Titan 360 or Crystal Cyclone: What is that Behemoth at Pala?

Last Tuesday when my husband and I stopped at Pala Casino, one of the four Native American casinos along HWY 76 where we frequently play, we noticed that workers were hard at work installing a huge new multi-station game, a game that is so large it totally filled the space the casino uses for their automobile give aways.  What is this behemoth gaming device? The men installing it didn't seem to know what it was called or how long it will be in Pala, but there are only two possibilities.  Either Pala is a little late getting a chance to display Konami's Titan 360 which Pechanga premiered in So Cal about 2 years ago and nationally in 2013. Or perhaps Pala is ahead of the curve this time and is installing the second generation Titan machine unveiled to gamers who attended G2E 2016 in Las Vegas last September.called the Crystal Cyclone. 

AZ Gaming Guide had an article on the Titan 360 in the September issue of its magazine. The Titan 360, according to the writers, is a limited edition product by Konami, weighing nearly 3 tons and one of the biggest slots in the world.  Just 26 of these machines were ever made. The super-slot features a large multi-station progressive bonus game built upon multiple video slot game bases. Standing nearly 12 feet tall the games central bonusing unit leverages a mechanical wheel and large rolling mechanical ball to determine bonus award amounts.  Titan 360 uses popular 30 line Konami video titles such as Golden Pumpkin, Dragon Celebration, and others all familiar to slot players everywhere.

When the bonus is triggered, the entire central unit swivels around to place the wheel in front of the winner's machine. A physical ball launches from one side and swoops back and forth seeking a pocket to land in. If the pocket contains a dollar amount, the players win that prize.  The ball can land in 20, 30, 40, 200, or 500 credit pockets on the bonus ring, where the player wins the amount shown times their bet amount. However, if the ball lands in a green, yellow, or blue pocket the player wins a mini, maxi, or major jackpot respectively.  And if the ball lands in a red diamond pocket, there is an opportunity to to play on a new big money ring where prizes are multiplied by 10 and the jackpots are even bigger.  Players must bet all lines and the extra Titan 360 wager to be eligible for the bonus. The Titan 360 attracted a lot of attention everywhere is was displayed.

Perhaps, however, the new machine being installed by Pala is not the original Titan 360. Perhaps it is the new second generation machine called the Crystal Cyclone which was previewed at G2E this fall.

Calling once again on its amusement-game roots, Konami has adapted a concept popular in Japanese amusement arcades to create Crystal Cyclone, another arcade-style game that launches balls into a giant roulette-like wheel for payoffs.

The Titan 360 was a hit, but its size limited volume sales. Titan 360 attracted crowds, but due primarily to its size, it was a limited-release product with less than 30 units manufactured. But  casino customers are very interested in this high-entertainment, multi-station product niche, and so Konami has created the second generation game: the Crystal Cyclone.

Crystal Cyclone features personal video slot stations around a central bonus arena that players access during random feature events. The machine can release as many as 60 balls around a slotted circular track with colorful light and high-impact sound. “It has even more collaborative effect because the bonuses can be simultaneous for all players.  Anyone who attended this year’s show can speak to the energy and attention this game creates.

Videographers at G2E film the new games released there so the rest of us can share the experience before the games appear in the casinos.  I am providing a link to the film of the Crystal Cyclone from YouTube, and after I find out from Pala which game - the original Titan 360 or the Crystal Cyclone - they are installing, I'll be back to update this post. Stay tuned for more.

 https://youtu.be/8pd7MvkbV5U

Could This Really Be Happening In Our Land of Plenty?

When we go to our local casino to play, we hope to win a little, but we expect most times our luck will not be so good, and occasionally we'll lose a bit instead.  It doesn't upset us too much - our gaming comes from our recreation budget and we expect to have to pay a little for our fun. But what if we had to depend on income from the casino to live? That's what hundreds of people who ride the buses to the casino are doing every day, according to an article my son emailed me from ABCNews 7NY dated December 1.

CeFaan Kim, reported to NY readers that large groups of Asian American seniors are riding the casino buses not to gamble but to make enough to live. According to that reporter, these senior citizens pay $20 to ride the bus to Sands Casino in Bethlehem PA each day. When they arrive the casino gives each of them $45 in casino play which they then sell to other gamblers for $35 - $40 making a little money for themselves while starting the buyers off with a little extra cash to play.  The journalist says that on each of the buses more than half the travelers are selling their tickets, every day, just for a little extra cash to help make ends meet. Each day 300 - 400 seniors take the long 4 hour bus ride each way to the casino, sell their vouchers, and wait another 5 hours for the next bus ride back according to the news story.

Some are homeless, according to the article. All of them live below the poverty level. Many share small one bedroom apartments with other impoverished elders because none can afford a place of their own.  Is this happening in our community? I don't know. I hope not. I have never witnessed the exchange myself, but I have seen people sleeping at the machines rather than playing them. I have seen people with stacks of TITO's convert them to cash at the machines. I have had people ask me for a little money to buy something to eat.  $5 means nothing to most of us - we drop that in a machine, spin the wheels a few times, and if we make nothing we shrug our shoulders and move on. We might even drop a $20 or more without thinking a thing about it. Some don't get upset losing a hundred. It's just the cost of play and it's hard to imagine these bus riders enduring these long trips for such a small amount of cash. It's hard to imagine being homeless or living in poverty.

Studies on addiction show that the nation's poorest citizens are the most prone to gambling problems -- but these seniors are not gambling, they have no money to gamble. They are just trying to make ends meet. Not everyone who rides the casino bus does it to make money, but some evidently do. This Thanksgiving/Christmas season let's all think about those elderly poor and what we might be able to do to help.  

Lucky Dragon appeals to Vegas Asian Gamblers.

There are no gamblers quite like Asian gamblers, and Las Vegas is about to open a new gaming resort designed around its Chinese visitors.  The Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino is scheduled to open December 3. The property, funded in large part by Chinese investors will celebrate the opening with a traditional dragon dance and will offer bilingual staff and signage.  Owners have left no Asian superstition unturned. The front entrance is designed in a dragon motif.  A feng shui master blessed the kitchens. The main bar is eight sided for good luck. The number 4 is missing from the property - absent from room numbers and phone directories. Naturally the hotel has no 4th floor. Care was taken not to make the mistake the short-lived Quad made when replacing the old Imperial Palace. 

Resorts such as the Venetian, MGM, and Wynn already cater to China's high rollers.  The Lucky Dragon hopes to attract middle class Asians and Asian-Americans. On December 2 Hainan Airlines will fly the first direct flights from China to Las Vegas's McCarran Airport.  Already 206,743 visitors traveled to the city last year according to media sources. Lucky Dragon hopes to attract a large part of that demographic. Meanwhile ground was recently broken on another Asian themed resort even bigger than the Lucky Dragon. Resorts World is spending $4 billion for a 3200 room property on the north strip that will feature Chinese architecture such as the Great Wall.

