G2E 2021 Review: We’re Baaaaaaack

By Victor H. Royer

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Tthings happened in October in Las Vegas in the year of 2021. One was the fact – as remarkable as it was – that G2E 2021 actually happened, and happened live! In person! Yes, with vaccine mandates and masks, but it actually DID happen. No mean feat by any standard. Yes, it was smaller, about one-third the size – or so it seemed to me – but it was still wonderful to be there, to see the new games and products, and to once again be part of this wonderful community of gaming professionals. And yes, it is a community after all – despite the competition, and despite the hardships brought upon the gaming industry by

Covid (and by governments who often didn’t react as well as they could have).

The second remarkable thing that happened is the explosion of innovation and originality.

While casinos were shut

MONOPOLY Money GrabTM on the KascadaTM Game cabinet from Scientific Games

down, and all of us casino players were sidelined for all that time, the innovators among the manufacturers of gaming machines, games and equipment continued to dive deep into the depth of brilliance and bequeath upon us mere mortals some of the truly remarkable games and technological innovations made available in recent times. And the innovations weren’t just in the games, cabinets and technologies.

One of the very interesting effects of the pandemic shutdown was the fact that casino operators suddenly found themselves interested in more of the very innovative point-of-sale displays (POS). These are the “neon” and now, of course, LED displays which show lights and action, and are usually there to showcase the slots and games within those pods, or areas of the casino. And some of these have become so attractive and innovative that the best quote – and summary – of G2E 2021 I heard on the floor was this: “Casinos love these new POS. In fact, now they are telling us, give me that sign and, oh, by the way, you can throw in some slots along with it.”

How times have changed...Now it’s the advertising that’s more attractive than the products!

Well of course, not really. It’s all the same package, after all. It all works together – the signage, the games, the cabinets, the chairs and the experience. So, to show you some of these great innovations, here’s a brief recap of some of the major and more momentous offerings from the 2021 G2E in Las Vegas.

Scientific Games – Best in Show

As part of the premium products, Scientific Games introduced several new games on their popular MURAL cabinet. Among the titles displayed at the 2021 G2E were the recently released WILLY WONKA™ – Dreamers of Dreamers™ – and Super Reel Em In, along with the newly-licensed MONOPOLY - Hot Shot® Water Works.

Another terrific product shown by Scientific was the Kascada™ portrait cabinet, which was launched this past December with an innovative sign package showing premium games based on many Scientific Games’ most successful brands, such as Coin Combo™, a progression from Duo Fu Duo Cai®, and MONOPOLY Money Grab™. Since then, additional high-performing titles have launched on the Kascada™, including Ultimate Fire Link® Power 4, 5 Treasures Explosion™ and The Wizard of Oz™ – Over The Rainbow™. Kascada™ also has 46 additional themes releasing in 2021, including the top-performing game, Dancing Drums Prosperity™. In just six months, there are already over 1,000 units of Kascada™ that have shipped or are already on casino floors.

Also shown were the Kyber™ Augmented Reality Table Game, and the Player Boutique® automated marketing and gift-fulfillment program. Kyber uses a laser projector to create exciting bonuses that are projected onto the tabletop. This projection allows

MONOPOLY - Hot Shot® Water Works games in the MURALTM Cabinet from Scientific Games

players to choose their own interactive experience at the table by spinning a wheel or picking the right combo to get a bonus. The augmented table game utilizes the Company’s SG Vision Technology to detect chip placement and hand gestures.

SG’s Player Boutique allows players to earn and redeem valuable rewards points right at the gaming machine via iVIEW or iVIEW DM. Player Boutique gives operators the ability to allow players to select from a variety of gifts, and the operator can also set a play or point-earning qualification for the gifts. Qualified players can visually see their progress towards gifts via a progress bar, which displays during the promotional period directly on the iVIEW 4.

Everi Games – Leading in Steppers

Everi Games have long been known as makers of some of the best steppers, with a loyal following among players of these games. At G2E 2021, Everi introduced the newest addition to its Player Classic® three-reel mechanical cabinet series – the Player Classic Signature™ cabinet. This includes three new original series, each with two themes, including the Gems Deluxe™ Series which pairs high performing games (Triple Jackpot Gems® and Blazin’ Gems®) with proven mechanics including a Double Nudge®

Gems Deluxe™ Series on Player Classic Signature™ from Everi Gold Hills™ Series and Star Wild™ Series on Empire Flex™ from Everi

feature and the Jackpot Power™ Series, along with a unique Jackpot Power™ innovation feature that removes lower-tier progressives for a chance at bigger prizes. The Extra Spin™ Series is an innovation frequently anticipating progressive stepper titles with an exciting respin feature.

