Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | January 2012 44 Briefs Regional Briefs Strong debut for Aristocrat’s 5 Dragons™ Legends Aristocrat’s Legends campaign is focused on making the successful games from the past into the great games of the future, and leading the campaign in Asia is 5 Dragons™ Legends. David Punter, Aristocrat GMAsia Pacific, said 5 Dragons™ has long been one of the most popular games the company had ever put onto gaming floors around Asia and the World. “We took the proven performance, popularity and longevity of the original game and enhanced it with modern graphics and two new feature options—higher win multipliers and a mystery feature option—that have already shown to be the features players want to use,” says Mr Punter. The choices are either six free games with up to a x40 multiplier, or a Mystery Choice, which randomly picks both free games and multiplier. Mr Punter adds: “In only a month since arriving in Asia, 5 Dragons Legends has performed at an extremely high level, proving popular with both operators and players. “Their feedback shows Aristocrat’s Legends strategy—to bring back the classic games people have told us are their favourites—is working well. In fact in some cases 5 Dragons Legends is already outperforming the original game. “5 Dragons Legends is a new arrival in Asia, but already this year in 2012, the year of the Dragon, it’s showing itself to be exactly the game we wanted to bring to the Asian market. Aristocrat has every hope this game will prove to be another legend.” Galaxy Macau opens Macau’s first modern multi-screen cinema Hong Kong to Hollywood actor Jet Li was one of the celebrity guests when Galaxy Macau opened the territory’s first modern multi- screen cinema last month. Given that Macau likes to market itself as a world-class, all-round tourism destination, the lack of a modern cinema complex was a glaring omission from the territory’s amenities. That’s now been addressed by Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), the operator of the Galaxy Macau casino resort on Cotai. GEG has done a deal with UA Cinemas to bring in a facility capable of showing the latest 3D films. It opened on 15th December with the premiere of Chinese director Tsui Hark’s latest film, The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate 3D starring Jet Li. “We’re continuing to provide attractions and facilities that have never been available inMacau before,”said Dr Lui Che-woo, Chairman of GEG; at a press conference before the opening ceremony. The nine-screen UA Galaxy Cinemas facility adjoins a 2,100 square metre multi-purpose leisure and entertainment zone at Galaxy Macau known as East Square. The latter also has a 19-metre high atrium that can accommodate a stage and red carpet activities; multiple LED walls; a state-of-the-art Galaxy Broadcast Studio; and a covered limousine drop-off area at the main entrance. UA Galaxy Cinemas occupies nearly 16,000 sq. ms at Galaxy Macau, with a total capacity of approximately 1,000 luxury cinema seats. It includes The Grand Theatre with 400 seats and four balcony boxes. There are also four small luxury theatres, known as Director’s Clubs, offering five-star dining and service, a lounge with waiting staff, and adjustable reclining sofa seats. There are also four more theatres. All of the screens are equipped to show 3D films. Galaxy Macau opened in May at a cost of HK$16.5 billion (US$2.1 billion) and attracts more than 30,000 visitors per day according to GEG. UA Cinemas also has facilities in major China cities including Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan (under the “Studio City Cinemas” brand), Shenzhen and Guangzhou. MGM Macau celebrates fourth anniversary The US$1.25 billion gaming resort MGM Macau celebrated its fourth birthday on 18th December. The event took place just two days before the 12th anniversary of Macau’s return to China after more than 450 years under Portuguese administration. MGM Macau marked its four-year milestone with two parties for its 6,600 staff held at Macau Tower on 13th and 14th December. In the Christmas spirit of Twelfth Night—a festival where in medieval Europe servants would become masters and masters servants for just one day—there were special stage performances by MGM’s management team. Hong Kong celebrities Lai Yiu Cheung, Hanjin Tan and Ella Koon also entertained the guests. In June, MGM China Holdings launched a successful initial Aristocrat’s 5 Dragons™ Legends offers players a choice between the original 5 Dragons and the new 5 Dragons Deluxe A screening room at UA Galaxy Cinema Pansy Ho (6th from right) Chairman and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings and (3rd left) Grant Bowie, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director of MGM China Holdings at MGMMacau’s fourth anniversary party.