The Lucky Dragon will offer authentic Chinese food in its 5 Asian restaurants.  No General Tso's or egg rolls here they say. In addition to live seafood flown in from all over the world, the property will offer the usual staples like congee, wonton noodles, and dim sum.  Restaurants will feature a luxury tea bar and food that might be found in Shanghi restaurants. The hope is that Asian visitors staying in other Strip hotels will choose to dine at the Lucky Dragon.  The emphasis on food Lucky Dragon owners can eschew other things not particularly important to Chinese tourists  such as whisky bars, nightclubs, and pools.

Funding for the Lucky Dragon was largely drawn from mainland Chinese investors through the EB-5 Visa program according to Los Angeles newspapers. The visa allows foreigners and their immediate family to gain permanent US residency in exchange for investment of $500,000 that also creates American jobs.

So many fun places to visit in Vegas. So many beautiful things to see and exciting things to do  -- and now there's more.  Enjoy this video of the construction of the signature dragon in the new Lucky Dragon Casino.  (Sorry for the YouTube ad.)

Halloween in Vegas

Here's a Halloween article sent to my inbox today.  I didn't write this, but thought you might be interested too.  Thanks to CDC gaming reports and Mike Heuer for telling us why people flock to Vegas for Halloween.  Enjoy.

Immersive Halloween Experience on Fremont Street

Mike Heuer, CDC Gaming Reports ·

While New Year’s Eve draws more people to Las Vegas than any other event, Halloween is proving to be possibly the second-most popular date on the calendar.

The past two years, Halloween fell on a Friday and then Saturday. Anyone who went anywhere near Downtown Las Vegas and the Fremont Street Experience last year witnessed packed streets and casinos. Halloween falls on a Monday this year, but that’s not stopping people and Millennials in particular from making an extended weekend of it and planning to have a great time

This year, the Fremont Street Experience’s lengthy celebration, OktoberFrightFest, runs from October 5th through Halloween with nightly free shows by Frank and the Steins and other Halloween-themed performers on Fremont Street’s free stages. A Zombie Apocalypse Shooting Gallery offers fun and prizes for people of all ages, while the Slotzilla zip line ride is certain to remain exceptionally busy with costumed riders throughout the extended, upcoming Halloween weekend.

Friday heralds the start of Sin City Halloween with a free welcome party starting at 10 p.m. Friday at 700 East Fremont Street. Live bands, costume contests, classic Halloween movies and more are offered from Oct. 28-31.

Saturday the 29^th is the annual Halloween Parade at 7 p.m.; anyone in costume can participate in the parade. More than 12,000 already have indicated they will attend or are interested in attending the annual parade, according to the Sin City Halloween Facebook page.

On Halloween, the Fremont Street Experience hosts a giant block party that starts at 8 p.m. and runs virtually all night. Estimates suggest the crowd will be around 25,000 people.

A Time Warp Zone offers interactive artworks, music and a special Viva Vision Halloween show, and those taking selfies for their Instagram accounts can use #FremontStreet and see their photos appear on the Viva Vision screen.

The result is one of the most entertaining and inclusive events in Las Vegas, and one that is particularly popular among millennials. Halloween is a very social event, and Millennials are highly social individuals.

The UNLV Center for Gaming Research found that Millennials (between ages 18 and 34) prefer traveling in groups to attend immersive events that they can share with their friends via social media and other channels.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

That’s exactly what the annual Halloween festival on Fremont Street provides. But the popularity of the annual event doesn’t necessarily translate into greater play at the slots and gaming tables, likely due to Millennials being risk-averse.

Last year, the October win total for Downtown Las Vegas was $44.64 million, down from $47.75 million from October 2014. But that shortfall was most likely made up for by full hotels, higher room rates, and a fondness for food, drinks, and memorabilia among Millennials and other Halloween revelers.

The National Retail Federation says that more than 171 million Americans will celebrate Halloween this year, with average spending of about $83. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $8.4 billion, up from $6.9 billion spent last year.

It’s safe to say those who come to Las Vegas will spend far more, with room rates hitting premium prices on Halloween. And those who come to Fremont Street will quite possibly enjoy their best Halloween experience ever.

Playing Skill Based Games

In my previous post, I shared an article about the new trend in slots - skill based games. There are some some really unusual experiments, many of which were demonstrated at G2E. I will provide a link to some of these demonstrations at the end of this post.  In the meantime, where will you be able to play these?  Here's an excerpt from another skill based article to get you started.

"GameCo wants to make payouts based on skill, and its machines ought to appeal to younger people who still feast on first-person shooters, driving games, and sports-oriented fare. It will be installing 21 gaming positions in all three of Caesars' properties, with three triple-unit carousels at Caesars, two at Harrah's Resort, and two at Bally's Wild Wild West.

The first machine to make its debut will be a three-bay console called Danger Arena. To play, a gambler inserts money or a card and is given a brief overview of how the game works and how the controller operates. It then presents the player with a map or scenario depending on the type of game being played, which is chosen randomly by the machine, and the player has 45 seconds to maneuver through the scenario before advancing to the next 45-second segment. To start earning money, you need to take out six robots; you earn the highest payout when you take out 10 robots.

GameCo isn't the only one that's looking to create a video game-gambling mashup. Another start-up, Gamblit Gaming, will be introducing similar games of skill at Caesars casinos in California and Nevada."

Ready to play? Here are some views of skill based gaming from G2E you can watch.

There are more videos to come. To find them, visit the sites for Random$$Slots, Dianaevoni, and Albert's Slot Channel. If they look like fun, look for them in the casinos in the article that I copied for you at the start of the post. If you liked arcade games when you were young, you might just like these slot games too.  We'll see, won't we, and the manufacturers will too.

Skill-Based Gaming a Hot Topic at G2G 2016

Just got back from an exciting 3 days at G2E. Lots to see, lots to do, lots to talk about. One of the hot topics this year is the efforts the companies are making to attract younger players, the generation that has grown up playing games first on their home video consoles and later on their phones.  There are some interesting articles you can find on this topic.  The one I've copied for you below is from CDC Gaming Reports and should be of interest to those of you who tried the skill based games yourself on the Expo Floor.  For those of you who didn't get to attend this year but would like to see what the companies think millennials want to play, I recommend you check out Random$$Slot's videos of games and demonstrations. If you want an overview of the new games we'll soon get a chance to play, look at Albert's Slot Channel's video on G2E.  I'll write more myself later. Stay turned.

Two real millennials check out the new skill-based games at G2E

October 2, 2016 at 1:36 am

By Cory Roberts and Mitch Broughton, CDC Gaming Reports

Mitch playing Frogger in Konami’s booth

Millennials have grown up in an age where they get constant stimulation from the games they play – video games, the Internet, and now on phone games. They want more than to watch idly as the slots spin towards their predetermined outcome. They want control of, or at very least the ability to contribute to the outcome, and they want to have fun doing so. The solution for attracting millennials may be the new wave of skill-based games coming to casino floors. As with all pioneering products, not everyone gets it right on the first try. We both (Cory is 26 and Mitch is 23) spent an entire day testing many of the skill-based games on the G2E floor. We came away with some conclusions that might help companies understand what millennials really want.

