Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | July 2013 24 FEATURES N ever a company to take a back seat when it comes to innovation, WMS Gaming decided last year to take a hiatus from Macau’s slot floors to retool on a new platform for the dual-language requirement the territory imposed in 2012 and to develop game themes and math models tailored to a market that is growing in importance for the US-based slot giant. “The difference in the past was that the translation strategy and the customization strategy was a bit hit-or-miss,” says Jon Lancaster, Executive Director of International Sales for WMS. “But in the last 12 months we’ve looked at that in light of the new regulations and our commitment to the region, and we have a clear pipeline now of games which: a) are translated and b) specifically designed for this region— customized math models, customized themes and compliant for the Macau and Singapore markets.” WMS signaled its return in a big way at G2E Asia 2013 with more than 30 games on a range of stylishly functional cabinet configurations, powered by the advanced CPU-NXT2 and CPU-NXT3 operating systems, and bolstered by an array of new math models that answer the Macau player’s demand for a more varied experience with a shot at bigger payouts. These include new themes targeted specifically at the Asian market and developed in partnership with a design studio in the region, new game sets for the Game Chest Multi-Game series, WMS’ first multi-game portfolio, and several new themes for the proven performer series G+ Deluxe, G+ Deluxe 5x4 and Colossal Reels. “We have a roadmap of themes for this region,” says Julien Drouet, Director of International Product Management for WMS. The first group of games to be unveiled this summer on the Blade cabinet will include the new Fortune Palace theme. This 5x4-Reel 40-line game showcases “Asianized” math and innovative CPU-NXT3 features such as “Bonus Guarantee,” which assures players that when max lines are Back With a Purpose WMS Gaming is mapping a strategy for success in Asia based on a dynamic new cabinet and a portfolio packed with new regionally specific games The new Blade cabinet is supporting an array of new titles coming in the months ahead.