The AGS Spectra UR43 cabinet is performing well out of the gate, according to a report from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming and Fantini Research.
The new EGM cabinet that debuted at G2E features a 43-inch UltraHD 4K portrait monitor, game-controlled eclipse lighting, and V-Sync technology for seamless video-linking capabilities when machines are banked together.
Spectra has debuted with the deepest content pipeline of any new AGS cabinet launch, including new concepts and brand extensions of AGS’ player favorites, supporting both Class II and Class III end markets, said Mark DeDeaux, senior vice president of slots at AGS.
The Spectra UR43 is already delivering an immersive entertainment experience for all types of players. From its crisp 4K graphics to its game-controlled lighting, this cabinet “dazzles players while adding a stunning glow” to the casino floor, DeDeaux said.
The global supplier AGS has a profusing of games in the pipeline for the cabinet and at G2E displayed 10 of them from five game families — a mix of brand-extension games like Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey and Legends of Imperial 88. Triple Coin Treasures was the first game family to debut AGS’ latest cabinet concept in Spectra. The family includes Long Bao Bao and Shamrock Fortunes, which feature friendly characters that emerge from three vibrant pots of gold when corresponding wilds are triggered, awarding luck in the form of three unique bonuses.
“AGS is excited about the launch of the new Spectra cabinet,” DeDeaux said. “This program was 18 to 24 months in the making with strong collaboration between R&D and the commercial side of the business. It was our hardware-engineering team, platform-design people, and sound engineers mixed with feedback from sales and input from product management. We also took field data from our customers and observed trends in the marketplace to make the launch of Spectra as successful as possible.”
AGS launched the initial casino testing of the hardware in July at Choctaw Durant in Oklahoma. The games were part of the Triple Coin Treasure family and performed “exceptionally high.” The test showed it was one of the top-performing areas on the floor and were the top-performing games in that area, he said.
“Purely from a game-performance standpoint, right out of the gate, we were really excited,” DeDeaux said. “From a hardware-durability and platform-stability standpoint, we saw literally zero issues. We made our normal tweaks and learned some lessons, but in general, there were no issues we had to go back and correct. We knew we had something special from the start.”
Since the testing in July, AGS has installed the Spectra cabinet at 10 casinos across the U.S., including the Venetian in Las Vegas, and in all instances, the performance was consistent. They went into G2E knowing that they had successful tests on the platform, hardware, and on the games themselves.
“I think that fueled a lot of the attraction and buzz that we saw at G2E,” DeDeaux said. “Overall, from working through the whole design process and lining up the game-portfolio strategy with the hardware, I think this is surely going to be the most successful cabinet launch in the history of the company.”
Triple Coin Treasures launched in Class III in early October and the Class ll launch will start in the first quarter of 2023, DeDeaux said.
“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, which has to do with the rigorous testing process that we went through. Starting testing in July and not really debuting the product until G2E gave us a lot of time to build up a lot of good data insights and prep the sales team,” DeDeaux said. “The Orion Portrait was such a unique-looking portrait cabinet when we originally launched it that customers have been anticipating us having a new kind of look and feel to our hardware. We believe we delivered that with Spectra. It’s a very sleek design, yet it has a lot of good character that makes it pop. Then, if you go behind all of the initial game graphics and animation, the games really stand out. The performance speaks for itself and that carries over into customer sentiment.”
DeDeaux said they’re seeing great game performance across all installations they’ve tested. On the low end, it’s two times the average house and the high end is 3.5 times average, he said.
When customers see the three pots in Triple Coin Treasures, DeDeaux said what they’re noticing is a “recognizable display of a trending mechanic that is well known in the industry.” They’re then excited to see AGS’ version with its use of cash-on-reel and symbol-upgrade mechanics.
“When you’re landing the cash-on-reel symbols in the free games, you have an opportunity to build and build and build with each subsequent free spin, because one of the bonuses actually elevates some of the symbols to the cash-on-reel symbol. We believe the success of these games, besides having really good math, fits right in between your higher-volatility gambler and more of your retail-type player. We really zeroed this one in to fit nicely. These features can really build and become quite explosive as you get into free-game features.”
DeDeaux said they have a robust set of games coming behind the initial launch to support the expansion of Spectra in the market.
“Right now, we have a lot of success with the Orion Curve. There are low-denom and high-denom games on the Orion Curve, which stand out, because they’re 49-inch curved monitors and have a great presence on floors,” DeDeaux said. “Spectra is very complementary to that product within the overall AGS portfolio and gives our customers a lot of optionality in their purchasing decision. We don’t look at it as, ‘Let’s have a successful product,’ but ‘Let’s have a successful portfolio.’ Spectra is the cherry on top right now.”