Our first conclusion came after pushing the slot button on Scientific Games’ Space Invaders ten times and having to use the service menu to get to the skill-based bonus round: we wanted the skill-based portion to appear first. When three bonus symbols appear on the reels, the player has the chance to play a skill game to win extra money. Both of us lost patience during the initial slots play. On a casino floor we might not have even realized the game had a skill-based aspect. We didn’t know if we had five more spins to get to the bonus round or twenty.

One great game we played was Frogger, made by Konami, where the player, a frog, must traverse roads and rivers. The more points you get and the further you travel, the better the chance to win money (but without any guarantee). We talked with Jenn Smulo, a millennial employee of Kirvin Doak Communications, who echoed our sentiments. “I want to have a fun experience, with a bonus of earning money. Even if you lose, you still have a good time.”

Gamblit has a very similar system to Konami for payouts. In Catapult King, the player sets their bet and takes aim at the castle with their siege weapon. For each guard the player knocks down, a random number generator determines the payout. Since a player pays for each ball, the more guards a player knocks down with one ball equals a better average payout. As we stated before, millennials are easier to get bored by repetition, and Gamblit’s way of combatting this is to have a machine with six different games to choose from. We didn’t encounter this feature anywhere else.

Dance Dance Revolution from Konami

Gamblit readily admits that their games are “inspired” by many of the games millennials already play. Smoothie Blast was nearly identical to Candy Crush and Catapult Kingreminded Cory of Boom Blox. One big difference between the Konami and Gamblit machines was the controls for their games. Konami used physical buttons for controls, while Gamblit’s multi-game machines were 100% touch-screen controlled. We found that the touch screen made the games harder to play, especially in games that depended on the player’s reaction time. At another booth, we played a game that used two tiny joysticks; one to control the movement of a character and the other the gun they were holding. We had a hard time playing the game sober, so it’s difficult to imagine an inebriated player being very successful. We both agreed that control frustration would make us less likely to play in the future. It’s not surprising that Konami found the better approach for controls, given their nearly 40 years of experience in arcade games.

One major theme of the skill-based games we tested, from various vendors, was the similarity to top-selling phone games such as Candy Crush and Bejeweled. Cory had mixed feelings on this aspect. He felt that it wasn’t creative for these companies to be building off already popular games and transforming them into betting games. Mitch thought that the similarity between the games reduced the learning curve for players. He has played Candy Crush on his phone and found instant success at Smoothie Blast. Similarities can also bring back great memories of a game the player used to play, but got tired of; a player might enjoy a fresh take on that game. A downside to using variants of popular games is that these games are often complex, which can cause the payout structure to be very confusing. On some games, we weren’t sure how well we were doing while playing, and the game ending came when we weren’t expecting it.

One unique game we found, Lucky’s Quest by IGT, allowed a player to play on their phone both at the casino and at home. In the game, the player has “pets” that give special power-ups. Playing at home, the ability to gamble real money is lost, but the player can level up their pet to make the power-ups even stronger. When the player brings their phone to the casino, they can use these pets to boost their earnings whether they play on their phone or transfer them to the machine version of the game Psychologically, this can get players to feel as though they have more control over outcomes because they have an advantage relative to other players. Additionally, they can practice the game at home, so they feel prepared to tackle it while at the casino. We found the idea of giving players a chance to practice before playing for money a very good one. A traditional slot machine doesn’t have a learning curve – even if there are bonuses and multipliers, the player’s knowledge of them doesn’t affect the outcome. For skill-based games, the player needs some encouragement that they won’t die or lose before they have a reasonable understanding of the game. Konami also did a great job of this in their Dance Dance Revolution rhythm game, which gives the player a practice session before the actual game commenced with the option for veteran players to skip right over it.

A new category of games that we believe will attract millennials is virtual reality. Virtual reality involves putting on a fancy headset that totally changes the world in front of the player. When we put on the VR headset at Siege VR at the IGT booth, the slots machines behind us became a castle wall.

Siege VR at the IGT booth

We noted four ways that casinos might monetize virtual reality. The first is a simple pay-to-play scheme, a flat fee for the enjoyment of the experience. While that could take place anywhere, not just at a casino, it could be an appealing option to the risk-averse who still want to have fun at a casino. The next way we noticed, seen in the zombie VR game in Gamblit’s booth, was to have the virtual reality experience alongside in-game objectives the player completes to gain higher payouts The third way is a tournament where prizes are awarded to the top players. We felt this system would work especially well with Siege VR where the player is an archer on top of a castle and must shoot arrows at invaders. Mitch, an avid poker player, felt it would be a similar experience to a poker tournament, allowing the casino to take a cut while the top players still consistently make money. The fourth way is having player vs player, either one-on-one or two-on-two, where the winners take what the losers have wagered, minus the house cut.  This competitive aspect of gaming would give people the feeling that they aren’t losing to the house, but to other players.

Mitch at the Fish Games USA booth

In general, we felt that the multi-player concept was much more appealing to millennials for this very reason and could be applied to other skill-based games, not just virtual reality. One such game we encountered, from Fish Games USA, involves a large table about eight feet across. There is a large screen in the middle of the table, allowing up to six players to join in the fish-shooting action. Each bullet the player fires costs a certain amount and every fish the player destroys gives a different reward depending on the number of bullets required to destroy it. Another game, Running Rich Racing from Competition Interactive, had four racing cabinets side-by-side with players pitted against each other. While the players themselves have the opportunity to earn money, spectators can also join the action by betting using the touch screen behind each player. Both games have the potential to get very competitive and can also be a great social experience – two things that millennials seek out.

After spending time with the first generation of millennial-targeted skill-based machines, we felt that Konami had the most polished experience. Both of its games had excellent controls, easy-to-understand but difficult-to-master concepts, and a clear display of how the player was progressing through the game and where their money was going. We wanted to play more.

G2E 2016 Preview - 11 - Everi (Formerly Multimedia)

When I started this series of articles about what to expect at G2E this year, I did not realize other bloggers were also sharing information about the slot manufacturers and their games on line.   Since then I have discovered a well-respected member of slot fanatics that goes by the name SlotM has posted several very interesting press releases on some of these same companies. Even if you are not a member of slot fanatics, you can read his articles on line at the slot fanatic site. If you are a member, you can make comments as well. Spend enough time browsing on the slot fanatics web site, and you'll probably decide you want to join the group yourself. This is the last of these G2E preview posts -- not because I've run out of companies to talk about but because the convention starts September 26 and it's a long drive to Las Vegas and I've a lot to do before I go.  Hope to meet some of you there. 

