p26-36 IGE 2009 2/3/09 10:50 Page 32
IGE 2009 REVIEW
opinion this is the most beautiful, the most clean- terminals from a live table, which conforms to UK
looking, the most lean terminal on the market at the requirements; couple this with their server-based
moment. We have monitor ranges running from 19- casino product, and Multi-Win Roulette, and you
inch to 26-inch. It is Linux-based to give more have an extremely strong suite of gaming products.
flexibility, too." Players can choose between Amatic Inspired has come a long way from its server-based
games and live Roulette on the terminal, so flexibility roots, while never neglecting its core product, the
really is the name of the game. company seems to have embraced the many facets of
IGE also saw Amatic launch eight new games on gaming to comfortably become a more complete
their core cabinet, the X3000. provider to the industry.
3M, as ever, impressed, as their tactile feedback With Gaming Support, where do you begin? The
technology amazes and delights everyone that last couple of years has seen steady product
encounters it. When is a game designer going to development on some excellent ideas – but are
produce something that harnesses this incredible, operators ready for things like a mystery jackpot
fun and vibrant innovation? system on a roulette wheel? It's an exciting concept
WMS's slot product is really something. It's the and a very simple one – something that, handled and
ideal hybrid of gameplay – the kind you'd find in a promoted in the right way, could drive yet more
Top: Hess had their own stand for the
console – and true casino slot gaming, so it has profits from the wheel.
first time and it seemed to pay
something for generations old and new. IGE did not BonusBox was pushed hard on the stand, their
dividends. Below: TransAct’s Tracey
disappoint, as they showed Reel 'Em In: Compete To entirely scalable player incentive and jackpot system;
Chernay on the Eurocoin stand; Bottom, Win, which is part of their Community Gaming it's basically a box which sits on the slot machine or
their ServerPort 950 product canon and combines the fun of a slot machine and bank of slots, and is a tangible reward for players
the thrill of competing against other players for the when they hit a certain jackpot threshold. You might
big prizes when the bonus level arrives. have the keys to a Ferrari in there, or show tickets –
Powerball is another Community Gaming product, anything, really, that your players might want. It's yet
where the person in the 'power seat' when the bonus another incentive to play, functioning in the same
level hits is selected at random. Also impressing were way as a mystery jackpot.
the new Wizard of Oz slots, which incorporate They're also working hard at their digital signage
Sensory Immersion Gaming to draw the player in. product, which looks great, and CasinoView, which is a
And let's not forget Transmissive Reels, the company's way to drive traffic in the casino to 'colder' areas, and
innovation that has brought mechanical reel slots something we'll go into in more depth in a future issue.
into the 21st century and made them as attractive as Alfastreet's stand was much larger than in 2008, as
– if not more so – their video slot brethren. The they added a section dedicated to poker product, and
reasons for their popularity is simple, as Sebastian also had their new Tago game to exhibit. Tago is similar
Salat explains: "People see this [Time Machine slot] to Texas Hold 'Em poker, and this automated version is
and they want to play it all the time – the bank is the only one available on the market so far thanks to
always full, because there is nothing similar in the Alfastreet's exclusive deal with the game's creators.
whole exhibition that compares to this concept. Never a company to stand still, Afastreet also had
"We have been creating categories that before did new Keno product, and a new multiplayer bingo,
not exist on the casino floor. That is what makes us so which has been redesigned and relaunched thanks to
special." new customer interest. Their core product remains
The Eurocoin stand, always a place to find good automated Roulette, but Alfastreet's strength in
advice and solid product, was the place to see emerging markets drives their research and
TransAct product, which included the Epic 880 – an development into new titles.
AWP printer – and ServerPort. The 880 debuted at Hess had their own stand for the first time, and
G2E in November, and is targeted at kiosks, AWP, what a difference it made; rather than one or two
FOBTs and more, including a casino that might want kiosks on a stand-share, they had a wider range of
ticket-out but not TITO. A key selling point is the six- product and the space and time to demonstrate
inch printer roll, which means less changes required, everything fully. First up is the Express Series
less staff intervention. Currency Counter HE303, a currency sorting
ServerPort takes advantage of the second port on machine that is developed for TITO sorting.
the printer and allows the printer to be used as a Of note – though it was not on display on the
marketing tool to the player; combine it with, for stand – is their back office solution, which takes the
example, Bally's iView, and you make an offer to the strain of counting and settling up tills for waiters,
player during play, and they can print out a coupon waitresses and more at the end of a shift. Erik de Kat
without breaking stride by simply accepting the offer. explains: "Waiters and waitresses can go with their till,
It's a smart tool, and one that should find its place in throw it into the machine, it is counted and sorted,
casinos now that Bally, LVGI and others are making then they balance the tills – replenishing, we call it.
such progress with 'marketing windows' on slots. "If a member of staff is short of coins or notes,
Inspired had a large presence, and one of their normally they have to go to the supervisor. They go to
main attractions was the automated blackjack the cash desk, get a note, stamped, signed by two
product which complies with UK table gaming people and so on… instead, she goes to this machine,
regulations. This can be played on unlimited take their employee pass card, put it in, and ask for,
32 MARCH 2009
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