Key Takeaways: G2E Overall
- The gap between RMG hardware and social mobile devices continues to widen … while the gap between RMG mechanics and social mobile mechanics shrinks
- Mechanics are becoming more communal across RMG developers due to the IP patent exchange
- Art and animations improved for all developers … particularly those that traditionally targeted Plain Jane player types
- RMG designers employed persistent mechanics, like boosting every tenth spin, to capitalize on a proven engagement tactic in social mobile
- IP continues to play a major role in new machine development. Zynga’s FarmVille even made an appears in the Aristocrat booth
Key Takeaways: Top Developers at G2E
- Aristocrat released a Mad Max machine that experimented with reel spinning, a FarmVille machine with a social variation on Lightning Link, and a new Buffalo machine with persistent free games (a mechanic also in the FarmVille machine).
- KONAMI integrated other games (e.g., pinball, coin dozer, and lottery ball picker) into slots machines … a tactic already utilized in social. In Fortune Bank, KONAMI let players opt-in to a ‘higher bet/higher potential win’ play mode.
- IGT released several machines with persistent boosts that are awarded on the tenth spin (the Scarab machine has a strong implementation). Coin O Mania appears to be IGT’s machine for social players with tons of action, high hit frequency, and cartoony art. The Adam Levine IP machine incorporated a Guitar Hero bonus game and an intuitive three-wheel bonus.
- Scientific Games continued to leverage the Bond IP with a 4D/2D machine and another art-focused machine, Live and Let Die. Scientific Games iterated on some proven machines, like U-Spin, Dancing Drum, and The Price is Right. Bigger and better hardware was evident (SG even added a wheel that players can spin).
Due to type of content gathered at G2E, this month’s Slots Design Report will be online-only. The coverage focuses on the top four publishers. Click here for details on Aristocrat, KONAMI, IGT, or Scientific Games.