New Games and Technology Preview

Transcription

1 New Games and Technology Preview The industry awaits this year's Global Gaming Expo, an expansive exhibit of innovative products and cutting-edge technologies. This year's show boasts over 750 exhibitors demonstrating the hottest and most exciting games and products on the market. Indian Gaming magazine spoke with several leading game manufacturers to discuss the games and products they plan to unveil at G2E. Here is what they had to say AC Coin & Slot (800) G2E Booth #1832 We have only just begun our quest to reintroduce real action and excitement to casino floors. Jerry Seelig, Exec. VP and General Manager AC Coin & Slot At the Global Gaming Expo, AC Coin & Slot will unveil their arsenal of fantastic community-style games. Famous for introducing such popular slot games as Slotto, AC Coin recently launched Super Slotto Celebration, a community style sequel to the company's flagship product. Bankroll Diamond Edition is an equally exciting new offering. This game features the same excitement as its predecessor Bankroll, with a Double Diamond 5 Reel 20 Line and 5 reel 40 Line max configurable paytable. Players will share their bonus experience and bring excitement to slot floors with these rewarding bonus games that will easily track these machine's distinctive sights and sounds from across a casino floor. Themes such as Slotto Volcano, Super Bankroll Bonus, and Empire, will feature all of the excitement of the large-scale community games on a more streamline footprint. The company is leveraging those 30 years of experience to create games that people play... and play... and play. From its first bonus hit, Empire, AC Coin's innovative products, which include proprietary slot machines, custom interior casino signage, slot bases, casino millwork and ergonomic seating, have become an integral part of the gaming industry's continual evolution. This year, AC Coin & Slot reached a significant milestone with the installation of its 3,000th proprietary slot game in North America. All future slot game releases will be launched under the Mega Bonus Slots brand, a nod to the company's unique ability to deliver mega bonus producing machines. AC Coin & Slot holds over 180 gaming licenses in all major gaming jurisdictions in North America and the Caribbean with plans to expand into even more markets. AC Coin & Slot is also the exclusive distributor of IGT gaming devices in Atlantic City and the Caribbean, and utilizes proven IGT pay tables in all bonusing slot machines. Ainsworth Game Technologies (954) G2E Booth #2513 Ainsworth Game Technology (AGT) will launch its new enhanced range of Ambassador game themes at G2E. Marketed under the Gameplus brand, AGT has designed an extensive product portfolio to cover a broad cross section of market segments. The product range provides slot managers with a vast range of options, mix and matching games into a variety of exciting formats including link progressives, anti bet, standalone mystery progressives and symbol driven mystery progressive games. All games take advantage of AGT's unique 26 LCD superior high-resolution graphics presentation. Headlining the range are retriggering free game features, random bonus prizes and second screen features. Jackpot Kingdom is a 4 level symbol driven link progressive, allowing configurable prize levels, complimented by a range of AGT 20 and 25 line games. Hot Reel is the ultimate in anti-bet games, based on 20 line play the feature is triggered in conjunction with a bonus game series, providing additional multipliers, wild symbols and bonus prizes, including 6 of a kind wins. AGT's $ Mystery Progressives provide the ultimate in flexibility, allowing on screen dual level mystery jackpots on all 20, 25, 30 and 50 line games. In addition, Dragon Power, the new 6-reel bonus free game feature, adds extra multipliers and substitute symbols to free 34 Indian Gaming November 2007

2 We are pleased to announce the global launch of a new enhanced range of Ambassador game themes marketed under the Gameplus brand which provides slot managers with a vast range of options, mix and matching games into a variety of exciting formats. Rick Meitzler, Senior VP of North American Operations Ainsworth Game Technology game wins. Other exciting new themes, such as Wild Outlaw, Pyramid Secrets, Paradise Moon, Cash Mint and Birdsville Bucks, headline the latest for the AGT game library. Aristocrat (702) G2E Booth #1313 Aristocrat will feature a number of dynamic new products at this year s show. The Viridian cabinet is the essence of modern gaming technology - smart, stylish and designed to perform. The modular design comes standard with dual LCD, and is environmentally friendly with low emissions and is ROHS compliant. There are a wide range of top box options, including casino, round and chop. Its slim footprint has a universal mid-trim and wrap around belly art (3D), has Trilobe Button Design used as a Global Brand Identifier, and is downloadable ready. The Gen7 platform drives the power behind the performance. Gen7 sparkles with dynamic scorecards with attract sequences to draw players. Gen7 allows players to select which denomination they want to play, and a high resolution touch screen with LCD graphics keeps players engaged. Gen7 is driven with an Intel