Heres a use for digital video I bet few have considered. Also, Treasure Island uses videoconferencing on some of its slot machines for players to communicate with service providers throughout the casino.
The evolution of computer chip and CD-ROM technologies has broadened the appeal of slot games to a wider range of casino gamblers, panelists said during a Wednesday forum at the International Gaming Business Expo.
ÿÿÿÿÿ But technology alone is not the key to luring new slot players while retaining old ones, speakers said.
ÿÿÿÿÿ "The other challenge is to keep (the games) moving quickly. If your game is too slow, people get bored with it," said Morry Goldstein, president of Bally Gaming International Inc.
ÿÿÿÿÿ The three-day trade show, which ends today at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, offers slot manufacturers an opportunity to hawk their latest offerings.
ÿÿÿÿÿ The newest games continue the trend toward enhanced graphic imagery, stereo sound and episodic jackpots, with one payoff leading to a shot at a second.
ÿÿÿÿÿ "I don't think anyone on this panel would say there's any one game that's going to sweep the floor of a casino and wipe out what's there," said Bob Bittman, an International Game Technology Inc. executive vice president.
ÿÿÿÿÿ "The player's not a homogeneous person anymore," Goldstein agreed. "There are all types coming in the casino looking for different things."
ÿÿÿÿÿ Bally Gaming's newest slots, which were unveiled last year, offer three-dimensional graphics using an Intel Pentium processor. They are machines that offer 10 games in one and are found on a compact disc or CD-ROM. They include such offerings as video roulette and touch-screen darts, which give gamblers the chance to "throw" darts at a target.
ÿÿÿÿÿ Last year, IGT introduced its Vision Series, which integrates traditional spinning-reel games with computer technology.
ÿÿÿÿÿ But Bittman said there is a major challenge to the industry: finding top-notch engineers to design the games.
ÿÿÿÿÿ "I'm competing against (Microsoft Corp. Chairman) Bill Gates for an engineer," he said. "That's not easy." |