Everi (formerly Multimedia)

Booth 1116

Everi is planning to debut seven new slot games based on powerful licensed brands at Global Gaming Expo next week. You'll be viewing (1) Penn and Teller, (2) Casablanca, (3) Fruit Ninja, and four titles  based on DreamWorks Classics, (4) Underdog, (5) Richie Rich, (6) Casper the Friendly Ghost, and (7) Hot Stuff, the Little Devil.) Let's take a few minutes to talk a little about each of them.

Here's big news for the Native American Casinos who favor Class II slots - sometimes called "bingo slots."  The first two of the new games, Penn and Teller and Casablanca, are being offered as WAP games for Class II markets. But in addition these are Everi's first ever WAP (wide area progressive) games offered as premium daily lease games for a fee. They have a local-area progressive top prize for Class III markets. I won't say much about the cabinets except to point out that in addition to all the other features, the Empire MPX will include two USB phone or media device recharging docks. You won't be able to miss the games. Look for the 65-inch full HD overhead Foundation sign!

(1) Penn and Teller is a 5x5 reel video slot, based on the magical entertainment of the pair who have entertained gamblers in Vegas for over four decades. There are eight exciting bonus features including the Class II Wide Area Progressive. Here's the big news. To support the launch, Penn and Teller will visit Everi's booth 1116 on the G2E show floor on September 27 for the slot machine's official ribbon cutting ceremony.

(2) Casablanca ranks second in the American Film Institute's 100 Greatest American Movies of All Time.  Maybe someday the game will too. The timeless romantic drama was released in 1942, the same year I was born. Some entertainment is timeless. The slot is a five-reel, 40-line, video game with multiple exciting features including the Rick's Cafe bonus with the classic song "As Time Goes By."  Romance on the casino floor!  Play it again, Sam.

I have recently learned that Penn and Teller are not the only celebrities to look for at the Everi Booth. Stephen Bogart, son of film legends Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall will be on hand to cut the ribbon for Everi's new Casablanca slot machine at 10 am on Wednesday, September 28. Bogart will be autographing DVD copies of the classic movie. Don't forget to mark your calendars and stop by Booth 1116 and meet the stars.

(3) Fruit Ninja: Juicy Jackpots is a stand alone premium participation game leveraging Everi's popular high rise cabinet. The game has four bonus features, and the Fruit Ninja Arcade Bonus offers skill based gaming entertainment elements (...not a big draw for us older gamers.) Players slice fruit using the game's unique Swipe Touch technology while operators are given the flexibility to set the skill level. I'm sure Everi is hoping this skill based bonus will appeal to you younger gamers. If you have been playing in casinos that offer slot tournaments played on Everi games (as one of my locals does) this game represents one of the many new features for Everi's award-winning slot tournament solution, taking tournament play to the next level.

(4)Entertainment players - but probably not core gamers - will want to see the four new games based on timeless characters from the DreamWorks Classics library. The first of the four to be debuted at G2E is Underdog. The slot is based on the cartoon series, and the game will be played on a new 5 reel, 27-line high def cabinet.

(5) The second game for the young at heart is Casper the Friendly Ghost. Casper has been entertaining fans since the 1930's. Now he will haunt the slot floors in this new Everi game.

(6) Another new addition to Everi's High Rise Games series is Richie Rich based on the "poor little rich boy" first introduced in 1953. The five reel video game will feature an 8-tier progressive and multiple bonus features.  Maybe we'll all win enough to be poor little rich kids playing this game.

(7)  The last game to talk about  is Smokin' Hot Stuff. This game is the first-ever licensed game for Everi's three-reel mechanical Skyline series. It is based on the classic Harvey comic character, Hot Stuff the Little Devil who debuted in 1957.  The game is a tier progressive game that utilizes the unique features of the nearly seven foot tall Skyline cabinet with LCD lighting.

I'll close with just a few words about Everi's TourEvent of Champion's Slot Tournament that will culminate in an exciting finale September 28 to take place at XS Nightclub in Las Vegas. After five months of preliminary qualifying tournaments across the US, Canada, and Peru, the finalists will gather in Las Vegas and compete for the top prize in the Million Dollar Event. The games are scheduled to begin at 5 pm Pacific Time Wednesday, Sept 28 at XS Nightclub in the beautiful Wynn/Encore resort. It will also be live streamed over the internet at www.twitch.tv/everigames.  Now in its 5th year, the tournament will be awarding $1.3 million in total cash prizes with the first place winner earning a cool million dollars.

The tournament kicked off April 30 at the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, WA with a record-beaking crowd of players. Officially certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest slot tournament, 3,173 slot players participated on a single day to set the new record. Over the 5 months that followed, Tournament busses traveled nearly 42,000 miles to visit the participating casinos. Over 200,000 slot players took part in this year's qualifying event.

It's too late for you to sign up to play, but as a precursor to the September 28 finale, the third annual TournEvent for CHARITIES will take place at 2 pm PT on the previous day, Sept 27, at Everi's booth 1116. Celebrities and Media Personalities will compete in a fun filled tournament on behalf of their favorite charities. Penn and Teller will be two of the celebrities trying to win for their favorite charities. I haven't seen a list of the other contestants. All G2E attendees are invited to visit Everi's booth and cheer on the players.  I did that last year and watched Carrot Top go down in defeat to a local newsman whose name I don't even remember.  It was crowded, but it was fun.  I expect we could say that about all of G2E...it's crowded, but it's fun.  See you there.

G2E Preview 10 - Konami

The keyword used to describe Konami Gaming is diversity...new hardware, new software, and new product categories.  In the past 12 months Konami has released 70 new games. Their offerings include progressives, new formats like Reeleven and Roku Reels, and innovative bonus setups on the signature Rapid Revolver cabinet, new stepper games, and more.  There have been so many different Konami games displayed in our local casinos lately that we hardly know which are new releases and which have not been released and are just being tested on the floor. There are so many Konami games we can't keep up with them all.

Konami Gaming

Booths 1054 and 1154

As a player I don't pay much attention to what cabinet a game is being housed in. But to the company,  this is of prime importance. At G2E last year, Konami showed players its new Concerto cabinet - complete with new music. This year the Concerto family will grow to 5 individual cabinets. The first is called Concerto Slant, which features a relaxed angle posture for player comfort. According to Global Gaming Business Magazine, Concerto Slant is compatible with the full library of KP3 and K3P+ video slots. It will be featured at G2E with Jester's Mirror, a new game in the Xtra Reward series centered around the company's mirroring wild reels...any full-reel wilds appearing anywhere but the center reel are mirrored to replace symbols across the central axis: 1 - 5, 2 - 4. Several YouTubers have posted their play on this game.  Here's a demonstration of Jester's Mirror played by Shinobi Slots.

Konami will also be showing its popular multi-game product, Concerto Selexion, with quicker near instant transition between games. The old version contained 8 games; the new one is able to give players up to 10 choices of games to play. It will have the ability to to support a stand-alone progressive if the casino wishes. A third Concerto offering will  be Concerto Crescent with a curved 43 inch monitor with all the special features of the series: the black background, the holographic side lighting, the digital topper, and dynamic buttons. Konami envisions progressive games for the Concerto Crescent and Concerto Stack sometime next year.