processor and comes with a futureready Technology pathway and is enhanced with smart card/flash card technology, universal player interface, portal for innovative content and future possibilities. Gen7's enhanced player interface has a consistent screen layout with selectable options on-screen. DL Technology delivers quick access to an extensive library of MKVI games and a wide array of software-based tools. With dozens of titles, all downloadable to a single machine, this revolutionary platform ensures the most dynamic slot mix, and allows increased efficiency across your entire operation. You can change games, lines, and denominations with a mouse click. Yield management allows revenue optimization revenue, and you can access real-time analysis of your floor performance by area, bank, game and more. DL logs game transactions for accurate game, bank, area and floor performance and trend analysis, and the software suite is designed for maximum performance and security. Player's World is Aristocrat's 1st ever multigame/multi-denom product package. Player's World is four games in one box with three denominations and high denomination options. Coming under the incredibly successful Hyperlink brand, Player's World will feature the wildly popular Cash Express, but on Player's World, the excitement is increased by a multi-game hyperlink. At G2E 2007, Aristocrat will be putting a permanent mark on the gaming industry with incredible innovations in games, systems, downloadable technology and customer service. Sean Evans, VP Sales Aristocrat Atronic (800) G2E Booth #1385 At this year's Global Gaming Expo, Atronic will premiere Harmony Slant, a proven cabinet design already enjoying great success in international markets. It provides players with maximum comfort through ergonomic design and will make its debut with a library of exciting game titles, including Mystical Journey, Sun Spirit and Jungle of Gold. Passion Slots will be shown with a bold new design and an interactive top screen that promises to take bonus rounds to a whole new level. Look for this cabinet to feature exciting reel slot versions of Deal or No Deal and The Game of Life. Alfastreet, the new multi-player roulette station manufactured and distributed by Atronic Americas, will be prominent at this year's show. emillions, Atronic's award winning Wide Area Progressive Link, will be shown with both a penny and nickel denomination. Atronic will feature fun game titles such as Himalayan Gold, Money Magnet and Moonlight Mansion. In the Linked Gaming area, customers will find a wide array of King Kong Cash, The Game of Life and Deal or No Deal titles. Building on the success of Deal or No Deal, Atronic will unveil two new links under this brand 36 Indian Gaming November 2007

3 We look forward to providing our customers a wide variety of creative and innovative product solutions, including our newest cabinet design, Harmony Slant. umbrella. Deal or No Deal The Experience is a new linked gaming concept with three interactive bonus rounds and a multilevel progressive. Deal or No Deal Mega Deal is a Wide Area and Multi-Site progressive with two levels of jackpots. Both will feature the popular Briefcase Bonus round that has become synonymous with the game. Also on display will be a wide range of new titles and themes for Atronic's core products on e-motion. Lastly, Atronic Systems is set to exhibit the tournament-style bonus concept Tournamania and flexible cashless solution Chip Cash, in addition to Chain Reaction, a unique multi-player mystery jackpot concept. Bally Technologies (702) G2E Booth #1339 Ken Bossingham, COO Atronic Bally Technologies, Inc. plans to spotlight a broad spectrum of advanced gaming and systems technology at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). This year, Bally has selected the theme The Future TODAY! which will form the backdrop as games and systems technology converge. While much has been made of the prospect of serverbased gaming having a dramatic impact on casino floors in years to come, Bally has chosen to demonstrate a more beneficial approach for operators at this year's G2E. Bally's vision of The Networked Floor Of The Future includes future server-based gaming applications, but more importantly it allows casino operators to capitalize on revenuegenerating technology with a high return on investment available today. Bally's product lineup allows operators to plan for a series of technology phases that will ultimately drive more gaming play in the future while improving the overall experience of casino visitors. Bally took the concept behind its wildly successful CineVision slant-style video slot cabinet and created the new CineReels cabinet featuring up to seven mechanical reels - an industry first. Multiple game titles in three-, four-, five- and seven-reel configurations will be on display at G2E. CineReels also features a high-resolution 20-inch widescreen touch-enabled display ideally located for interactive gaming. With enhanced audio and a standard footprint, CineReels is ergonomically designed, player friendly, and features a well-positioned, playertracking interface and comfortable arm rest. Our theme, The Future TODAY!' represents a commitment to our customers to provide technology with a high return on investment today. In other words, our