Are we also seeing the introduction of new technology slowing - I’m thinking of Intel’s Alder Lake announced in October last year - is roll-out to the gaming sector being delayed - pushed back?
Alder Lake will be out this year as part of our latest QMAX Gaming Hardware Platform. It is in development and I think it will be a great fit for the gaming industry with strong graphics, a powerful Intel CPU and an innovative architecture. We’re excited about launch this year and, as usual with our products, it will be developed in such a way that it is easy to incorporate into a slot cabinet.
We’ve talked about disruption of the supply chain, but has there been a disruption of the OEM base? Has working from home and further COVID restrictions dampened the innovation we expect to see from gaming developers - or is technology still driving this sector to excite and challenge players?
I firmly believe that developers will continue to push the envelope to meet the expectations of players, which are forever increasing and evolving. In broadcast and streaming media. we’re consuming more 4K and HDR content than ever before, which is driving a desire for ever higher resolution graphics in the casino environment. If you offer a pixelated game with blocky frame-rates – no one wants to play it. Just as terrestrial TV in standard definition looks terrible, with technology
“Alder Lake will be out this year as part of our QMAX Platform. It is in development and I think it will be a great fit for the gaming industry with strong graphics, a powerful Intel CPU and an innovative
architecture. We’re excited about launch this year and, as usual with our products, it will be developed in such a way that it is easy to incorporate into a slot cabinet.”
there’s no going back. If designers are not using 4K technology, their games could look sub-standard against what the player is used to from other sources. Even if you’re not benchmarking against other machines, slot developers are now competing against the latest laptops, phones and televisions.
We’ve conducted a series of interviews with European casino operators in the last couple of months, in which operators talk about stability and building back the customer base. They are cautious and careful right now. How does that translate into optimism and opportunity for growth?
I do see growth and opportunity as players continue to want the ‘casino experience.’
Having spent so much time at home looking at screens, the experience of a well-organised, innovative and high-quality venue, is always a compelling proposition. I think COVID has made us realise how important the out-of- home experience is for everyone. I think this is a renaissance of ‘going-out.’ Landlords in the UK pub market have been investing in their real-estate, for example, upgrading their F&B offering, adding new machines, pool tables and dartboards. While you might have expected covid to induce cost-saving measures, we’ve seen the opposite with investment refreshing the offer to ensure the best possible experience for returning customers.
You mentioned previously that this period has been ‘uncomfortable for all of us in the industry’ - do you think this disruption can be positive too?
Yes - I fully agree with that. I think this has been an incredibly uncomfortable experience for businesses. Everyone involved in the Gaming market has stared into the abyss over the last 24 months, but what this does is sharpen you up. I believe it’s energised developers to innovate even more and focused the minds of operators to prioritise investment, which ultimately delivers a better player experience. In summary, I do think that disruption is a long-term positive for the health of the industry, despite the short-term discomfort.
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P51
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