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.