Products


“A number of our customers had


suggested that we look at the


multiplayer and hybrid games


market. The benefits of such products,


both to the operator and to the player are well documented and our customers were telling us there was no shortage of


product out there, but that they felt


prices were high and excitement was low. We have responded


by developing a range which challenges not only the existing price model but incorporates new


and exciting features to engage the player.”


Simon Herbert, Astro Corps CEO.


HYBRID GAMING


touch screen layouts. A 26” high visibility winning number display completes the package and further adds to the live gaming experience.


The boundaries of flexibility have been stretched even further with Astro 66. Up to six players grouped around a 47” HD touch screen may play six different table games, both peer to peer and virtual dealer as determined by the casino operator. Peer to peer games include Texas Hold’Em, Revolver Poker and Ladder Dice. In virtual dealer mode, players are treated to Blackjack, Super Derby and Catch the Wave. Astro 66 also employs ID player identification technology and has tournament capability.


G2E Asia will witness the launch of Astro Sic Bo, the company’s third hybrid product. Featuring a 46ins. touchscreen, advanced ID player recognition technology and an ingenious automatic dice shaker, Astro Sic Bo promises to deliver an interesting twist on this traditional game.


So what is Astro’s vision for the future of hybrid games? Simon Herbert is optimistic but cautious. “Hybrid games and multiplayers in particular have been one of the industry’s great success stories and as technology advances, games which were previously unsuitable can be successfully incorporated.


(Left) The Astro


Roulette and (inset) the Texas Hold’Em


layout from Astro 66 Poker.


“This is not, however, an automatic reason for doing so. At Astro we have always viewed technology as a means to an end, not an end in itself. Ultimately it’s about player appeal. Our development team is one of the industry’s largest but we’re not about to send them down any blind alleys. We know that operators love the cost savings and increased security and control that hybrid games deliver and we also view such products as a way of optimising limited space.”


excitement when traditional games are transferred to the digital environment.”


This philosophy has certainly been embodied in Astro Roulette and Astro 66 Poker, the first to be launched. The first feature that strikes is that both these games occupy a much smaller footprint than other products in the marketplace. “This is a direct result of operator feedback,” explains Simon Herbert, “The message was that in an environment where space is at a premium, many games are physically too large. This was one of the key areas of concern, along with connectivity, reliability and price.”


Astro Roulette is based around a 46” Multi Touch screen layout on which players may place any type of American Roulette Bet. The use of advanced ID player recognition technology enables a number of players to place the same bets at the same time without confusion and delivers a near-live experience. The basic Astro Roulette is a five player module, but most operators prefer it as a 10 player game with the automated wheel sited between the two


G3 I JUNE 2011 I PAGE 59 “We know that


operators love the cost savings and


increased security and control that


hybrid games deliver and we also view


such products as a way of optimising limited space.” Simon Herbert, Astro Corps CEO.


The current generation of players have taken well to hybrid games and this trend is set to continue as new, technology savvy players come onto the scene. The traditional boundaries between live games and slots are becoming blurred.


It’s interesting that the slot experience, traditionally quite solitary, is through the application of new technology, rapidly becoming a communal experience. Table games, again facilitated by technology, are moving towards an electronic gaming experience. At some point in the future, the paths will inevitably meet.


One thing is for sure, wherever and whenever that is, Astro Corp will at the forefront.


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