Aruze delivers a Japanese edge with Pachincoin slots
Always looking to do something different, Aruze Gaming delved deep into its Japanese heritage to launch the slot industry's first virtual pachinko game Pachincoin.
Launching with three Pachincoin titles - Jackpot Circus, Mr. Galaxy and Money Lab - the game concept blends slot play and bonus wheels with pachinko play on the new Muso Curve-43 Hybrid as part of the Activ-Play series. Tis new style of game features non-traditional slot play in the form of falling pachinko balls, with different slots offering different values of jackpot or routes into feature games.
Laura Sims, Product Manager at Aruze, commented: “We’re pretty certain no one has done this before. Aruze has a great library of pachinko games in Japan which we’re now looking to fuse for the Class III destination market. Jackpot Circus, complete with its spin the wheel and Break the Bank bonuses, will be released into GLI-approved markets with Mr. Galaxy and Money Lab following suit in April, May.”
On a similar theme and also in the Activ-Play series, Aruze was showcasing two more games with no spinning reels in the neon-themed Dream Cash Fabulous Vegas and the disco- themed Dream Cash Dancing All Night.
Tese games were released on the Muso Curve- 43 Hybrid with a 43-inch J-shaped monitor, complete with LED web lighting, backlighting and a mirror-finish metal, creating some pretty unique packaging options.
Ms Sims explained: “Te reflection pods allow operators to create a mirrored reflection in
the KX 43, premiering six unique linked progressives incorporating distinct play mechanics. Fortune Mint was among this year’s showcase series on the 4K UHD portrait screen machine. It features two debut base games, mystery multipliers, symbol-driven jackpots, and Asian- inspired art elements. KX 43 also offers a mix of custom merchandising options designed to maximise appeal and performance.
From the eye-catching adventure of Ba Fang Jin Bao to brand extensions like Chili Chili Fire Boosted Wins & Wilds, KX 43 caters to players with a variety of engaging entertainment. Ocean Spin offers unique bonuses with a wheel element that displays the credit win directly upon on the wheel. Fortune Totems, Abundant Fortunes and Fortune Mint also join Lightning Dragon on the KX 43 platform, with large format Opus exclusive games such as Diamondizer, a classic gambler game.
For the Concerto Opus, G2E visitors got their first taste of Tiki Heads and Treasure Lounge - both novel concepts, but fast traditional games which are straightforward to understand. In total, Konami is looking to roll out around 40 themes on the KX
43 into 2020, representing a large investment that underlines the seriousness with which the company is building its future slots portfolio.
One of the classic Konami titles, China Shores, has received the Quad play treatment, enabling players to play four games simultaneously, up to 600 credits with a five times multiplier. Raw Hide, African Diamond, Mean Chief and China Mysteries are a series of KX 43 games expected to hit floors from the end of 2019 through to the middle of 2020. Mr. Colella expects China Shores to hit around the middle of 2020 alongside additional titles for the ICE show in February and NIGA in April, with plenty left in the tank for unveiling at G2E 2020.
Product throughput is one of the challenges Greg and his team have been addressing in the six months since he joined the company, with significant investments in Konami's R&D capability clearly in his sights. “Konami didn’t offer a premium gaming product before the 49ins. J-curve cabinet,” outlined Mr. Colella. “Tis product was not on the floor at G2E 2018. We started working on the 49 J-curve in April, and to expand we needed to add talent from different areas, pulling from
between the slots which reflects the colourful lighting from the back of the cabinet to attract attention from any angle. It’s been installed in the D Casino in downtown Las Vegas already.”
Dream Cash makes use of the cabinet’s 43-inch portrait monitor to display floating bills and balloons which players touch to win prizes or trigger jackpot bonuses with special features such as the Lasso the Money bonus game.
Te game invites players to grab the cash as fast as they can. With no spinning reels it’s like a continual bonus game. Players can change the volatility and choose lots of small wins or fewer bigger wins. Every game in the Activ-Play series involves a non-spinning reel aspect.
Following in Aruze’s debut game Paradise Fishing’s footsteps, Hawaiian Fishing takes players to the shores of Oahu whilst Mad Mountain Riches depicts a giant talking volcano which erupts with lava turning into wild symbols.
On the ETG side, Aruze was showing a new configuration of Lucky Roulette which allows up to 50 remote terminals. Lucky Roulette blends a physical wheel and ball with projection mapping that allows additional side bets to be created. Te game has been launched with Seminole Tribe in Florida at Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Coconut Creek Casino and will soon be played at Hard Rock Tampa.
Roll To Win Craps was still turning heads following its debut at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina. Tis semi-autonomous craps game allows players to shoot real dice across a large LED playing field screen. Utilising the same footprint as a traditional craps table, the bright LED panels on Roll To Win Craps display amazing graphics and eye-catching animations. Individual player stations accept cash and provide tickets, so no physical chips are required to play. Players are able to place bets privately on their screen and then see their virtual chips displayed on the main playing field.
existing talent pools and building out from additional games studios in North America to keep up with demand. We are now able to branch out and start to introduce new platforms, which increases the appetite for new game content.”
Part of the major investment Konami is strategically deploying within its gaming division centres on building the development team. As Mr. Colella points out, it's not about hiring individuals, but instead about building a team that will ensure Konami remains competitive in the long-term. Konami is bringing experience and expertise into the fold, shifting its predominantly sales-based model to one that includes recurring revenue from a premium slots line that can compete with the best the market has to offer.
“We are shifting from the feast of famine of slot machines sales, to adding business layers into Konami that we've never had before. At ICE, you will see market-ready machines and in 12 months we will have two additional machine configurations, two further premium pieces and a host of third-party brands that make sense for us in the long-term, added Mr. Colella. Watch this space!
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA P67
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112
