inally ICE is here and is delivering on the great expectations for the show, with yesterday seeing the unveiling of one of the most, if not the most, prominent gambling events in the world.
The already traditional London show marked an unbeatable start to 2014 for the sector as a whole, with all the key companies present both in terms of supplies and services for traditional gambling venues as well as in the growing sportsbooks and online market.
A large public turnout, considerable investment in booths and a high level technological offer from exhibitors were just some of the features on display at ICE from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Yogonet spoke to the main slot companies exhibiting at the show, and reviewed the some of the products catching the eye of executives and businessmen attending the London show.
IGT
IGT got underway its schedule of events with a brilliant display, through its presentation of three premium titles: “Venture to Never Isle”, “Jenga Tower of Money” and “Aladdin Prince of Adventure VRE”, the latest title to join the skill-based bonus gaming family. Other important products were: “Sex and the City Platinum”, “Bridesmaids” and “Back to the Future - Back in Time”, titles boasting the new IGT content features that let operators unblock new content with time, creating a new fresh gaming experience without changing themes or cabinets. Besides, ICE visitors could visit Pandora in “Avatar” and “Avatar Treasures of Pandora” videoslots, both based on the popular James Cameron movie.
Aristocrat
Aristocrat Technologies unveiled its widest portfolio of game solutions. “And around 80% of its products showcased at ICE are available immediately,” commented Donal Maguire, the firm’s Director of Sales and Marketing in Europe. E*Series is the best example of Aristocrat’s efforts to break into new markets, with five game families, each one with two complementary titles. Also there was
“Player’s Choice”, another key exhibit, which is Aristocrat’s first widescreen multigame for the European and African market.
Bally Technologies
Bally reaffirmed its merger with SHFL and all the advantages it offers to its already wide catalogue of products. But beyond that, it offered big slot titles to the public yesterday afternoon, such as the “Titanic” progressive” video slot, based on the James Cameron movie, “The Magic of David Copperfield”, “Grease Pink Ladies”, “ZZ Top Live from Texas”, and new cabinets, together with a new way of playing all Bally content on the Pro Series cabinets. It also exhibited “Take‘n Play”, a product that enables players to move a slot to a tablet, enabling the same slot to play in two places at the same time, vía streaming.
Konami
Konami unveiled a solid collection of innovative technology at stand S11-110, including the “SeleXion” multigame, the already well-known “Podium Goliath” cabinet, the new progressive link “Dragon’s Victory” and the new “SYNKROS” system. “Konami has experienced great success in Europe. The feedback we are receiving from operators is positive. We are confident that the new technology we are displaying at ICE will enable the growth of our customers’ business,” said Eduardo Aching, VP of International Sales of Konami.
WMS
WMS highlighted its merger with Scientific Games. "We will take advantage of the core strenghts of each organization to expand offer, bringing game content and lottery content to new channels, sectors and territories, and offering better content, systems and support,” assured
Sebastián Salat, WMS Gaming President International. At its booth, the firm exhibited its new game series on the CPU-NXT3 platform: “Exploding Pays”, “Supercharged Reels”, “Reel Intensity”, “Speed Spins” and “Monster Progressives”, as well as WMS’ next-generation of games such as “Colossal Reels” and “Gold Fish”. It also presented iconic licensed entertainment, such as “Beetlejuice” and “Clue”, and new content for player-favorite brands such as “Monopoly”, “TheWizard of Oz”, “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” and “Jackpot Party”. In addition, the 3-reel mechanical Blade Stepper cabinet was showcased in London for the first time, as well as five Local Area Progressive themes: Colossal Jackpots, Winning Fortune, Monster Progressives, Jackpot Party Progressive Deluxe and Treasures of the World. These games, as well as the Game Chest Multi-Game series, have been created to meet the particular needs of international customers.
GTECH
GTECH (through its Spielo brand) is showcasing a wide collection of products, among them the SPHINX3D, an Egyptian adventure in 3D without the need for glasses in the new AXXIS brand cabinet. Sphinx 3D is the first title of the new True 3D product line, designed for GTECH by SeeFront. GTECH’s booth also offers the global launch of Action Jackpots, four different progressive links in one machine. Additionally, the company is showcasing the new progressive link Volcano Island, and popular games Bejeweled, Zuma and Plants vs. Zombies, available in the MaXVusion cabinet.
Novomatic
Through its subsidiaries Astra Gaming Group (Astra Games, Bell-Fruit Games, Empire Games, Gamestec and Mazooma Games) Novomatic welcomes ICE visitors with a 4,500 sqm booth. A section of it is dedicated to online solutions with products belonging to Admiral Sportwetten, JVH exploitatie, Eurocoin, Novomatic Gaming Spain Greentube, iGaming2Go and the latest acquisition of the group, Betware, exhibiting its online lottery solution. The central part of the booth is dedicated to the innovations by Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI) and Octavian, including a roulette area, new cabinets, jackpots and new cash management systems. And one of the main attractions is no doubt the release of NBS (Novomatic Biometric Systems).
Ainsworth
Under the banner “a winning play”, Ainsworth’s booth offers a varied collection of the latest releases of the company, with titles such as “Reels of Wheels”, “King Spin” and “Cash Challenge”, all in the A560 Wide Boy cabinet. A new link progressive was also introduced yesterday at ICE, with the titles “Treasure Storm” and “Oriental Fortune Plus Mystery”: “Golden Goose Mystery”, “Big Chief Mystery”, “Glitter Mystery”, “Wolf King II Mystery” and “Hummin Mystery”. Ainsworth also unveils some of the classic brands of its GamePlus library, such as “Quad Shot”, “Double Hit”, “Triple Shot”, “Play 100Lines/50Lines/40Lines” and “High Denom”, and two new brands, “Wheel Winner” and “Crazy Ways”.
Merkur
The quantum leap for cabinet design, the Avantgarde gaming cabinet, adds a lot more variety.
Yet another totally different design, the Avantgarde is “fresh, young and aspiring”, say sources of the firm. Privilege, Evolution and Highflyer have also been unveiled. In particular, the Highflyer brings something truly unique to the market with its upper monitor seemingly floating on air, providing players with a clear view of the gaming floor, previously unseen for slant top cabinets,” added sources of the company. The firm also presents its new floor management system, Merkur all-in-one, which it bills as “the perfect way to unite slot management, casino / arcade management and business management under one roof”. Visitors can also see successful applications for SBG and VLT. The Merkur Dispenser 100 – the market choice for banknote recycling – is on display as well.
