The gaming equipment industry experienced a dynamic change over the past 30 years, with fast-paced developments that resulted in a switch from basic mechanical devices with handles to fully-fledged electronic video-based machines.
Australian players have completely embraced video-based games, second screen features and technological enhancements such as bill acceptors over the past decade, taking the level of excitement and entertainment on the gaming floor to a new level.
As the popularity of poker machine play has increased, the industry has created gaming machines that offer sophisticated game structures and a more advanced learning curve.
Gaming equipment makers have been encouraged to introduce more entertaining, player-interactive games with unique technologies and concepts in order to differentiate their products.
As new product introductions typically generate higher win-per-unit figures and shorten the life span of gaming machines, there is increasing demand for more timely and more cost-effective product introductions.
The current competitive environment is placing increasing demands on equipment makers, requiring a strong pipeline of new games as well as new product developments and technology enhancements.
It is expected that gaming machine manufacturers will increasingly turn to quicker design and implementation methods that enable the replacement of the game theme without replacing the entire unit.
Ultimately, the success of games and the acceptance of new technology relies on customer preferences, which are difficult to qualify and can be very fickle.
Australia's gaming machine suppliers offer venue operators a myriad of games and product selections. The following is a brief overview of the current games available.

Stellar performers

Gaming venue operators will no doubt be pleased to know that Stargames are just about to launch a brand new gaming machine. Later this month Stargames are releasing their new PC3 gaming machine platform to the NSW market, together with eight new games.
These games will be available for hoteliers to view in April at the Australian Hotels Association Hotel Expo at Darling Harbour.
PC3 utilises the full power of a 32-bit Intel Celeron processor to offer a rainbow palette of close to 65,000 colours. This allows their games designers to create visually stunning graphics in addition to more interesting feature games.
Players will also enjoy the larger 19" Super VGA flat screen that offers sharper graphics and screen resolution.
PC3 includes future expansion capability for state of the art animation through three-dimensional graphics presentation.
The technology also will mean a consolidation of games from multiple platforms to a fully flexible and compliant platform across different jurisdictions. This should overcome the current limitations experienced by gaming machine manufacturers in designing games to suit the differing regulations required by the various states and territories within Australia. As a result, PC3 is also expected to be available in Victoria and New Zealand during the coming few months.
Over the past 18 months, publicly listed Stargames Limited have doubled the size of their R&D department and significantly expended their manufacturing facilities. They acquired Vidco in 1999, the company renowned as the Australian pioneer of video simulated reel gaming machines.
More recently, Stargames have signed an exclusive cross licensing agreement with WMS Gaming Inc - the market leading manufacturer of video reel slot machines in the US - to manufacture and distribute the highly successful WMS games in Australia. Creators of top performers such as the Monopoly series, WMS Gaming are well renowned for producing games that offer colorful characters, special bonus award scenarios, exceptional second screen features and games within games. The first games set for release in Australia will be Jackpot Party, Instant Winner, and Winning Bid.

Ambassador - different and better

Ainsworth Game Technology will release the new Ambassador all video gaming machine in the second quarter of 2001. Initially the product will be launched in New South Wales and Queensland, followed by a progressive release to other states of Australia.
According to AGT, the machines will have the largest and highest resolution screen available anywhere in the world, and have been specifically custom manufactured for the product range.
Six games will be initially available - Coral Queen, Splash, Mermaid Treasure, Africa Jones, Easy Bucks and Jungle Princess - and each machine is available in a number f line configurations, such as 9-line play, 20, 25 or 30.
One of the Ambassador features that will certainly appeal to players is an automatic scorecard updater. If for instance, a player is betting one credit per line on all 30 lines, the scorecard indicates the winning amount available. The scorecard would automatically double if the player increases his bet to two credit per line on the next game.
All machines are available in black with optional chrome or gold scratch-resistant finishes, and offer animated 3D features and symbols, high quality sound to enhance player appeal. There are two height options for the venue operator to select - a stand up unit and a sit down model which is space saving at a compact 540mm wide.
The Ambassador is also available with a bill acceptor, player loyalty panel and optional ticket printer.
According to AGT, the much anticipated release of the Ambassador will be hugely successful "Ainsworth Game technology is having a go at offering something different. It's time that the industry is offered machines that are different and better. We have not copied what's currently on the market. Our technologically advanced machines also offer us an enormous advantage especially in terms of games design."

New Wave in Gaming

Konami Australia's latest game releases are described as having "stunning visual graphics" and "captivating animations and features".
Games such as Champagne Stakes, Ivory Tusks, Bumble Bee, Mayan Kingdom, Movie Star and King Tut offer a number of bonus features, as well as specifically themed animations to suit a range of players.
For instance, King Tut doubles all prizes won. Players can discover the riches of Ancient Egypt and win up to 40 free games with three or more Sphinx's where all wins are tripled. Re-trigger the feature, and King Tuts bonus free game wheel awards players even more free games.
Champagne Stakes combines gaming with betting at the track, offering 10 free games and the animated horse racing substitute.
Players can dig up the lost treasure with Ivory Tusks and win the Mammoth free game feature with up to 40 free games and double pays.
Venture through the Mayan Kingdom with an interactive adventure game and bonus wins. Promotions of this game include the Movie Star and Film reel symbols which trigger the re-spin feature to award bonus prizes.
Last but not least, Konami's Bumble Bee game promises to have players buzzing with flying bee's substituting during the free game feature!

