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 Preview - 8: Incredible Technologies (IT)

Incredible Technologies (IT) is a a Chicago based developer of Class III slot machines licensed in 17 US states, Asia, and Latin America. The company has been working with GameAccount, an award winning developer of internet gaming software and online gaming content, since 2013 to bring both simulated gaming and regulated internet gaming in New Jersey & Europe to life. You can read about their successful launch this August of Medusa: The Quest or Perseus. And you can look for the game at the IT Booth at the Global Gaming Expo, G2E,  being held in Las Vegas the week of September 29. The information in this preview was all taken from IT’s website.

Incredible Technologies

gaming.itsgames.com

Booth #4460 

Medusa: The Quest of Perseus is the seventh game theme delivered by GameAccount for IT.  Within 72 hours of launch, it attracted 95% more spins than IT’s prior theme Robin Hood: Riches of Sherwood Forest and over 500% more bets than the average of the six IT games launched prior to Medusa. IT now ranks among the most played manufacturers on the simulated gaming virtual slot floor, and their growing popularity online has supported IT’s land based gaming machines sales in casinos.

I have not bothered to rewrite the press release for Medusa. The description of the game and screen print below both come from IT’s web site.

“Try and stop the great and powerful Medusa! Medusa: The Quest of Perseus™ pits Medusa against an army of brave warriors as they fight for their lives. This 40-line slot places the heroic Perseus front and center as he battles the dreaded Medusa with a Free Spin Battle™ and Stacked Perseus symbols that will have players cheering in their seats.

The Free Spin Battle™ begins when two Medusa symbols land in the 3rd and 5th reels. Players then spin for an extra bonus award to further protect themselves for the bonus battle, which range from extra free spins, to instant credits, a locked 2X wild, to a full reel of locked wilds. Upon each spin, Soldier symbols are threatened by Medusa’s lethal gaze and any Soldier who holds up their shield long enough for Medusa to see her reflection will turn the symbol into a locked wild symbol for each remaining spin during the bonus round.”

Medusa and simulated internet gaming is not the only thing IT brings to G2E this year.  The company is capitalizing on its momentum by expanding its Infinity product line into premium segments. The first, Infinity Skybox, heightens the stunning Infinity U23 cabinet with the addition of an integrated 55” vertical monitor. The Infinity Skybox will be shown at G2E with its flagship launch title Crazy Money Deluxe. More about Crazy Money later. The second, Infinity Link, is a bank-wide linked area progressive . Exclusive debut titles for Infinity Link are yet to be announced and will be officially unveiled at G2E 2015, so all I can show you are popular titles already released.

IT says it will showcase dozens of new games featuring the E-play, V-Pro, and I-series of games. Only proven, top performing titles will be shown. Beyond the 17 states the company is currently selling, IT will also be showcasing products for its newest expanding markets including New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina and Ohio, as well as international presence in Macau, the Philippines, and Peru.

In this preview, we’ll highlight four games IT will be promoting this year. The first is Money Rain. This title is a Scatter Ways game featuring over 25,000 ways to win. The game takes the theme of money and flips it on its head. The innovative reel mechanic showcases the colorful money symbols folded in half and flipping - similar to what you see on a digital clock. Players hope to land 4 or more yellow transforming symbols during the main game to unlock the Money Reel, a smaller 6th reel on the right side of the screen. Once unlocked, the money reels spin to decide which symbol will replace the mystery symbols. Players also hope it will land on a high paying one.

Okay, we know about the money - what about the rain? Three or more rain cloud/scatters triggers a free spin bonus where the money reel is active. The important difference is that it only includes the top four replacement symbols, increasing the chance of a big win. You have the opportunity for downpours of thunderous wins with this feature. Money Rain also has a Good, Better, or Best feature where players are encouraged to increase their bet level to increase the number of free spins awarded.

IT’s site says Crazy Money Deluxe will be featured on Infinity Skybox at G2E. I can’t find this game - just Crazy Money, Crazy Money High Def, and Crazy Money II - so I think it may actually be a new release at G2E.  They say Crazy Money Deluxe features all the gameplay players have come to love, with the addition of a massive bonus wheel and linkable four level progressive jackpot display.

The third game highlighted by Incredible Technologies is Big Prize Bubblegum.  With 1,024 ways to win, IT takes players back in time to enjoy the sugar sweet childhood favorites in its gumball machines. Whenever a penny, nickel, or dime coin lands on the screen, free spins are awarded based on the coin’s denomination. Capsules holding toys like yo-yos, spinning tops, and robots are unlocked and award instant credit amounts when they land during all free spins. Up to 100 spins can be re-triggered.  When a special Bonus Toy Capsule holding a 3D puzzle appears during the free spins, the Pick Until You Pop Bonus Game is triggered. Players pick from 30 capsules to reveal instant credit amounts and multipliers. The bubble bursts once the toothache symbol is found, but players can get back into the game with the Sweet Saver.  It reminds me of Jackpot Party by WMS with its Party Saver feature.

There’s a promo film for the fourth and last featured game from IT at the end of this preview, Hauntsworth's House. In this 40-line spooky slot, old Mr. Hauntsworth’s manor is being haunted by green and red flying ghosts who constantly float in the top box of the game. Sometimes they fly across the reels while they are spinning. Green ghosts upgrade symbols to Wilds. Red ghosts turn them into Flying Jackpot Scatters for scary big rewards. When three mysterious door knocker scatters land, players journey through the Hall of Treasures. Floating ghosts are selected to reveal either credit amounts or a key which continues the passage down the ominous hallway. If the key is selected in all three rooms, players choose between two glowing golden chests for a chance to win the ultimate reward. 

This looks like a fun game, and I’m looking for the chance to play it myself. Maybe we’ll be able to at G2E.  I hope so.


October 12 Update: This game was at G2E and is one of the ones you can link to from Random$$Slots G2E videos at this site:  http://www.digdia.com/slots/index_g2e_15.shtml   I was very impressed by IT. Incredible Technologies is one of the best companies I visited my first and only trip to G2E; their owners are very friendly and their designers are very creative. I expect good things from this company in the years to come.