THE DROP – PRODUCT TEST DRIVE: IGT BUBBLE BLAST LINK
After a sneak peek for customers at the AHGE, IGT has released their new Bubble Blast Link for their Crystal Curve machine into NSW, and soon to follow in QLD. SAP versions will follow for the Crystal Dual-i 27” machine for both jurisdictions. Some time ago IGT tested the bubble credit bonus but that game was a non-SAP product, just designed to get the bubble concept approved. Now they have built the powerful multilevel link and SAP versions, creating additional benefits and entertaining features for punters. Players can now earn the jackpot bonus wins, credit wins and link levels. There are several features in each game as well as the common-to-all Bubble Blast feature. Players have the opportunity to win the solid credit pays and bonus jackpots based on their bet level, which makes it a positive play experience for both small and bigger players.
Denomination:
These link games are player selectable in 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c in both 50 line (1c/2c) and 25 line (5c/10c) configurations. For all Grand Jackpot choices the RTP% is approximately 91.3%: $40K – 91.24%, $20K – 91.23% and $10K – 91.22%.
Game Features:
Both games have a common feature with bubble symbols that appear at the bottom of the screen and each spin move 1 position up so players can repeat winning bubble credits. A player can get up to 20 bubbles on the reel screen at any time. To boost the game volatility and interest for the player the bubbles can be different sizes and cover only one symbol or up to 5 X 5 symbols filling the screen.
Each of the games have additional feature games: In Genies Wishes, 3, 4 or 5 lamp symbols trigger a 10, 15 or 25 free game feature but the free games can be retriggered from 2, 3, 4 or 5 lamps for an additional 5, 10, 15 or 20 free games. For Treasures of Atlantis, the trigger is a pearl shell and the free games offer the same 3 X symbol trigger in normal game play, with a 2 X symbol retrigger in feature play. In both games any 3, 4,or 5 disc symbols triggers a pick feature, where players choose bubble symbols that can award the Grand, Major, Maxi and Minor Bonus prizes, or a credit prize.
Link Profile:
There is a choice of Grand Jackpot for clubs that suits the liability they are willing to carry. For larger clubs $40,000 offers a Grand Jackpot that competes with other premium links in the market. For medium and smaller clubs, a $20,000 or $10,000 jackpot offers some variety. The 2nd level Major Jackpot of $750 is a perfect level to interest regular players who see amounts of this size as winnable in a play session.
Volatility:
These Bubble Blast games are medium volatility games. The games have a high entertainment factor for small players with lots of credit win bubbles and bonus bubbles on the screen even at lower bets. For the bigger players an increased bet means increased win opportunities in the bubbles, as they are multiplied by the total credits bet. Different types of bubble award different prizes with bonus bubbles available to win the Maxi and Mini jackpot wins and the credit bubbles offering random credit prize value.
Floor Position:
As a link the ideal site for these games will feature the jackpot screens (machine toppers) that display the top jackpot very clearly. If the jackpot catches the eye of the player as soon as they walk into the gaming room the temptation for the player is to give the link a try. Ideally a high traffic position mid floor would suit. This link will suit a wide variety of players during different times of the day so positioning is important and needs to consider both the preferences of the daytime regulars as well as the higher betting players who come in during the evening.
Performance:
IGT has just released Bubble Blast Link in their Crystal Curve machine to 3-4 venues but early results are exceptional with the site average for both games above 2.0 (Genies Wishes 2.07, Treasures of Atlantis 2.25) on the Maxgaming charts. The games have wide appeal with a high entertainment factor and performance should remain strong. IGT will follow with SAP versions later for the 27” Crystal Dual-I, but IGT performance data over the last year gives the edge to their Crystal Curve product, particularly for a feature game range such as a lInk.
IGT already have further games in the range close to approval so there is plenty of game support. You should expect the new Bubble Blast Link and SAP games, with their multiplier credit wins, additional features and multilayered jackpots, to be performing at the top end of the ranking reports very quickly. These new Bubble Blast games are definitely the next level of this game style as early results show.
