THE DROP TEST DRIVES IGT’S NEW CONCEPT BALLOON LINK
Most contemporary games are really all about the game feature these days. In their new Balloon game family IGT have made it, in an interesting way, all about the end of the feature. Yes, the game feature is still important with players collecting balloons with cash on reel amounts through their free games play. Each time they collect 6 balloons on a spin the balloons collect into the top box screen, building up in number throughout the free game feature. At the end of the free games, the balloons combine to form less balloons, but with larger credit amounts. This is where the “Gamble Quest” comes in… players can choose to gamble up to five of their balloons in a “win, lose, or draw” chance rather than the traditional full-commitment red/black or suits style. Equally, if players are happy with their feature win, they can choose to take it, without entering the Gamble Quest. It will be interesting to see what types of players, and what amounts, gamers are prepared to try and improve!
The Balloon Basics
The Balloon Link, and the SAP version Balloon Loot, are available for the PeakDual27 machine. There are four games in the range, Egyptian Adventure, African Dawn, Australian Outback and Hidden Treasure.
Jackpot Profiles:
The Balloon Link startups are available with three Grand Jackpot options of $10,000, $15,000, and $25,000. Venues will be able to choose a jackpot level that suits their players, budget and floor position.
The SAP version, Balloon Loot, have a choice of $5,000 and $7,500 Grand Jackpots.
Importantly, the Balloon Link is O-Link compatible so venues will have the ability to add these new games to their current O-Link setup, increasing the turnover percentage contributing to that jackpot.
Denomination range: The Balloon Link and Balloon Loot (SAP) game family are available as multidenomination games including 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c and $1, plus the $2 choice for NSW.
Balloon Free Game Feature
The balloon free game feature is essentially the same across all four games but the entry into the free games includes variety for players:
- Egyptian Adventure, and African Dawn
A player must land 6 or more pyramids in Egyptian Adventure, or 6 or more treasure maps in African Dawn to trigger the free games. On every second spin in the free games a balloon symbol replaces one of the game symbols (from lowest value up to the highest).
- Australian Outback
A player must land 6 or more gold mines to trigger the free games. In this game, players select a character that will reveal the symbols to be replaced by a balloon.
- Hidden Treasure
A player must land 6 or more temples to trigger free games. Players touch a trident on screen to randomly reveal the symbols that will be replaced by a balloon when collected in the free games.
In all games, stacked reels award more free games on each reel that includes the triggering symbol – 2, 3 or 5 free games based on the length of the “stack” on the reel. The number of free games won on each reel is combined to award the number of free games won by the player.
During the free games each balloon symbol includes a cash on reel amount, or mini / minor / major bonus amounts. When a player lands 6 or more on a spin, their balloons are collected in the top box screen.
During the free games feature across all the Balloon game family, the players can also land 6 or more balloons including one with a Grand Chance symbol, for a chance to win the grand jackpot or special credit prizes.
At the End of the Feature – The Balloon Gamble Quest
At the end of the free games, players are given the choice to take the win or play gamble Quest. If they select Gamble Quest, the balloons the players have collected in the top box merge and combine the cash on reel amounts into less balloons with larger accumulated prize values.
The Gamble Quest offers the players a “Win”, “Lose”, or “Draw” opportunity. Players can select a balloon to wager the prize, and they can do this up to five times. This option allows players to wager part of their feature wins without the traditional full commitment, offering a safer way to wager their credit prizes.
Balloons will duplicate for a win, remain for a draw, or deflate for a loss.
Players can select any balloon that remains on screen during Gamble Quest. They can also take their win at any stage during the Gamble Quest without wagering further credit prizes.
At the end of the feature all the remaining balloon prizes are paid to the player.
See how the balloon feature works here >>>
Player Fit and Positioning:
The Gamble Quest feature allows all types of players to choose varying levels of volatility by choosing to either take their feature win at the end of the free spins, or gamble a few, or many balloons, with different levels of prizes. From this perspective the games will have an appeal across a wide demographic of players. A high-traffic central position on the gaming floor will ensure good visibility for players.
Don’t forget, the compatibility with O-Link gives venues the opportunity to add extra machines to that existing link for additional contributions to the jackpot.
In some ways the Balloon games retain the simplicity and easy to understand structure of a cash on reel collection game. However, the intricacies of the Balloon Gamble Quest adds a lot of interest and interactivity for players looking to improve a small balloon win, through to more aggressive players who are prepared to try and double their larger balloon cash on reel wins.
To be the first in your area with these new games contact your IGT Representative
Written by: Justine Channing – Gaming Specialist
