Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | June 2013 30 FEATURES Six titles shown at the stand last month are already primed to go. Highlights include Money Idol—a five-reel, 20-line, 1,000-credit max-bet game with an MLD-enabled 3D player interface and wild reels in the free games bonus to kick up the volatility factor— and Silk Seduction, an even more volatile AVP ride, a 60-line, 495-credit max-bet offering where higher bets trigger a “1,024 Ways to Win” feature and Bettor Chance invites players to make a separate side bet to play for a distinct group of extra wins. Expect at some point to see both as base titles under the two new Game Changer progressive links that represent the second prong of the strategy—Pearl Dragon and Great Zodiac Race, they’re called, and they’re coming in the fall—the “really big breakthrough,” as Mr Michalko describes them—the opportunity the Asia division has been waiting for to compete in a space that is coming to dominate the Macau market. “What we wanted to do is not lose the benefit that we’ve gained with standalone games that are performing well,” he says. “The question was, how do we now migrate over to the market trend, the linked product? And I think we’re on track to do that very, very well.” So it’s all but certain that Golden Goddess, Big Dragon Lounge, Four Great Chinese Beauties and West Journey will be reappearing as Game Changers also. Combined with Money Idol and Silk Seduction, that’s a creditable lineup, one that should prove effective in drawing players in to the unique way that Game Changer blends the excitement of mystery bonusing with a four-level progressive and directly engages players in the action by letting them choose symbols to reveal points that could bump them up to bigger jackpots. The G23V2 Premium Widescreen cabinet won’t hurt either with its spacious playing area, enhanced sound effects and optional high-definition 23-inch LCD or 22-inch MLD for a memorable visual experience. IGT is also gunning for the competition on the systems side. It’s the third prong of the Asia strategy, and it revolves around the novel idea of selling the powerful solutions collectively known as IGT Advantage in discrete, customizable and affordable pieces. “We’ve made a very concerted effort to try to go after some of those smaller venues here in Macau,” says Mr Michalko, “to provide them with what is essentially a subset of our overall Table Manager system. Because they don’t need all the modules. They don’t need to spend a big pot of money. What we can do is deliver that system, but only enable a subset of it, maybe it’s the one or two functions they need, for cage and table accounting, for example, or rebates and commissions.” This is an about-face for IGT, a company that normally doesn’t do “niche,” as Mr Michalko will be the first to tell you. It’s emblematic of the very real strategic shift that Asia represents for slot giant, prompted by a growing awareness, reawakened only a year or so Money Idol’s wild reels in the free games bonus are designed for volatility. “We’re a little slower to move. We’re a big ship at sea. We turn a bit slowly. But once we get in the right direction we’re full steam ahead.”