products will make a positive impact today and be compatible with any products or technology that may be in demand in the future. One of the key highlights at this year's Bally booth will be the official sales debut of the much-anticipated Game Maker HD multi-game platform. Originally introduced in 1994, Game Maker was the first multi-game to gain widespread acceptance among casino players. Now, 13 years and tens of thousands of Game Makers later, the new Game Maker HD is reborn as a modern technological masterpiece in the ALPHA Elite V20 / 20 and CineVision cabinets and the new ALPHA Elite Bartop with the same widescreen display found in the ALPHA Elite family of upright cabinets. Cadillac Jack (800) G2E Booth #2843 Richard Haddrill, CEO Bally Technologies At this year's G2E, Cadillac Jack will showcase an impressive portfolio of exciting new products and technologies, including the Cadillac Cash Wide Area Progressive, along with a new multi-level progressive concept for the Class III market and the 38 Indian Gaming November 2007

4 latest game themes incorporating the company's SpeedPlay and PlusPLAY technologies. Cadillac Jack's "Everything Matters" theme focuses on the company's customer-centric philosophy. Cadillac Jack appreciates that each customer is unique and has different priorities of what matters the most to their operations. Through innovation, performance and responsive customer service, Cadillac Jack is committed to serving its customers by understanding what matters to them. Take a sneak peek at Cadillac Jack's newest innovation - Mega Money Maker, a new Class III multi-level progressive concept unique to Cadillac Jack. Mega Money Maker features an exclusive combination of multi-level progressive links to create exciting wins for the players while maximizing casino profits. The Cadillac Cash Wide Area Progressive will be on display, featuring its newest game theme, also coined Cadillac Cash. The game, created exclusively as a WAP link, uses an exciting two-tier bonus feature in which the player is awarded both a credit multiplier and a random number of free spins. Cadillac Jack will also showcase an array of new game themes for the Class III market. Each game incorporates the company's distinctive SpeedPLAY and PlusPLAY technology. New titles, including Jazz Nights, Forgotten Fortunes, and Pirate Plunder come alive with exciting bonus options, enhanced play, and intensified anticipation with every win. In addition, the games feature multi-denomination wagering and the latest innovations in graphics and sound. Amongst Cadillac Jack's newest titles on exhibit are So Hot, Crazy Clowns, Viking Loot, Jazz Nights, Forgotten Fortunes, Seven Heaven, Pirate Plunder, Piñata Party, Special Delivery and Bayou Band. 40 Indian Gaming November 2007 IGT (702) G2E Booth #915 As the gaming industry evolves toward an open network environment based on GSA protocols, IGT will demonstrate The Right Vision - Right Now and For The Future in games, systems and 2007 has been an exciting year for Cadillac Jack. We have experienced significant growth as a company along with innovative developments throughout our product line. Our theme, "Everything Matters" personifies our commitment to understanding and providing solutions to what matters most to our each of our customers. Greg Gronau, President Cadillac Jack products available now and in development. Three MegaJackpots products take center stage: the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade slot featuring a multi-layer 3-D display, the Star Wars Multi-Level Progressive (MLP) video slot, and the ebay video slot. IGT's M-P Series multi-player games feature Roulette Revolution, Golden Baccarat and Triple Towers horse racing, and Digideal table technology is represented by Digital 21, DragonBacc and Texas Hold 'Em. Tests are already under way at casinos to pave the way for the open network. However, our emphasis as always at G2E 2007 will be products available right now for our casino customers. We're focused on how we can maximize their return on investment right now. Steve Morro, COO IGT IGT Network Systems will feature a special Power of Open display to help educate the industry on an open network and a host of products under IGT Advantage CasinoSystem, IGT Mariposa Software Suite, and sb Products. Video slots include Golden Tiger Eternal Dragon and Fame & Fortune, both dual progressives; Golden Gate, featuring the industry's first horizontal expandingwild symbol feature; Desert Spirit and Lil' Lady. MegaJackpots spotlights Diamond Jackpots and World Poker Tour MLPs, Wheel of Fortune Super Spin Video Slots Five-Station, Multi-Strike Triple Diamond, and two new themes on the Wheel of Fortune Multi- Level Progressive slot. Spinning-reel themes include several multi-progressives:

