STEP ABOARD ARISTOCRAT’S MIDNIGHT EXPRESS LINK
Aristocrat’s Midnight Express Link has already been installed in over 160 clubs and pubs and it looks like Aristocrat has another risk-free machine purchase for venues on the MarsX gaming cabinet, with strong performance results already.
Midnight Express includes a mixture of familiar base game symbols and an iconic theme with a popular hold & spin feature. However, in Midnight Express the hold & spin feature includes an interesting remodelling of the math by including multipliers to enhance the potential for a good win that will ensure strong performance across multiple player groups.
Early game performance results
Clear and strong performance results have been coming in from the early-adopter clubs and pubs with Midnight Express installed from mid-April. The new link fits with the smaller jackpot/entertainment players and the higher jackpot/regular player groups so venues have been able to make a strategic decision about jackpot levels and bank placement with great performance results for all options.
- The performance data for jackpots is strong across all start-up levels
- If you choose the lower $5,000 start-up the data suggests the players prefer the more generous operating percentage
Four new games
There are four new games available at launch with two different math base games and in-game features.
Red Planet and Jungle Beat have a game feature where three of the triggering symbols activate 10 free games with all royals removed, leaving only the picture symbols and the Midnight Express symbol. During the free games when a player collects 10 train symbols collectively during the 10 free games, they activate the hold & spin feature.
In Big Black Rhino and Mr Big, the player also requires three trigger symbols to activate 10 free games, but here extra Wilds are added to the reels after each of the free game spins.
In all four games the free games are designed to offer extra opportunities for the players to activate the main hold & spin feature.
A hold & spin feature with an awesome twist
The hold & spin feature is common across all games, but the players only need 5 Midnight Express symbols (rather than 6 on a Lightning or Dragon game) to trigger the hold & spin feature.
During the feature a Midnight Express symbol starts a train animation above the reel screen, that either awards a large “Cash on Reel” prize, or a 2x or 3x multiplier. The multiplier multiplies all the symbols on the screen and restarts the animation until a cash prize amount is won.
The potential is there for players to double their win over and over by gaining several multipliers in a row, before a final cash prize is awarded.
Both the Major and Maxi Jackpots can also be awarded on the Midnight Express symbols in the hold & spin feature. The Grand Jackpot is awarded when a player collects all 15 Midnight Express train symbols (of any value) at the end of the hold & spin feature.
Denomination and lines to cater to all players
The four Midnight Express games are the first hold & spin 25-line games offered by Aristocrat, which expands interest to an even wider range of player demographics. The denomination range is from 1 cent through to $2 in NSW.
As a 25-line game, the 1c players’ minimum investment is 25 cents, which means that maxbet for a 1 cent player is only $2.50, which offers an attractive proposition for mid-range players.
For more sophisticated players, betting up a little higher means they can increase the scalable bonuses from a $50 Minor and $10 Mini for a 1 cent bet, through to a $2,500 Minor and $500 Mini at the $2 bet level. These scalable bonuses are of greater interest to higher level players.
The range of jackpot choices
Midnight Express includes a Grand Jackpot with 4 different start-ups available, as well as a $1,000 Major Jackpot and a Maxi Jackpot that increments as a SAP.
The range of Grand Jackpots available will suit venues of all sizes and gaming turnover, from a $5,000 and $10,000 start-up at the lower end, through to $20,000 and $25,000 jackpots (capped at $50K) for larger venues.
Early data suggests the higher the jackpot the better the overall performance results for venues that have this new link installed, but with so many strong links in the market, venues also need to consider their overall jackpot strategy and market fit for their players. With the lower minimum bet on Midnight Express, a smaller jackpot that hits frequently should create great excitement on a smaller gaming floor without a significant jackpot liability, for the venue. If you wanted to feature a lower jackpot for those regular players or were a small venue unable to afford a high jackpot payout, then this would be the link for you with a $5,000 or $10,000 jackpot start-up. Alternatively, Aristocrat can offer plenty of evidence to support the fact that the higher the jackpot the greater the success of other link products such as Dragon Link and Midnight Express is achieving good performance results with the higher $20,000 and $25,000 jackpots as well.
Floor placement for most demographics
Midnight Express is aimed at a wide range of players with a strong historical recognition of the old Cash Express Link, which is still available in some venues. Setting the link up as a 3-4 machine bank in smaller venues with a fast-hitting $5,000 or$10,000 jackpot, or a large double bank of 6-8 machines with a $20,000+ Grand Jackpot ensures an attractive option is available within the gaming budget for any size venue. Setting the Midnight Express up either indoors, or out in smoking areas, will depend on your choice of jackpot and bank size.
The familiar link theme, choice of jackpots, and a common feature that recognises that hold & spin games are the leading game feature, means that the Midnight Express Link is sure to be a great addition to the gaming floor. The interesting innovation provided by the Midnight Express symbol acting as a multiplier in the feature adds another level of excitement for all players.
Contact your Aristocrat sales representative to help select the best banking and jackpot setup to suit your venue, based on your turnover.