Global Gaming (sub-header?)

Global Gaming Industries offers 14 different low denomination poker machine games, known as the Global Series.
The Jolly Frog (pictured) is available in 1c,2c and 5c configurations and is performing extremely well in New South Wales. When the "Frog" appears anywhere on reel 3 and a Leaf appears on any other reel the Frog" jumps off his Leaf to another. During the jumping the Leaf with the Frog on it substitutes for all symbols except "Rainbow". The free spin feature offers 15 free games for 3 or more scattered rainbows, which can be re-triggered with all features.
Another game is the Great One, which is particularly popular in NSW hotels.
Coinciding with the Global Series launch late last year, the company moved to the Sydney premises formerly occupied by Bally Gaming Australia. This provided a larger manufacturing facility and showroom to display their range of products.
Now, Global Gaming Industries (formerly known as Milwell), are focused on interstate and international gaming opportunities. The change in name was instigated to reflect the change in sales and marketing strategy for the company.
Global gaming is the sole Australasian Agent for Sigma's multi-terminal gaming machines, which include the Sigma Derby Mark VI and 10-station Roulette King.

Advance to the Next Level

In 1995, the MK V platform was launched into New South Wales and since then technology has raced ahead.
The new Aristocrat MKVI has 16Mb of memory and range of exciting and interactive games to usher in a whole new era in gaming. The games have 24-bit colour and a 16.7 million colour palette. The rendered graphics greatly increase the perceptual depth of images and the vibrancy of the monitor artwork and video graphics.
Customers have a choice of Xceed, which is a retrofit of existing MVP Upright and Slant cabinets with the installation of new main board, or Xtra. Xtra is new cabinetry with an updated door. The new doors differ from the MVP doors as the Player Tracking Module is slightly larger to cater for cashless systems.

IGT'S performance continues to strengthen

The sophisticated gaming platform of the Spectrum and Monarch games has allowed IGT to deliver to market some of the strongest performing games to Hotels, Clubs and Casinos.
IGT is the only gaming company to deliver the choice of two powerful brands to its customers - Olympic and IGT.
Top performing games include Monarch's "Major Money and the Outback Adventure" featuring a major re-spin where players can score up to 40 free games during which all prizes are tripled. IGT's Monarch range boasts an array of impressive games and proven performers including "Diamond Dice", "River Of Riches" and "Blue Moon III".
Spectrum's "Cooee Koala" is another demonstration of the variety and quality of games IGT are delivering to market. This classic Aussie theme backed by appealing sound track is a true winner. Other Spectrum games making their mark include "Dogfight" and "Cosmic Critters".

Atronic (sub-header?)

Headquartered in Melbourne, Atronic Australia is a 50% Australian owned international company and part of the German Gauselmann Group (the largest manufacturer and operator of coin operating gaming machines in Europe).
Employing global resources of experienced innovative games development teams, Atronic games have been customized to meet the needs of the Australian markets.
Their machines are currently available in Victoria and South Australia, and feature ergonomically designed black or chrome casings with extended graphic memory and 3-D graphics. The machines are equipped with a digital stereo speaker system and a high power 8-channel amplifier, and touch screen interface. For ease of use Atronic machines offer on-screen pay tables and a combination of touch and button operation to increase game
speed.

Pacific (sub-header?)

Pacific Gaming is in the process of being acquired by Aruze Corporation, its parent company in Japan. Aruze is the world's largest manufacturer of slot machines, generating revenue of more than US$1.2 billion over the past 12 months.
In the interim, Pacific are providing aesthetic enhancements to satisfy the demand from their existing Australian customers - who they have been servicing for over 15 years.
A number of machines are currently available to gaming venues.
The popular 777 Amigo Road features three 7 symbols which trigger 7 free games. During the free games all wins are doubled. Bobby Dazzler, The Big Buck and Feeling Groovy also offer free games if three or more scattered symbols appear. For instance, three or more scattered Bobby's trigger 10 free games. During the free game sequence, all wins are quadrupled. The feature can also be won again during the free game sequence.

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Innovations in Wagering

VenueCentral is a web site that provides business tools and services for Australian hotels.
The latest tool, TAB Wagering, has information about becoming a PubTAB or ClubTAB, as well as the highly successful RaceTAB Roadshows. Other great features will be added for TAB outlets in coming months, including accessing your venues' TAB sales performance rankings.
Gaming Managers should keep an eye out for Quickchange, an online service that provides authorisations for gaming machines. Launching in April, Quickchange allows you to get authorisations and make changes all on the same day!
Services on VenueCentral include, free email accounts, fantastic PC deals (with Internet access) from as little as $16.21 a week, and the latest in industry news and events.
For more information visit www.venuecentral.com.au or call VenueCentral Customer Service on 1800 73 66 11.

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