Among the highlights of in the KP3+ core video category is Jackpot Ball, a unique four-level progressive game featuring a pinball/pachinko-style bonus game.The company was seeking something similar to Jackpot Streams, the pusher-style extra feature on many Konami games--something to give the games a midway, arcade feel, and they came up with the physical pinball-style game.  The bonus features pinballs launching and falling through a pachinko-style board toward prize buckets at the bottom. Press releases say the pachinko ball-drop, a mystery event, uses true odds to determine the prize with a one-in-weven chance at a progressive. Shinobi has posted Jackpot Ball for viewers here.

What else is new that we can expect to see at G2E this year?  How about a four level progressive version of China Shores, a game featuring free spins that can go into the hundreds. The progressive trigger is three or more ying/yang symbols each awarding a random number of spins for the progressive prize. Each spin is a guaranteed progressive award so theoretically you could get a string of Maxi progressives or any combination of Mini, Major, Mega, and Maxi jackpots.  

Remember the Titan 360 from past years? The game featured a large physical wheel. Balls are launched into the display falling into one of several slots to award a bonus prize or progressive. The theme of the new release will be Dragon's Orb Jackpots. In the bonus of the new game, a dragon spins an orb which ends up being a silver-bar ball or a gold-bar ball, which goes into one of the prize holes. In the same spirit they are releasing another multi-station development called Crystal Cyclone. Several balls can be released from the stacked device so several players can participate in the bonus game at the same time. 

Another new multi-station game coming to G2E is Fortune Cup, a multi-station horse-racing game on a central miniature track that incorporates both the amusement game and video-game skills of the parent company.  Fortune Cup drew a lot of attention when it was shown at G2E Asia 2016 a few months ago at Macao. A lot of attention was given to detail in creating the track and the horses. Each horse is fully articulated - legs, rider.  They actually move around the track, in either direction, allowing for different length races .

Fortune Cup can be set up in a stadium configuration, with multiple betting terminals around the physical racetrack, and with video of the race being shown on an overhead projection stream. Several betting structures replicating trifectas, quenelle, and other race-book wagers will be possible.  The game is still a prototype and no release date has been set, but Konami is betting players will enjoy watching the horses physically run around the track.

There's more of course, but only a few days remain before we leave for G2E to see all this live.  One more preview is probably all I'll be able to give you, so stay tuned for a final G2E 2016 report on Everi (Multimedia).  Tell your friends to check out these posts to see what's in store next week.

G2E Preview 9 - Incredible Technologies

Maybe it's because I also have my roots in the Midwest, but of all the slot manufacturers I talked with at G2E last year, my favorite by far was the Chicago based company Incredible Technologies (IT.)  The fledgling company is one of the fastest growing slot suppliers in the business. Its growth has been meteoric and methodical...extending to 23 states and numerous tribal jurisdictions. In the business of producing amusement arcade games since 1985, it is the largest US manufacturer of coin-operated amusement games. It is best known for the legendary tavern and arcade game Golden Tee Golf. They have been methodically translating that arcade expertise to the gaming market well before their first display of products at Global Gaming Expo 2012. By the time you view a game from IT at G2E it is already proven itself on the casino floor.  Everything has been through the test bank before it is ever brought to the show.  So much of what we can talk about is already familiar to many of you.

Incredible Technologies

Booth 4047

When I first became aware of IT I knew them as the company that made the "Money" family of games -- all of which use the same reel icons - cash in various denominations with the presidential or founding father portrait on each bill. There are many "money" games inspired by the original Crazy Money -- Crazy Money Beach, Money Rain -- I have a list of 5 IT games in the crazy money series. They've become bigger and better and many are now playing on the Super Sky Wheel with the 123 inch display.  During the Money Catch bonus, players can grab icons that will win spins on the Super Sky Wheel which is actually two concentric wheels, the outer one awarding a credit amount or one of five progressive jackpots. The inner one awarding extra spins on the big wheel making it possible to win two progressive jackpots on one wheel-spin bonus. You'll be seeing deluxe versions of these games on display at their booth.

Two new dedicated game families for the Infinity Skybox will debut at G2E. Sky Ball will use the big display to show a pinball/pachinko-style bonus game. In the first, Skyball, pinballs drop through openings in concentric circles, dropping a ball into one of three prize pockets at the bottom of the screen. Each pocket represents a progressive jackpot, and the one that fills first with three balls awards the corresponding prize.  Sky Ball launches with Big Heist Jackpot . 

In the second, Sky Reels, the monitor is transformed into a giant game-show style wheel which the player spins for credits, respins or a progressive. The dedicated game for the Sky Reels format is called "Heat 'em Up."  I visited Pala a few days ago and saw "Heat 'em Up" in action. Next to it is another great new game "Eat 'em Up." Zombies for all. You'll want to take a look at both these games -- they're nothing at all like the money games, believe me.

Leonidas is another very popular IT game. This year IT brings out Leonidas II, the sequel, a linked progressive featuring two game banks under a common LCD. The three level progressive is won though the "Epic Progressive Bonus." IT calls it a video-game style bonus (Think Medal of Honor with Roman Soldiers). This is added to the "Respin Battle with Locking Wilds" and the Freespin War with Locking Wilds.

The company produces about 24 new titles a year, and shows the highest proven earners among them at G2E.  I have seen many of the 43 games listed on their computer web site in my local casinos. I bet I'll see alot of them at G2E too. 

You might visit their site to see what you can expect this year. 

G2E 2016 Preview - 8 - Aristocrat

Aristocrat Technologies
Booth  1141

My husband and I play a lot of Aristocrat games. We like the old Legacy games in the cabinets that let us choose to play either an old favorite or an updated revision: the Timberwolf Games, Five Dragons, Wicked Winnings II or IV, and on and on. We like to revisit our old favorites, games we played five or six or even more years ago - so many titles to choose from, so much fun to play,  and most still in the casinos we visit.  But we don't just play the old familiar titles from years ago. We also like the newer games from Buffalo Gold to Brittany to Big Bang Theory. With Aristocrat there is no limit of games we like to play.  

Aristocrat ranks number three in the North American market now and aspires to climb even higher. To reach that goal, they are testing some new design concepts that they claim really stand out.  The first, called the Flame, is a completely new take on the curved-monitor cabinet. There are actually two curves in the format. The vertical monitor is formed in the shape of an S with the bottom and top monitor both tilted toward the player. YouTube videographers will probably hate it.  

The second, unnamed at press time for Global Gaming Business Magazine, the source of most of this information, is a shorter and wider version of the Arc Double - optimized for a single player, but large enough that two players could play at once. The new cabinet is equipped with a "sound bench"  and an optional set-up with two buttons will be launched at the show. It will contain a new version of Game of Thrones and also with a game featuring Mariah Carey and her music.

