Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | January 2010 18 Jumbo A slot product launch at MGM Grand Macau marks what could be a revolution in creating truly local rather than ‘localised’ casino games. The distinction between local and ‘localised’ may sound to some readers like splitting hairs. But Flirting Scholar Tang is not just a stand-alone volatile slot product of the sort favoured by many Macau slot players. The game from Taiwan-based manufacturer Jumbo Technology also has themes that are instantly recognisable for a Chinese audience. The story of a young man’s search for a bride is a universal one across cultures, but the story of Flirting Scholar Tang strikes a chord immediately with Chinese players without any need to explain the context. “In Flirting Scholar Tang , the bonus is exciting and difficult to obtain, because just like in real life, it’s sometimes hard for the young man to ‘find’ the girl,” points out Herman Ng, Managing Director of Asia Pioneer Entertainment (APE). APE is acting as Jumbo’s distributor, service agent and adviser in Macau for the new games. MGM premiere A double bank of Flirting Scholar Tang and its supporting games were launched in MGM Grand Macau before Christmas at a ceremony attended by guests including Peter Johns, Director of Slot Operations for MGM Grand Macau, and Simon Liu, Vice President of Business Development for Jumbo Technology. Mr Ng says he can’t stress enough the significance of having in Flirting Scholar Tang a game produced by Chinese in Greater China for Chinese consumption. That’s as opposed to a game created by a clever team of Chinese expatriates working in a research and development studio for a foreign manufacturer on the other side of the world. The use of an ethnic Chinese designer by a foreign manufacturer doesn’t necessarily guarantee product acceptance in a market such as Macau, suggests Mr Ng. “Take the graphics, for example,”he states. “The eyes of a character in the game might be done in Ching Dynasty style. But if the theme of the slot game is more contemporary, then the graphical style and the theme don’t match. A Chinese player would notice that straight away. These things are important,” points out Mr Ng. Chinese brand “Once we pass this first phase and Flirting Scholar Tang and its supporting games are Perfect Match Jumbo Technology’s Flirting Scholar Tang stakes its claim as the first 100% Chinese slot game in Macau Flirting Scholar Tang launch: (fourth from left) Peter Johns, Director of Slot Operations, MGM Grand Macau: (second from right); Simon Liu, Vice President Business Development, Jumbo Technology and (third from right) Herman Ng, Managing Director, Asia Pioneer Entertainment