rocket history. And the newest title, Puppy Tales, will make its debut in the Rocket booth on the NIGA tradeshow floor. The Gold Series is more than just a great series of games. As proud supporters of the National Indian Gaming Association, Rocket has donated over $125,000 from the play of Gold Series games so far. Rocket believes in NIGA s mission of protecting tribal sovereignty and is honored to be one of its sponsors. This year s show also features the muchanticipated debut of Rocket s new 50-line games: Brilliant Butterfly, Royal Phoenix, and Wild Flowers. Rocket is also unveiling its hot new Lotto Gold Keno, the company s first keno game, featuring Gold Ball Multipliers that can increase your win two times, four times, or even eight times more! April 2010 Indian Gaming 83

7 NIGA 2010 VGT (918) NIGA Booth #1139 VGT has launched more than 30 games because we believe that this variety of product is necessary to stimulate the market and can aid in a casino s game refreshment strategy. Jim Nulph, Director of Marketing VGT 2010 promises to be a busy year. We have recently announced the release of 20 new titles including: Future Fortunes and Dynamite Daisy. Among this list are newly-launched 5-reel video games that are built on the same innovating game play that made our mechanical games successful. Fierce Fortunes, Crazy Bill Strikes Again, and Sultan s Riches are all available in VGT s revolutionary narrow cabinet. Each 5-reel video game terminal combines the best graphics, audio and game play design with the most appealing and profitable pay tables in the Class II marketplace. Video King Gaming & Entertainment (800) NIGA Booth #540 Video King, an industry leader and provider of electronic gaming systems, game designs and bingo hall equipment, is featuring a lineup of exciting games and products at this year s NIGA show. Crazy Quarters is the latest Class II, pari-mutuel, credit-based bingo game, guaranteeing every player the chance to win three different prizes in every game with a must-go accumulator jackpot at the end of the session. PowerPlay Bel Air is the most contemporary bingo onsole on the market today. It has extreme strength and durability, a sleek look, and is easily transportable. Removable panels give easy access to PC-driven components and Video King has a long history supporting Indian Gaming and NIGA, and we are proud to say that this year is no different. Showcasing products suited for both session bingo and for play off the casino floor, we can increase your noncompacted Class II income. Mark Newton, Director of New Product Development, Regulatory Compliance Video King Gaming & Entertainment blower motor. The unit fully integrates with Video King s player interface devices, OMNI point-ofsale system and comprehensive suite of Class II games. Champion II is a two-way, Wi-Fi, touch-screen tablet deemed Leader of the Pack in portable gaming. It features a vibrant screen, rugged construction, and incredible reliability and runs on a Windows CE operating system. This unit allows you to play Class II games in your restaurant and buffet. TAB-e is a two-way, Wi-Fi, touch-screen, portable gaming tablet, boasting same fine features as our top dog tablet, the Champion II but at a reduced cost, size and weight. OMNI The Total Solution is a multi-functional, MICS-compliant point-of-sale system. It features paper and pull-tab inventory control, cash vault, bingo session scheduler, complete integration of Video King s player interface devices, comprehensive player tracking system, gateway to Bally Casino Market Place (CMP) player management system, incredible discounting and couponing promotional modules, and the ability to print bingo cards for racing games and credit-card payment options. Also featured will be new Electronic QuickShot Bonanza themes K9 Cash and QuickShot McDraw. These highly popular, Class II, credit-based games are playable on Video King s tablets and fixed-based PowerTouch units. They feature customizable pay tables and their captivating graphics support play before, during and after session bingo games. Also on display is the Bonanza Rewards Kiosk, a standalone, self-serve kiosk. It consists of a touch-screen PC, magnetic stripe/barcode reader, and receipt printer. Reward players, offer raffles, door prizes and loyalty clubs, track inhall attendance all the while increasing sales. 84 Indian Gaming April 2010

8 WMS (773) NIGA Booth #1439 WMS is showcasing the future of its Community Gaming product category with two powerful brands, Monopoly Bigger Event Monopoly Big Money Spin and The Price is Right. Monopoly Bigger Event introduces a new way to qualify and trigger Big Event bonuses and features two 52 overhead highdefinition monitors, while two The Price is Right themes combine three of its foundational technologies for the first time, providing a dynamic new paradigm in slot entertainment. WMS is featuring the follow-up to its award-winning The Wizard of Oz Sensory Immersion Gaming product, The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers, providing another exciting adventure players can see, hear and feel in the Land of Oz. The latest product in WMS Transmissive Reels product category is Monopoly Advance to Boardwalk. This Bluebird 2 Mechanical exclusive offers seven possible bonus rounds and is the first Monopoly Transmissive Reels product offering multi-level progressive awards in addition to the wide area progressive, where available. WMS is also introducing The Lord of the Rings, taking Adaptive Gaming to an epic level! This persistentstate game allows players to save their progress and pick up where they left off as they earn miles on a journey through Middle-earth along the storyline of this already-classic motion picture trilogy. WMS is also providing a look at its Ultra Hit Progressive Portal Application Family, which can be placed on top of most WMS For Sale products on a networked floor to provide a secondary bonus experience, multiple, heightened levels of anticipation, and an enhanced life cycle for base game themes. WMS is excited to demonstrate our focus on improving the player experience through our Bluebird xd platform. Through a blended choreography of emotive lighting, audio, and visual cues, players are immersed in a gaming experience never before seen on casino floors, creating new categories of bonusing, enhanced win celebrations, and much more. Candace Lucas, Executive Director Marketing Operations WMS April 2010 Indian Gaming 85