Pop culture and razzle-dazzle will abound.  Besides old favorites, Aristocrat is showing a bevy of new games based on films, music, television, and other aspects of pop culture.  Aristocrat broke the mold when it introduced The Walking Dead. The game was a trend setter opening the entire industry to a whole new group of licensed brands: Tarzan, The Sons of Anarchy, Walking Dead 2. This coming year you can expect to see more of these licensed slots. My Cousin Vinny, based on the 1992 comedy, is expected to appeal to the film's cult following.  Another film being brought to life on the Arc Double is the Big Lebowski, a 1998 comedy about a laid back aging LA hippie and avid bowler, another film with a cult following.

Other branded titles include Sharknado, based on the TV disaster film series, Downton Abbey a British TV hit that was previewed last year at G2E and has been refined and is ready to release, and Tim McGraw with country songs that hopefully will not cause copyright problems for the YouTube filmers.

We're all familiar with Progressive slots, especially the ones with the large million dollar payouts. Aristocrat is bringing out Fast Cash, a quick-hitting multi-site progressive. Most MultiStateProgressives have million dollar + jackpots that hardly ever hit.  Fast Cash will have an average jackpot of $40,000, and the company says it will hit every two or three days -- a very different concept than most MSP games.

For you Class II slot players, Aristocrat's core video games will be joined by Aristocrat's first line of stepper slots made possible by the company's acquisition of Tennessee based Class II supplier Video Gaming Technologies (VGT).

A final note about a series of my favorite Aristocrat games in recent months: the  Lightning Link progressive games.  These Class III games are designed for players who enjoy frequent jackpots. Available on the technologically advanced Helix cabinet, you may have played one of the four versions of the game in casinos this past year:  Magic Pearl, Happy Lantern, High Stakes, and Sahara Gold. Each has player selectable denominations, 1 cent or 2 cent for a 50 line game and 5 cents or 10 cents for a 25-line game.  Bonuses are proportional to the denomination, but progressive jackpots remain the same.

What you might not know is that there are not 4 Lightning Link games - there are 8.  Two of them are at Harrah's SoCal (Rincon) and recently at Pala: Moon Race with a space theme and Best Bet with a theme of horse racing.  The other two I have not seen, but I feel they are being tested somewhere: Tiki Fire and Heart Throb.  I'm hoping they will be at Aristocrat's booth for us all to see.  

G2E 2016 Preview - 7 - Scientific Games

Scientific Games is probably one of the most diverse companies exhibiting at G2E this year. The manufacturer has roots in several well known gaming companies - Bally, WMS, Shuffle Master and Barcrest.  A year ago the new conglomerate arrived at G2E with a mind-boggling collection of games reflecting the diversity of of the legacy companies which merged to form SG. This year the collection of games will be no less mind-boggling, but the products reflect the efforts of a fully integrated Research and Development team...a team with more than 40 game design studios across the world and a staff of more than 700 game development specialists. Quick Hit games with the new Quick Hit Ultra from the Las Vegas team, Vegas 7's from the Reno branch, Crystal Forest and Black Knight from Chicago, Dancing Drum and Tree of Wealth from Asia, and the Lock it Link games from Australia -- all prominently displayed on three new platforms.

Scientific Games

Booth 1126

When I looked at the press release from Global Gaming Business Magazine, the source of my information for all these previews, the game that caught my attention - possibly because we're in the midst of Oktoberfest - and the one I'll be wanting to see at the SG booth is a remake of an old WMS title. The new version is called Bier Haus: Heidi's Haus.  I don't know anything but the title, but I know from past experience that this game will feature the popular mugs and jugs and German polka music and will be fun to play. 

A title that has been released in Australia and has proved very popular there is the Lock It Link, a two level progressive system with base games Bright Lights and Girl's Best Friend. The base games feature the Lock It Link Heart respin feature. If less than 3 triggering figures for the progressive bonus land, they lock in place and the reels respin for a second chance to trigger the bonus. The games were  stars of G2E Asia in May and the company expects similar interest at Vegas G2E 2016.

Other new titles to look for are the Tree of Wealth series from the SG Asian studio launched with the title Jade Eternity. Other Asian games are Little Dragons, Dragons of the Four Seas, Golden Wheels, and Sun Warrior.  Quick Hit fans will want to look for Quick Hit Red Super Wheel and Blue Super Wheel. Scientific Games will also show titles from third party design studio High 5 Gaming: Shadow Diamond Eve and Shadow Diamond Dawn.

There's more. New versions Bally's Black Gold and Hot Triple 7s. The first stepper versions of the Bally video multi-progressive FuDao Le and WMS's 88 Fortunes. Blazing Dice, Gold Slinger, Hot Hands, Tumbling Dice, Power Gems (Egyptian and Indian.) Games previewed last year and still being previewed at G2E are the legendary comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Space Invaders with a skill based bonus.

The heart of SG's offerings will be a group of the strongest licensed brands of any manufacturer in the business according to Frank Legato. Some titles launched at last year's G2E are now reaching the casinos where we play. Kooza, with the Cirque du Soleil theme recreates the characters from the circus-themed road show including "The Trickster."  Other branded licenses introduced last year and now entering the market are Michael Jackson Icon, Monopoly Money, Cher Live, and the Godfather. How the audio on the Michael Jackson and Cher themes will clear the YouTube censors when the games are filmed remains to be seen.  Another game previewed last year and perfected for this year's exhibition is The Simpsons. 

Joining these improved current brands will be Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and National Lampoons's Vacation. On the TV band side is The Bachelor. An entertainment highlight will be Cash, featuring the music of country legend Johnny Cash. A clever touch, according to press releases, is found in the four levels of jackpots. They are marked by images of Cash at different stages of his career - from his early days at Sun Records until his time as the elder statesman of American country roots music.  There's something for everyone. There is even Wacky Races based on the 1968 - 71 cartoon series.  

Well, that's a lot to take in, and I'm sure it's just the tip of the iceberg. Plan on spending more than just one day at G2E this year...it'll take a while to see it all.  And stay turned for another company's preview tomorrow.

G2E 2016 Preview - 6 - IGT

Anyone who has been attending G2E these past 5 years knows where to find the booth for slot manufacturer International Game Technology and what it looks like.  This year, however will be different. IGT's booth will be different and will be in a different location. Shaped like an L it will occupy a prominent corner of the Sands Expo Center. The display will look different because the company is different. IGT's merger with slot and lottery giant GTECH which included the former Spielo International Games has resulted in a a more diversified supplier, one ready to recapture market share.  IGT says they will be showing new premium cabinets, never-before-seen licensed brands, and updates of existing ones. Working around the clock, the company is on a mission to bring IGT back to the top position it once enjoyed.

