The reveal of four new hardware configurations, which Mark DeDeaux, Senior Vice-President/General Manager of Slots, described as “a huge step forward and the culmination of everything that we have been working on for the last four years,” was the highlight of the evolution of AGS at G2E 2024.
Three form factors in the new Spectra Plus cabinet line, including Spectra SL75+, Spectra SL49+, and Spectra SL49+ Premium, together with Revel, a mechanical three-reel stepper and the previously released Spectra UR43, Spectra UR43 Premium, and the Spectra UR49C cabinets, represent what DeDeaux says “are truly meaningful for our strategy moving forward.”
The products, which debuted to rave reviews by showgoers, are accompanied by AGS’ most extensive library of slot content, featuring innovative extensions from its popular Rakin’ Bacon franchise.
“We started releasing our new Spectra line-up of products at G2E two years ago, including Spectra UR43,” DeDeaux said. “Last year, we launched Spectra UR49C and Spectra UR43 Premium. This year, we are coming out with our new Revel mechanical reel stepper, Spectra SL75+, Spectra SL49+, and the new Spectra SL49+ Premium.
“What this does is round out the overall product strategy for our Spectra and Revel products. If you think about it in terms of evolution and momentum, it is, as we like to say at AGS, ‘just getting started’. A great deal of thought went into this. It really is exciting to be at the tipping point of acceleration; an accomplishment we are proud of as a team.”
A pivotal component in the evolution of the strategy, according to DeDeaux, is that as AGS is releasing the new hardware configurations, they are leveraging a lot of new Rakin’ Bacon themes across many of them. Four brand new Rakin’ Bacon families of games, encompassing seven titles, debuted in public for the first time at G2E.
“We are introducing new Rakin’ Bacon games that leverage the theme, the recognizable brand, and this adorable character that we’ve created in the brand that our players have named ‘Cornsquealius”.
“When you have an icon within a brand that is so recognizable, it provided the opportunity for us to truly build a franchise of products around the Rakin’ Bacon brand. Thus, we have been very intentional to incorporate unique and different attributes in debuting the four new Rakin’ Bacon families from what we have created in the past.
“One of the new Rakin’ Bacon families is called Rakin’ Bacon Jackpots and is designed to appeal to more of the three-reel player. It’s being launched on our Spectra UR49 cabinet. Another launch title on the new Spectra SL75+ cabinet is Rakin’ Bacon Cash Combo, which is, again, a three-pot metamorphic hold-and-spin feature style of game.”
Another new game is based upon AGS’ proven title Piñata Pays, only featuring the Rakin’ Bacon brand – underscoring the strategy to leverage the Rakin’ Bacon brand and all other new titles with new mechanics into many of the new hardware product launches.
AGS’ roots are planted in the Class II Native American gaming market. However, the new customer-centric culture and growth have driven the company to become a leading all-inclusive commercial gaming supplier.
“What we have discovered is that everything we are doing is strategically designed to enhance all aspects of our business,” DeDeaux said. “What we have really designed this strategy to do is to continue to enhance our Tribal Class II business segment, because the products that we are developing are really transferable, regardless of whether they are Class II, Class III or historical horse racing.
“We are seeing consistent success in our new products in both Class II and Class III, and as we continue to evolve the strategy, the focus is really enhancing them both. We have observed a direct correlation. What performs well for us in Class III performs well in Class II. It is all about enhancing our overall relationships within the different business sectors.”
DeDeaux said that what AGS is striving for with the new Rakin’ Bacon families of games that were launched at G2E is to showcase the brand with mechanics that players have never before seen on the brand and to expand it into a new player segment by delivering game mechanics that players enjoy.
“This is not just a game launch, but rather the evolution of our brand strategy in building a true franchise around the iconic and highly recognizable Rakin’ Bacon brand,” he said. “It really lends itself to this kind of franchise concept.”
“The key for us was to leverage new game mechanics, bonus features, and math models that we know already resonate with players, which essentially illustrates the maturity and evolution of AGS’s slot portfolio.”
Combined with the new hardware configurations, the invigorated and imaginative AGS slot portfolio represents giant strides for the evolution of AGS into one of the leading slot providers on a global scale.