5 5-reel, 30-line Sizzling 7s and 4-reelers Silver Fire 7's and Thunderbird 7's. New video poker themes include four from Action Gaming: Random Rewards Poker, Friday Night Poker, Good Times Pay Poker, and Quick Quads. Barcrest USA games include Ring Master, Top Dollar Deluxe, and Blue Blazes. IGT will feature new additions for Class II gaming, Video Red Hot Jackpots for Central Determination Systems markets, and new games for lottery jurisdictions. Guaranteed Play, the first product of the Walker Digital/IGT collaboration, will include video poker, video slots and table games. Play tickets and property packages will demonstrate how to grow the entire casino property, not just the casino. Konami Gaming (702) G2E Booth #2058 Konami Gaming, Inc. will be launching several new and exciting products at this year's G2E including a 5-reel stepper called Advantage 5, the latest addition to extensive progresssive products Pirate's Loot, and a new Wide Area Progressive developed for the Konami Casino Management System (KCMS) called Lot-A-Bucks. Advantage 5 is the first 5-reel stepper to offer 5 standard size reels. There are multi-color LED lights behind the mesh reels that can display up to 256 colors. Advantage 5 also features a 19" touch screen LCD top box, a large VFD for displaying game information, and an enhanced sound system. Pirate's Loot is Konami Gaming, Inc.'s latest 4-level progressive developed to support video (K2V) and stepper (Advantage +) platforms. The Pirate's Loot feature game is randomly triggered. Once the feature game is triggered, players choose one of the four progressive symbols. When three of the Konami Gaming, Inc. looks forward to the G2E show each and every year as a tremendous opportunity to showcase our new products from our game and system division as well as a time to interact with our customers. Steve Sutherland, Exec. VP/COO Konami Gaming symbols from one of the progressive match the player wins the corresponding progressive. Finally, Konami has developed a Wide Area Progressive called Lot-A-Bucks for it's KCMS system. G2E will be the debut of this new technologically advanced progressive promotion. Konami Gaming will be demonstrating the Lot-A-Bucks latest technology on KCMS as well as Advantage 5 and Pirate's Loot functionality. Planet Bingo (760) G2E Booth #3960 At this year's G2E Planet Bingo will showcase its SuperGames line, which is now available in electronic bingo. The SuperGames line, which includes popular titles such as 'Pot of Gold' and 'All Star,' can be printed right at your bingo hall with artwork, payouts, and even game play customized to your bingo facility! SuperGames add a new and exciting dimension to the bingo session with profit-making specials that can be integrated into any bingo program. Customizing Bingo games is a hot trend in Indian Country and having SuperGames available on the PhD handsets will help operators push profits through the roof! Eric Casey, Director of Sales Planet Bingo Planet Bingo has now launched electronic SuperGames in the PhD electronic bingo handsets. By incorporating SuperGames into the completely portable PhD, players can play all of their specials in paper and/or electronic form. This gives players maximum flexibility in their choice, and gives the halls maximum incremental revenue potential. The PhD electronic bingo handsets play all popular bingo games and more, including MPBingo, Planet's intertribal linked-jackpot game, and GemHunt, our pari-mutuel Class II speed bingo game. The PhD handset delivers full gaming entertainment on a large 10.4 color touch screen, and is integrated with the powerful EPIC bingo management system. 42 Indian Gaming November 2007

6 ROCKET GAMING SYSTEMS (877) G2E Booth #1858 Rocket Gaming Systems will introduce many new titles at the 2007 Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Rocket's new Jackpot Jubilee series consists of 5-reel, 20-line video titles featuring a multi-denomination format and a variety of pay percentages. New titles in the series are Whopper and Great White Diamond. Each has unique base game math and game-specific bonus features while sharing a Jackpot Jubilee bonus feature that can occur at any time. G2E is the perfect place for us to dazzle our customers with Rocket's newest games. We're especially excited to show off our new Jackpot Jubilee series. Ron Harris, CEO Rocket Gaming Systems In the Jackpot Jubilee bonus, players are taken to a special game with only gems on the reels: rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and special Jackpot Jubilee gems. Each gem is associated with its own progressive jackpot. Players can accumulate more gems to win the associated jackpot, but if they don't, a consolation prize is awarded. The jackpot values all vary, hit frequently, and are all attainable. The frequency of hitting the jackpots increase as the player's bet increases. All four progressives are displayed on the base game screen so players don't have to look up at a sign to see what the current jackpot values. Early previews of Jackpot Jubilee in some markets around the country have proven to be a big success! Rocket is also pleased to debut Diamond Drop, an innovative new game concept with the familiarity of traditional 5-reel slots. Diamond Drop offers a unique experience that's never the less easy for players to understand. It's available in a variety of math models for both high coin/low denomination player and the more traditional lower bet/higher denomination player. A wide range of percentages are available along with a local and wide area progressive model. This is a game that you'll want to stop by and play for yourself! Rocket will introduce more titles in the Mr. Cashman series (licensed from Aristocrat Technologies), as well as new Rocket titles like Safe Escape, Bursting Balloons, Lady Bug, and Big