International Game Technology

Booth 3659

The company says it will be bringing 400 different products to G2E, marking the best in the company's history. The company is not making life easy for the videographers who film slot games and post them on YouTube. Heading the list of new cabinets is CrystalCurveUltra, featuring huge monitors in a unique configuration. The main screen is a 32 inch monitor situated horizontally rather than the usual vertical style, topped by a super-size curved vertical monitor, a full 50 inch screen.The company will launch new titles for the CrystalCurveUltra -- there will be a new version of the popular Ellen franchise and a game based on the Goonies, the 1985 adventure comedy film, IGT will return to the stepper slots, a staple of IGT for many years,  Modernized versions of old games like Top Dollar will be shown alongside new titles starring Marilyn Monroe: "How to Marry a Millionaire" is one and "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds" is the other.  There will also be a new version of the Mega Bucks wide area progressive. The large format mega tower Crystal Wheel + Stepper cabinet will also house Wheel of Fortune Gold Spin and  Double Diamonds Deluxe.

This year marks the debut of Wheel of Fortune in 1996. To celebrate its 20th anniversary of the game that ushered in the era of themed games, IGT is releasing a a complete lineup of new entries in the Wheel franchise. Besides Wheel of Fortune Gold Spins, you might look for Wheel of Fortune New Orleans.  Gold Spins uses a three-reel base game in 25 or 50 cent denominations. It offers incentives for raising the bet beyond 3 credits. Betting 5 credits or 10 credits per spin increases the frequency of the signature wheel spin up to an average of a wheel bonus every 36 spins.  There is also a wide-area progressive jackpot - a bonus spin on a video wheel with a jackpot slice.  To celebrate the brand's 20th anniversary, there will be a booth visit from TV co-host Vanna White.  I have not yet seen the specifics of date and time.

Double Diamond is also celebrating an anniversary this year -- its 25th -- and the new Double Diamond Deluxe will be a new version of the classic three reel game including a nudge feature to increase the overall hit fequency.

Other titles to look for will include a new game based on Sherlock Holmes, Baywatch, and Treasures of Olympus based on the Spielo game Icarus. IGT hopes the new Betty White game proves to be as popular as the actress. The new ZUMA 3D will be joined by Jurassic World 3D.  The true 3D technology, developed by the legacy GTECH team produces a glasses-free 3D effect unmatched by any other slot maker since its introduction with Sphinx 3D three years ago. Another feature to look for when you visit IGT is the ZUMA 3D "Dynamic Attract" sequence that actually beckons passing players inviting them to play.

At G2E IGT will have a special section of games now ready for placement after successful field trials.  Among the core offerings are Valley of Gold which includes a "must-hit-by" progressive that features a mystery reset, not always starting over at the minimum level. Also Ocean Magic with the Bubble Boost feature activated with an ante wager. And Keystone Kops an entertainment slot built around silent film slapstick police. There is also be a new type of cascading reels game with symbols on the second and fourth reels cascading and disappearing when stacked called Kayo Dragon.

Last year at G2E the company showed TMZ Video Slots with the photo booth feature letting players include their image in the game. The feature is starting to appear in casinos and has been well-received by players.

There is much, much more to talk about but you will have to visit the IGT booth and see it for yourself.  The last thing I will mention is not a game. It is their new Cordless Connect technology.  Already being implemented in Vegas, Detroit, and Australian casinos, cordless connect replaces the mag-strip loyalty card with a smartphone app that permits loading credits on a machine to earning loyalty points to be handled via smartphone.  The other new bit of mobile technology is called On Premises which allows players to take slot games and other features with them to any approved location within a casino property - and beyond, in approved jurisdictions.  I'm not sure I want to think too much about the implications of that bit of technology.

More previews will be coming soon - but there's not enough time before I leave for Vegas to cover it all. You'll want to see everything for yourself anyway.

UPDATE:  I was watching today's subscriber videos a few minutes ago on YouTube and ran across a game by TheBigPayback that you may want to take a look at .  https://youtu.be/yW3ZmSLgr3A

I have read that IGT is going back to their roots with stepper games. The most popular of their old games according to Frank Legato was Top Dollar, a game that IGT fortuitously held onto when it sold Barcrest. My source says a modernized version of the legendary game will be launched on a new cabinet at G2E.  I wish I knew if the new game is the one TheBigPayback was playing today.  Guess we'll know soon.

G2E 2016 Preview - 5 - Novomatic

There's a very good chance you may not be familiar with Novomatic, a betting firm out of Austria founded by Johann Graf. The company is one of Europe's largest gaming firms, with distribution in more than 80 countries and a strong on-line gaming presence. Novomatic was established in 1980, and since 2012 the newcomer to the gaming group has had a base in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, 20 miles from downtown Chicago. The company is said to be purchasing a majority stake in Ainsworth. Their US development team has been working hard to create entertaining games with an American focus, and  G2E will give the fledgling company the chance to show how they have evolved. We'll be seeing a lot more of this company in the years to come.

Novomatic

Booth 1259

The big hook to draw visitors into the company's booth this year will be The World Championship of Slots. This is not your grandmother's slot tournament. It's not Everi's tournament either. Novomatic has hired an Emmy award winning producer and director to produce hour long episodes of the World Championship of Slots Experience (WCOS) for the Game Show Network.  There will be 16 episodes in all. Each will be shot in a host casino (including G2E?) where there will be qualifying tournaments for gamers wanting to get on the show. I haven't read dates and locations anywhere yet (I'll let you know if I find out anything), but press releases say that the opportunity to gamble and be seen on TV will give players a unique reason to visit their preferred entertainment destination. There will be a grand finale, but I've yet to learn when or where it will be held and what prizes will be awarded. It could be that a preliminary competition will be held at G2E...unless the size of the crowd is prohibitive. It would certainly draw attention to Booth 1259, wouldn't it?

According to Global Gaming Business Magazine, there is an element of skill and strategy involved, a built in "gamble" feature which allows players to raise their stakes for a chance at the winning jackpot. Even if they are far behind other players. If there's a big enough jackpot at the end, a player can "bet up" to try to unseat the leader. We might want to visit Novomatic's Booth to learn more about how this will work. GGB Magazine says the competition gives the casinos a new way to market, and a new entertainment experience for the players.  Casino operators can select titles from a WCOS portfolio and can customize a tournament by picking base games from among their top performers on the floor.  And it's all done on live TV.

WCOS is not the only thing Novomatic is bringing to G2E. Players are "Very Important People" to the company, and one way they are showing this is with the VIP Lounge.  The VIP Lounge is designed to envelop the player in a plush, lounge-style seating environment, ergonomically designed for comfort.  The Lounge is adjustable for optimal reach and leg room and for the perfect viewing angle vis a vis the two 32-inch HD LED screens.  "You don't have to lean up; the buttons are in the chair. You can lean back, have a drink, almost like being at home in your favorite gamer chair." And its coming to North America with new gaming content.