Among new video slot games, Everi showed several new themes exclusively on the Empire Flex™ portrait cabinet. These included the Old West-style series Gold Hills™ featuring a Gold Run™ bonus which dares players to beat the clock to win jackpots and gold nugget prizes, and the Star Wild™ Series which has a time-based frenzy mode similar to Gold Hills. Star Wild also showcases a jackpot-pick bonus (Star Wild Egypt™) and a jackpot wheel bonus (Star Wild Olympus™) that removes lower tier jackpots for a chance at bigger prizes.

Aristocrat – Innovative Gaming

Aristocrat wowed the show audience and participants with its innovative gaming concept, which was abundantly obvious in their extraordinarily innovative booth. The experience of a total surround-wall of gaming excitement wasn’t lost on anyone and it continued to show Aristocrat’s innovative approach to 21st century gaming.

Among the new games being showed was the impactful Dune game, which was released to coincide with the new film Dune, in theaters at the same time as this game’s release. The new Dune slot game is on Aristocrat’s new and technologically advanced Neptune Double™ cabinet. The Neptune Double

Aristocrat’s Innovative Gaming Experience

provides players with an out-of-this-world theatrical style experience with curved 49-inch monitors and 4K visuals, state-ofthe-art sound, and a custom-designed, adjustable sound chair. One of the terrific new cabinets shown was the RELM cabinet, which has been expanded into a five-reel configuration. Aristocrat invested in experienced stepper designers and mathematicians to ensure that mechanical-reel players get the experience they expect. These are not video developers making stepper products but hardcore stepper developers who love innovating on the mechanical reel platform. Among the latest innovations Aristocrat also offered the newest game based on the very popular The RELM reel Cabinet with Buffalo series - Wild Wild Buffalo. This 5-reels from Aristocrat great new game gives players a wild

The new Wild Wild Buffalo Game from Aristocrat

experience by combining the iconic Buffalo brand with the symbol-driven simplicity of Wild Wild Cash-onReel pays, plus a Buffalo Grand™-style wheel that awards progressives, progressive multipliers, and free games.

Konami – Winning Designs

Konami introduced new DIMENSION series cabinets at G2E Las Vegas for the first time—all of which included the same sheen silver finish, relaxed slant top, dual spin buttons, dual cupholders, and wired and wireless phone chargers featured in the original award-winning DIMENSION 49J™. Ranked the industry’s highest indexing portrait cabinet for four consecutive months, DIMENSION 49 is a for-sale, flat-screen version of the j-curve machine, and it was featured at G2E 2021 with new brand extensions on Konami’s popular series like Treasure Ball™. Konami’s new DIMENSION 27 with three, stacked, 27-inch screens also made its G2E premiere, with original linked series such as Panda Power™.

Konami also unveiled a new premium game series called Bull Blitz. Following proven success in the Australian market, this DIMENSION 49J premium linked progressive series is now available to North American audiences with launch themes including Fortunes of the Orient and Roses & Riches.

The Treasure Ball on the Portrait DIMENSION 49 and Panda Power Linked Progressive on the DIMENSION 27 core Cabinets from Konami Gaming Bull Blitz Fortunes of the Orient and Roses & Riches premium linked progressive series in the award-winning DIMENSION 49J Cabinet from Konami Gaming

The Future is Bright!

Naturally, there were many other manufacturers and game innovators at the 2021 G2E, and we cannot, of course, profile them all. Notables also included Ainsworth, Aruze, IGT, Novomatic, AGS and others, along with suppliers and many other companies who collectively support the gaming industry as a whole.

Consequently, G2E 2021 is widely considered as laying the ground for an even better and bigger G2E in 2022. While the pandemic closed down the casinos, the manufacturers and their game designers continued to work, and by G2E 2022 there will be an explosion of originality in casino games and gaming that can truly be called a revolution. The 21st century is nearing the completion of its first quarter, and from all the indications at the 2021 G2E, the future – and the present – are truly and indeed bright for gaming.