G2E 2014
games, but the fourth game can now be video poker, which is new for us.” If you read our interview in the last issue of CI, you’ll know that the company has an eye on a platform-based future, and while they will still look after their current customers, it is an exciting side-step. Tom added: “We have a gaming platform coming out which will allow us to connect to all kinds of different devices – our automated generators, live generators, Star Bars, mobile gaming, and to slot machines. So later in 2015, we will have our IBX platform and following that, maybe slots.” As ever, G2E was a good event for the company, with a large new booth (in SHFL’s former location) and Tom was pleased with the traffic at the show. He concluded: “We moved our stand this year, and we changed the layout so it’s easier to move around. It’s been a great event, a lot of fun and he turnout has been phenomenal.”
IGT
One of the summer’s big stories was IGT’s purchase by GTECH, though the deal is not yet closed it should mean a bright future for the customers of both companies. At G2E this year, IGT’s booth was of course very large, with a broad array of product and some very interesting licensed games. Top of the tree were their Ellen slots; the CrystalCore cabinet looks superb and visitors really responded to the Dance Party title (or to give it its full name, The Ellen DeGeneres Show Featuring Ellen’s Dance Party Video Slot). It’s hard to say whether this will be a breakout product internationally, but as Jacob Lanning, Director, Product Management Gaming Operations told CI, “Ellen is a fabulous brand to work with; the show reaches more than 10million women a week, and has over 50million Facebook and Twitter fans, so Ellen is very big on social media and a lot of people engage with her and her brand.” Also on the CrystalCore, and building upon the legacy of the top-performing slot theme of all time, IGT introduced Wheel of Fortune Jackpot Paradise which features a 42” vertical touchscreen display and several never-before-seen play mechanics. Also of note was the S3000 cabinet, with intelligent lighting (which can
be altered as a bank, from a tablet or smartphone – or linked to a jackpot event) all over the cabinet, plus three touchscreens, which will in the future incorporate the ability to spin a wheel with the swipe of a finger. Very impressive.
Gasser Chair Co
The family-run Youngstown, Ohio company-now in its third generation-has supplied the hospitality and gaming industries with comfortable, quality seating since 1946. President Mark Gasser says that while Gasser’s 2014 business is still not at 2007 pre-economic downturn levels, gaming and hospitality sector business has improved. The market in Australia and New Zealand has also strengthened since 2013. He said, “We are happy that conditions have progressed. Our casino seating category fared better than the hospitality division.” Gasser reported that customers have become much more quality conscious. “They are aware of sustainability issues. Their ‘longer’ vision means they are more concerned that the chairs last five to 10 years than
OCTOBER 2014 49
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