Two of their new games were unveiled at the ICE show in London earlier this year: Full Moon and Eclipse. Two other games in the series to be presented later are Break of Dawn and Midnight Heat. Full Moon is a five reel 50 line medium-high volatility game (infrequent hits but big pays) with a top prize of 250x bet. A wild wolf substitutes for all symbols except the moon scatter symbol that can trigger up to 20 free games.  Eclipse is a six reel, 50 line game set for high volatility with payouts 1000x the bet and a single line. The moon substitutes for all symbols with 3 or more scattering and triggering 10 free games. There is a randomly chosen special expanding symbols that grows horizontally to adjacent reels and pays both left to right and right to left.

There are 20 new game titles in all. They include Black Jaguar, Dancing Dragon, Orca, Asian Fortunes, Pure Jewels Extreme, and JackPOP.  The design team is excited about the new series called Four Seasons. Each is a 5 reel, 40 line title themed around a beguiling Queen for each season. Each offers a distinct play experience, so whether you're a serious gambler or a more casual player seeking entertainment and time on device there's a season and a lady for you.  Winter is a low-volatility game  where the Winter Queen, the Polar Bear, Husky, and the Ice Bird may appear in blocks on reels 1-3, 2-4, and 3-5 (big symbols).  Summer features the highest volatility of the set with special stacked symbols that appear during the bonus and before each game. If the symbol covers two non-adjacent reels it expands horizontally to cover all the positions in between. No details were given about the other two seasons which have not been shown yet.

In the international section of the booth, the GAMINATOR Scorpion will make its first appearance at G2E. What's the gaminator? -- a fancy aesthetically designed cabinet with advanced technology.  Attending G2E will be company representatives from the company's Latin American subsidiaries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru as well as from Europe and Asia.  The booth will also be set up to allow Greentube and Bluebat to showcase their latest online, mobile and social innovations. Novomatic Lottery and Novomatic Sports Betting Solutions will also be demonstrating at G2E.

Sounds like there'll be something for everyone at Booth 1259 this year. Take a look and see for yourself at G2E.

G2E 2016 - Preview - 4 - Inspired Virtual Sports

Here's a Bonus Post for you Sports Fans.  You are invited to meet Shaquille O'Neal at G2e Tuesday  September 27 at the Inspired Virtual Sports Booth between 2 and 4 pm.

Inspired Virtual Sports
Booth 4130

IVS is introducing Virtual Basketball at G2E, and you have your chance to both see the game and meet the star at the company's Booth 4130 Tuesday, Sept 27.

I'm sure most slot players like sports  games and maybe even sports betting. They are interested in the players (past and present) and the games they play.  I found this news release in my mail box this morning and thought those of you interested in sports might want to know. 

Here's what the company had to say:

"Inspired's Virtual Sports are now live in Nevada, and to celebrate, we'll be welcoming legendary basketball player Shaquille O'Neal to the G2E stand as we unveil all-new Virtual Basketball. Shaq will be at the booth on Sept 27th from 2-4 pm, so drop by for a photo and check out our exclusive behind the scenes footage of the making of Rush Basketball. 

Last year you met Mike Tyson on the Inspired stand, and now is your chance to preview Inspired’s full suite of Tyson Knock Out Games on our special Tyson Eclipse Cabinet. See if you have what it takes to beat the champ by playing our all new Mike Tyson Rush Boxing, Mike Tyson Roulette, Mike Tyson Blackjack and Mike Tyson Slots. Inspired’s lottery games are live worldwide and are available to play online, on mobile, and in retail.

If I learn more, I'll pass it on. In the meantime, I'll be letting you know what Novomatic has in store.

G2E 2016 Preview - 3 - Aruze

We players are seeing Aruze slots more and more often in the casinos where we play. And according to recent news releases, we'll soon be seeing them on Carnival cruise ships as well. This month three Carnival liners --  Carnival Pride, Carnival Fantasy, and Ruby Princess --  will set sail with two of Aruze's newest Cube-x Vertical games Tower Stack Lion and Tower Stack Dragon aboard.  But you don't need to sign up for a Carnival Cruise to view these Aruze games - all you need to do is visit booth 2659 at G2E.

Aruze Gaming America

Booth 2659

I recognize Aruze games on the casino floor by their bright lights and tinny carnival sounds. They are also the games that shout out information such as the number of spins you have remaining when you are in the bonuses.  Hopefully the company will tone down those distinguishing features somewhat. 

Last year Aruze broadened its slot portfolio with the Cube-x cabinet, a millennial-friendly slot format designed to appeal to the younger demographic. The games had an ultra-fast processor driving intensified lighting, high def LCD touch-screen monitors and button panels, and custom LCD toppers. This year the company is doubling down in a new premium cabinet, the Cube - x Vertical. The cabinets will contain a pair of games: Tower Stack Lion and Tower Stack Dragon. I don't know, but I suspect these games are upgrades of current games Ultra Stack Lion and Ultra Stack Dragon.

Here is a picture of the new Vertical Tower Stack Dragon. 

Both games use the extra-long top monitor to display three individual four-by-five reel sets, stacked vertically. The player can activate all three of the 50-line frames for 150 pay lines on each spin. Betting the Plus Factor adds a selectable play area and turns all symbols on the 5th reel wild.

Five games in the Tower Stack Feature series will be shown at G2E:  Lion, Dragon, Panda, Rose, and Bison.  Half a dozen titles will be displayed in the Cube-x Ultimate cabinet, the company's first stepper cabinet incorporating a mechanical bonus wheel. These six are titles in the 999.9 Gold Wheel Series - Super Vault, Diamond Desire, Money Rush, Royal Crown, Gold Legend, and Bags of Cash.  They are all equipped with roulette-style reels and feature four levels of progressives won through the wheel-spin bonus.

You can get a feel for these games here.

Aruze has 15 titles on the Cube-x Innovator, a stepper platform that features Radiant Reels. Titles include Infinite 7 Diamond, Beautiful Dancing Dragon Spirit, Gold on Gold, and the Burning Hot Jackpot Series: Apex Tiger, Howling Wolf, Aztec Sol and the Great Inca.  There are also two red dice games: Red Dice Wild, and Red Dice Wild Deluxe.

Their core video series of 23 title will also be on display at G2E. Highlights include several Asian-themed games such as Fu Jin and Raijn. You can wager more for more paying symbols with a feature boost ante bet in the Coat of Arms Series: Griffin, Pegasus, and Guardian.  A group of four "Extreme" games (Extreme Dragon, Phoenix, Kylin, or Tortoise) include progressives won through a picking bonus. There is also a five-game Happy Festival Chinese Gods series.

Lastly, the number of e-games such as craps, baccarat, and roulette electronic tables will be increasing. If you like table games, you may want to look for Big Wheel Premium which is essentially an automated  Big Wheel Six linked to five electronic wagering stations.  The e-tables will contribute to a total of 180 games at the Aruze Gaming America's booth.  Stop and take a look at booth 2659 September 27 and 28 at this year's G2E.

Stay tuned. There's more in store.