Casino July-Aug 08 P42-44 24/6/08 09:55 Page 44
META GU
“Cargo can be used to add
new features that have
been introduced by the
software developers and to
make unique versions of
the same game types for
different customers.”
graphics, the aesthetics and the mathematics. They
will decide what features they want and they need to CI: What do you need to do to get a manufacturer
get the software developers to implement it. People up and running with Cargo?
who know both are very rare. So producing a game OC: It's quite simple, if they have a GDK, which is
can take much longer than you think because of a kit that they give out to game houses. We, or they,
communication issues, etc. take that kit and interface it to Cargo. That process
What Cargo doesn't do is to make software can take from a couple of weeks to a couple of
developers redundant, as they are free to develop new months.
technology. Cargo can be used to add new features
that have been introduced by the software developers
and to make unique versions of the same game types
“Cargo is not just a game
for different customers. 90 per cent of the games that
are produced are very similar to what went before
generator, it is a system for
with tweaks, bells and whistles. Cargo allows game
producing game
designers to produce those without going to the
software developers. Also once a software developer
generators.”
has produced a new type of game, say for example to
mirror a new game on the Wii, that game type can be CI: What's the feedback been so far from the
plugged into Cargo for use as a new variant by Cargo industry?
game designers. OC: Very good. We are working on a couple of
Cargo is not just a game generator, it is a system platforms right now. One of the things is to get
for producing game generators. For each platform we people to see the benefits; some people say to us that
need to implement an interface into that platform “sounds too good to be true” but after seeing a live
then a Cargo-based generator will be produced. So in demo, a short demo is also on the website
other words at the end of that process, which is quite [www.metagu.com], people can see that you can work
short, that manufacturer will have their own in this different way very effectively.
generation system for their platform. The important
point about that, is this system is extendable so it can CI: If your process is GLI accredited, could that
support multiple platforms because we separate potentially mean that all games generated through it
design specification from implementation. So a are automatically accredited in some jurisdictions?
manufacturer can have a Cargo-based generator that OC: No. Every game, irrespective of how it is
can support multiple platforms. Therefore when they produced, is to be approved by the regulators for
get to the build part of the game generation process certification. It may be possible somewhere in the
they can build for as many platforms as they require, future where everyone is more aware of the
so there is a much greater crossover phase. Also if in development technology and the tools for each game
the future they want to support a new platform with not to have to be individually approved as they are
that game they can easily add it without dropping adapted from similar content, though I can't see that
the old content. happening in the short term.
CI: Sum up your approach for our readers…
“90 per cent of the games
OC: Our approach with Cargo and Meta Games in
that are produced are very
general is providing content and tools for producing
content for the industry. It enables manufacturers
similar to what went before
and developers to improve their content pipeline. All
with tweaks, bells and
manufacturers have to have a content pipeline, you
can't just produce a game and sit back, you have to
whistles.”
go on to the next; we want to enable their content
pipeline.
44 JULY/AUGUST 2008
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