Casino July-Aug 08 P22-28 23/6/08 14:30 Page 28
G2E ASIA 2008
this show which is growing very quickly." call directly to Asian players, with dragon heads in
WMS continues to benefit from one of the the toppers or leaping salmon to name two. Bally's
strongest product line-ups in the gaming industry. video slots are well known for their audio excellence,
Their slot machines are, simply, quite brilliant, as and these are no exception.
evidenced in Macau with their wonderful Bruce Lee There is a lot more to say about Bally product, but
slot machine. What WMS have done – aside from we're saving that for a forthcoming issue…
their technological improvements – is to perfectly Shuffle Master took their new shuffler to Macau
combine gameplay and content. The result is a and it's a market that's perfect for them, being
collection of slot machines that appeal to both the predominantly table-based. The i-Deal has been
classic slots player and the younger generation. They around for just over a year; it's a single-deck specialty
genuinely have some of the appeal of console games, shuffler that's been earning Shuffle Master some
while rejuvenating the old-style mechanical slots with plaudits in the industry.
their Transmissive Reels technology. Bruce Lee, which Also on show were their Baccarat innovations, with
made its international debut at ICE in January, is Rapid Baccarat – a live outcome with electronic
probably the best slot machine I have played this betting game – and some side bets for the game, one
year, and it fits perfectly with their slew of licensed of which is a progressive jackpot.
product which includes Dirty Harry and Top Gun. As Kirsten Clark pointed out, there are few
Transmissive Reels creates a really dynamic gaming companies that have had the impact on an industry
experience, as the glass over the reels is a transparent like Shuffle Master has. "As the industry leader we are
screen used for sublime 3D graphics. It's arresting, very keen to bring new and innovative technology," she
smart and unique in the market. said. "We were recently recognized as one of the
Also on show was Great Wall, WMS's first linked world's top 35 technology innovators across the
progressive made specifically for Asia. It's a multi- industry and we were also recognised as the number
level mystery progressive that awards free games one company that has the most impact on its industry."
instead of jackpots; players increase winnings With Poker threatening to gain ground in Asian
through individual multipliers. casinos, Shuffle Master should benefit not only on
Abbiati has just completed a joint venture with the shuffler side, but as a leader in table games, with
RGB, one of the key distributors to the Asian gaming their catalogue including Three Card Poker,
market, and they are understandably excited about the Caribbean Stud Poker and a lot more besides.
prospects this might bring. Abbiati's Terry Clarke Last but not least, IGT had their traditional large
talked to Casino International, saying: "Business in Asia stand packed with slot product. Their tremendous
is about to grow for us because we have completed a Indiana Jones progressive was on show, alongside
joint venture with RGB. We've now got a separate their many licensed products like ever-popular Wheel
company called RGB-Abbiati, and all our combined of Fortune and the great Star Wars range, which
casino equipment will go into the same company. included the latest Empire Strikes Back game.
"With the products we've put together with RGB, John Gomes, IGT Asia's Managing Director,
there's no conflict of interest with other companies explained that their slot product for Macau is very
they're working with. They're very strong across all the much tailored to that market though. He said: "If you
Asian markets, so it should mean great things for us. take our floor layout, 90 per cent of it is new product
"Because the Asian market is almost entirely to our Asian customers. 80 per cent is in Simplified
Baccarat, Roulette has a lot of work to do to break Chinese, with no English on it at all; the machines that
into the market, but perhaps the new US-style casinos are not in Simplified Chinese are third party machines
could help make that happen." like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Wheel of Fortune."
Bally always attends shows with a great product line- He continued: "Something that's done really well
up, but the star in Macau was Fortune Games. for us in the last year is the stepper product, the
Alongside their traditional product like Hot Shot three- and five-reel product. With the size of the
Progressives and the fabulous Game Maker HD, which Venetian's floor they're looking for some variety, and
will help establish the multi-game concept in Asian slot they pushed the envelope in Macau as far as placing
machines, Fortune Games seem well suited to Asia. stepper product and the percentage on their floor
Fortune Frog, Fortune River, Lucky Dragon Quest goes. They've been very successful in that, and the
and Phoenix Fortune are the game titles, and all are spin-off of that can be seen across Macau, with
five-reel, 50-line progressives with a 2,500 credit max stepper product in all the different properties now."
bet. The games use bonus rounds to keep players IGT knows where it will find growth in Macau – in
motivated – for example, Fortune Frog and Fortune the new builds, the big properties coming to the area
River both use a 'wild reel' free game feature. When in the next 18 months or so. And at the forefront of
three or more game logo symbols appear with either this is likely to be their electronic table products, the
the frog or fish (depending on which game is being M-P Series and DigiDeal range. Under the DigiDeal
played) on reel five, the entire reel becomes wild. name, they showed DragonBacc, Texas Hold'Em
Frog or fish then jumps on to the adjacent reel at the Bonus and Digital 21; M-P Series included Golden
start of each odd numbered game, so the reel is wild Baccarat and three variations of Roulette Evolution.
for the second spin; players can win up to 10 free With staffing seemingly a constant issue for Macau
games this way. operators, digital and automated product is likely to
The games look great – bold imagery which should become more prevalent in coming years.
28 JULY/AUGUST 2008
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