Rig. SPIELO, A GTECH COMPANY (800) G2E Booth #1685 After considerable player research, Spielo is introducing REEL PAY games at G2E. This new suite of games is designed to make it easier for players to play. Players do not bet on a number of pay-lines or wager credits per line. Instead, they choose a total amount of credits to wager. Since most players choose a bet configuration with a wager level in mind, players simply have to answer a single question: How many credits do I want to wager? Eliminating the pay-lines makes it easier for players to choose their total wager and easier to see just how or why they win. There is no need to replay all of the individual line wins when tallying up a total win. A simplified button board makes the process even easier. Players choose one button that represents their total bet. Spielo will also exhibit its linked slot tournament solution, TournaMaster. With the TournaMaster system, entire banks of Spielo machines can be used for slot tournaments which are controlled through a remote console. Dual second screen monitors and overhead LCDs display the action while players compete. At the conclusion of the tournament, the entire bank of machines can be switched back to live game play only a few seconds. Fortune Frenzy, Spielo's new multi-level linked random progressive jackpot game will also make its debut at G2E. This progressive uses second screen monitors, overhead LCD signs and high fidelity audio to create dramatic win celebrations. Adding to the excitement is Spielo's exclusive moving sound This is just one example of the innovations that Spielo continuously develops for the gaming industry. Innovations in game design, game concepts and technology are at the heart of our products. Victor Duarte, COO Spielo, A GTECH Company 44 Indian Gaming November 2007

7 feature. When a jackpot hits, waves of sound move along the bank from machine to machine, giving players the feeling they are in a swarm of activity. VGT (918) G2E Booth #2913 This year at G2E, VGT will showcase our new 5 Reel Video and 5 Reel Mechanical slot machines. Building on our expertise as an industry leader known for the best math models, we conducted extensive market research to create exciting new penny games that players are sure to love. And players were very specific in what they wanted - keep the same great VGT math and give us new and fun bonus rounds. Our new multi-denomination Cameloot 5RV enhances our popular Red Screen Free Spin feature with three other bonus features designed to hold the players attention longer and increase time on device. Players get the best of both worlds with random mystery bonus rounds to keep them guessing and exciting traditional bonuses to create anticipation. And our first series of games in the 5 Reel Mechanical market give the players exactly what they want - more bonus spins. By creating a suite of four new games (Land of the Free Spins, Free Spins of Fortune, Gemstone Falls and Pirate's Paradise) casino operators can offer a 5RM game to meet everyone's tastes. The addition of new lower denomination five reel mechanical and video slots gives us a comprehensive game set which will ensure that VGT has products to appeal to all player types. We are excited about the opportunities that these titles will bring in the coming year. Aaron Rubin, Director of Marketing Video Gaming Technologies WMS (847) G2E Booth #1359 WMS will debut another year of innovative products at G2E. The excitement of last year's MONOPOLY Big Event will be followed up with a new theme in their community gaming product category with Press Your Luck. This new iteration not only allows eligible players to win together, but also introduces player interaction to community gaming and offers the industry's first community free spin bonus round. The Wizard of Oz will also be present and is launching with WMS' exclusive Bose 3Space Surround Sound gaming chair as an additional theme in their Sensory Immersion Gaming category. The rumble in the Bose gaming chair as the Flying Monkeys swoop across the screen, will keep players engaged and clamoring for more! "This year's G2E show is especially exciting for WMS as we will be highlighting many new product introductions that support our focused efforts on revolutionizing the players slot experience. WMS is packaging intellectual property and technology into first of their kind experiences that will give players unprecedented levels of entertainment and ways to win meaningful pays. Rob Bone VP of Marketing, WMS Gaming Enter the world of Transmissive Reels with the newest theme in this innovative product category. Coupling the thrill of a 5-Reel Mechanical with a thin video overlay provides limitless bonusing opportunities to WMS new John Wayne Transmissive Reels game. This cutting-edge technology partnered with the real video clips from John Wayne's movie portfolio provides a gaming experience that can't be missed! WMS is proud to announce an new player experience - Adaptive Gaming. Launching with Star Trek, this futuristic category will deliver a gaming experience that adapts itself to each player continuously, through the use of persistent state and episodic game mechanics, to create a unique and personalized gaming adventure based on that player's individual gaming style. 46 Indian Gaming November 2007