SKILL GAMING
INTERNATIONAL GAMING TECHNOLOGY
Like others in the industry, IGT Vice
President of International Market Strategy Jacob Lanning is bullish on the future of skill- based gaming – not only based on the potential market for these types of games, but also for the possibility of innovation within the industry. “There is a consensus among many in the industry that skill-based gaming is a viable method for engaging a broader range of players on casino floors and I am encouraged by this outlook,” he says. “IGT continues to apply R&D investment to this space and our findings support the notion that skill-based games that include social elements align with the entertainment values of younger adults. Our customers are asking IGT to apply our years of experience and leadership in developing games that blend skill and chance, such as video poker, to create the next generation of casino experiences.” Lanning believes his company’s skill-based offerings allow for a broad range of experiences across multiple platforms. At G2E, IGT introduced Lucky’s Quest, a matching-style narrative game that allows players to play on a mobile device or on the casino floor via IGT’s CrystalCore slot machines. Players can transfer progress within the game between devices for a seamless cross- platform experience. At London’s ICE gaming
conference in early-February, the company planned to unveil its newest game in this market segment, Race Ace Arcade. The game is equipped with a sophisticated motion chair and immerses players in a virtual world with three, wraparound gameplay monitors. The chair twists, turns, rumbles, vibrates, and emits sound, giving players the sensation of a real-life road race. Beyond these offers, Lanning notes that IGT
has continued to expand its Video Reel Edge game family, which allow players a traditional slot experience but also participate in skill- based bonus events where skill influences the bonus reward. Examples of VRE titles that continue to garner positive feedback with our customers from around the world. We include Texas Tea Pinball, Cleopatra Pinball, Atari Centipede, and Aladdin Prince of Adventure. So far, Lanning says the response from
players and the industry has been positive. IGT communicates with customers about its progress within the segment and aims to capture market opportunities. For IGT, a key
48 FEBRUARY 2017
aspect of this segment also include the ability to game on mobile devices. “Skill-based gaming is an emerging market segment and one that IGT approaches with a strong commitment,” Lanning says. “We have been innovating in this space for many years and we’re encouraged to see expanded demand and interest in skill-based products. We maintain a keen focus on consumer behavior and preferences and believe the demand for cross-platform, mobile solutions will continue to grow in an increasingly digital and mobile world. In order for gaming to remain relevant in the consumers’ minds, we must give players the option to extend the player experience to a mobile device.”
COMPETITION INTERACTIVE As CEO of Steelman Partners, one of the
largest architectural firms in the world, Paul Steelman brings a wealth of casino design and gaming industry experience to this new venture. Competition Interactive is a new gaming studio that hopes to bring the familiarity of playing video games at home and on the go to the casino floor. The company’s vision include social, multiplayer, competitive, and skill-based gaming – allowing friends to compete against one another as well as the “house.”
“I founded Competition Interactive to create and build new forms of casino entertainment to surprise the youth in all of us with new experiences,” Steelman says. “I love tech, I love being positive, I love that it is a unique experience each time you start a game. Our company is dedicated to becoming an active participant in designing, building and supplying these type of casino products.” The company’s goal – bringing the classic video arcade back to life.
POKERSTARS While the largest online poker site in the
world may seem a bit outside the norm for skill- based gaming, the company has added some twists to its traditional live poker tournament experiences. While it is certainly true that poker itself is a skilled based game, the company recently added some different kind of skill-based gaming and tournaments. In November, the company brought its live
tournament experience back to Atlantic City after entering the legalized online poker market in New Jersey. As part of changes to its live tournaments, smaller events such as in New Jersey would be re-christened PokerStars Festival and focus on smaller buy-ins and a more fun vacation-style poker experience. Larger buy-in events such as the former PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (held annually in the Bahamas) would now be called PokerStars Championships. What the company also added
Running Rich Racing proved very popular at G2E 2016
At G2E, CI unveiled a competitive racing game called Running Rich Racing, a multi- player kart-racing experience where players battle for cash on a different courses based on modern spins of classic fairytales. The game offers bit of a twist. Not only is the game an adrenaline rush for drivers, but spectators can participate by wagering on their favorite driver. While the game is not yet available in casinos, Steelman says there has been excitement for the games’ possibilities when seen by players and those in the industry. Steelman says this new market segment may be
the only thing that will make casinos profitable in the future. He wants his company to be at the forefront of this new gaming environment.
was the StarsFun experience allowing for gaming competitions away from the tables. The fun started in Atlantic City with five days of competition across non- poker related games including miniature golf, arcade basketball and pinball, and others. At the recent PokerStars Championship Bahamas, the event added a virtual reality gaming experience
with daily high score competitions where players could win prizes such as restaurant vouchers, spa vouchers, and PokerStars online tournament tickets. Like other gaming companies above,
PokerStars’ goal is to bring some added excitement and more players to the events. And hopefully – more fun.
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall,
Texas, and writes frequently about gambling and poker. If you have any story ideas, please email him at
seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net or follow him @PokerTraditions. His poker book is RAISING THE STAKES: True Tales of Gambling, Wagering & Poker Faces and available on
Amazon.com.
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