NEW INNOVATIONS LAUNCHED AT G2E 2016
Article by Nigel Turner, Head of Marketing, IGT Asia Pacific.
In a taste of things to come, Nigel delivers an overview of some of the most exciting new games, technology and applications on offer at the recent Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.
IGT unveiled its entire 2016 Global Gaming Expo (G2E) portfolio in Las Vegas the other week on one of the most dramatic stands at the show, complete with stunning aerial multimedia displays and covering over 2,300m2.
Star attractions for IGT were the new SPHINX 4D™ game on the CrystalCurve™ TRUE 4D™ cabinet, as well as some innovative new licensed themes, including The Voice, Baywatch 3D®, Jurassic World™ 3D, The Goonies and Sherlock Holmes. These new products complemented IGT’s massive G2E portfolio, which comprised nearly 400 games.
SPHINX 4D will take glasses-free 3D entertainment to a new level. Building on the success of IGT’s SPHINX 3D™ theme (which many would have seen at AGE), the SPHINX 4D game also uses gesture recognition, and ‘air haptic’ technology to move 3D symbols with a hand gesture and choose game items ‘in the air’ with real-time tactile feedback from the game. You have to see it to believe it.
The CrystalCurve ULTRA™ cabinet is just as impressive as the game. The towering new hardware solution features a 32-inch, curved landscape touchscreen display that is topped with a 50-inch, curved portrait display. The cabinet includes an embedded camera that gives players the opportunity to incorporate pictures of themselves into gameplay. The cabinet is also equipped with intelligent lighting and is paired with an ergonomic multi-media sound chair.
IGT was off to a great start at the beginning of G2E as the Company won “Land-Based Industry Supplier of the Year” and its PlaySpot™ mobile solution won “Casino Product of the Year” at the 2016 Global Gaming Awards.
On Tuesday afternoon, crowds gathered at the IGT stand to watch Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman present legendary “Wheel of Fortune” TV host Vanna White with a key to the City of Las Vegas in honour of the 20th anniversary of IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Slots. IGT launched new titles of the popular game including Wheel of Fortune Double Diamond®Slots on the new MEGATOWER™ cabinet and Wheel of Fortune Double Times Pay 3x4x5x® 3D.
Wednesday marked the launch of “The Voice” Video Slots. Packed with features that highlight the popular TV singing competition, the slot game transported players to centre stage of the famous show on authentic coach chairs. Season five winner of The Voice, Tessanne Chin, performed throughout the day at the stand.
IGT also demonstrated its new Lucky’s Quest™ omni-channel skill-based game. Available for play on mobile and on the CrystalCore cabinet, Lucky’s Quest is a for-wager, casual-style game that features a map-based, progression story starring a dragon named Lucky. In Lucky’s Quest, players can unlock characters, win credits and advance to new levels based on performance in the title’s symbol-matching game. A player’s progress within the game can be transferred from a mobile device to an EGM, and back, allowing for a seamless player experience across devices and channels. Players from across both channels can compete in real time for progressive payouts.
IGT’s Cardless Connect mobile technology was the star attraction of the company’s Systems portfolio. Cardless Connect technology can be embedded into a venue’s mobile app, enabling players to initiate loyalty sessions using their mobile devices, and seamlessly transfer funds from their existing player accounts — eliminating the need for physical loyalty club cards and TITO tickets.
There were many more games, machines and applications launched at the show but this is a personal pick of the bunch from what was a resoundingly successful show for IGT.
