p48-54 multiplayer feature V6:p29-31 victor chandler.qxd 09/12/2008 13:38 Page 30
MULTIPLAYER GAMES
Multiplayers
Lower running costs and faster gameplay can mean significantly more
profit on the casino floor, when the power of multiplayer games is
harnessed by operators. Graeme Kidd rounds up the options.
A
year is a long time in the casino industry, tournaments and electronic table games,” says. Adam
and plenty enough time for the range of Williams, Amaya Gaming’s Marketing & Sales Support
multiplayer machines on offer to grow Manager. “Allowing players to join a secure poker
and develop, as this round-up of the network or a tournament is a great way for venues to
latest launches reveals... differentiate themselves from the competition. Players
enjoy the dynamic of playing against live opponents
Alfastreet in a fast-paced environment,” he says.
Alfastreet chose G2E for the world premiere of its new Clearly, high-profile poker tournaments such as
Multi-player Poker table, which is attracting a lot of World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour attract
interest, according to the company’s marketing some of the best card players in the world, but buy-in
Alfastreet – a poker machine with a
manager, Matjaz Petek. “We have built our Poker costs are not low... Amaya aims to offer regular players
different approach to the competition?
machine with a different approach from the a chance to participate in multi-table tournaments
competition,” he says. “We have a lot of experience in from gaming floors.
multiplayer games and we have included all our Apart from its poker games, Amaya offers electronic
knowledge in the field into our new Poker machine.” versions of Sic Bo, Roulette, Craps and Baccarat and is
Alfastreet was among the first to offer multiplayer “hard at work designing electronic, multiplayer
Roulette games, and continues to provide operators versions of other casino games,” Williams says.
with modular systems – R8 Roulette, according to
Petek, remains the main and most successful product Bally
in the Alfastreet range. It’s a little way from the casino floor yet, but Bally’s
But the company isn’t resting on its multiplayer new concept in slot machine play, the DualVision,
laurels – it’s made its first move into video-based aims to make it easy for couples or friends to play slot
gaming with Video Baccarat, the first in a new Video games together. Amaya – PokerMate is just one of a
Series which will be compatible with Alfastreet’s Previewed at G2E, DualVision uses a single,
series of electronic, multiplayer games.
existing gaming terminals, giving operators a clear segmented video display and a common currency
upgrade path. acceptor to allow couples or friends to sit down
A new SL line of terminals has also been introduced, together and play separately on the same unit.
alongside a Dice Sic Bo Multi-player and a Multi- Uniquely, players can share the credits they purchase,
wheel Roulette, which allows operators to connect up as well as winnings that rack up on the meter.
to three live Roulette tables to Alfastreet electronic "The opportunity for couples to pool financial
terminals or add an automated wheel to the system to resources and play together on the same machine is
allow gaming when live Roulette tables are closed. something new, and will enhance the social
With a track-record in multiplayer Roulette that interaction that many people look for during a casino
goes back to 1977, Alfastreet’s new alliance with outing," said George Stamos, marketing
Atronic Americas and the appointment of a communications manager for Bally Technologies.
distributor for Central and South America should see DualVision will allow players to enjoy versions of the
the company crossing the Atlantic effectively in 2009. same game and make their own wagers independently
“Our multiplayer products are all GLI certified and of one another with their own panel of buttons, but
support the SAS protocol,” says Petek. “And they are when one player gets into a bonus round, the
designed with players and operators in mind, so offer companion player is automatically pulled into the
player-friendly interfaces and top-class profitability.” bonus too...
"It will make for some very interesting interaction
Amaya among participants playing independently of one
Canadian company Amaya Gaming Group specialises another while using pooled financial resources on the
in peer-to-peer gaming, and is busy building on the same machine," Stamos says.
success of its PokerMate and PokerStation products. DualVision will launch with a new game "Two for
“We were one of the first to offer the new gaming the Money" and be available to operators in two
Bally – DualVision aims to bring a new,
technologies such as server-based gaming, multi-table configurations – with separate side-by-side seats at friendly dimension to slot play.
48 DECEMBER 2008
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