AGS has announced that they will introduce three new hardware configurations that build off its Orion line at this year’s Global Gaming Expo.
“This year’s G2E is the biggest in terms of release of new hardware,” said Mark DeDeaux, senior director of Slot Products at AGS. “These three new configurations finish out our Orion product portfolio. We are doubling the number of new hardware configurations, and that’s significant to our business. These will be our first Orion games specifically targeted for premium, which is a step forward in our evolution as a company and a huge market opportunity.”
AGS had already announced plans to roll out a number of new table game products at G2E in a talk with CDC Gaming.
ORION RISE Tower Cabinet
Orion Rise is AGS’ tallest cabinet at eight-and-a-half feet with a dual-screen video slot. The 55-inch High-Definition 4K LCD portrait top monitor showcases jackpots, bonus events, and wheel excitement, while the lower 24-inch High-Definition LCD touchscreen monitor highlights game-play action, pick features, and reel spins, DeDeaux said.
The Rise is a premium Orion product for the not-for-sale lease and participation-only segments of the market, DeDeaux said. The product is officially released in Class II tribal markets and getting installed in November across the country. AGS will be releasing it in Class III jurisdictions in early 2020.
“We have a lot of new titles coming out behind it with games that are a lot more elaborate in their design,” DeDeaux said. “We have a lot of new game-play mechanics on this hardware configuration and plenty of content coming, and we’re using our successful approach of math design as well.”
The ergonomic 10.1 LCD button deck on the player interface is built with Gorilla Glass for damage resistance and durability. The low-profile button deck and its dual bash buttons are surrounded by high-bright lights to enhance the game-play experience.
AGS’ signature U-shaped lighting design showcases the platform, with 420 game-controlled LED lights that change color based on in-game events. A custom-design premium audio system adds to the cinematic game-play experience, DeDeaux said.
Eight-foot-tall Ultra HD LED spacer signage adds an element of attraction to the linear banks of Orion Rise games, showcasing high-impact motion graphics designed to complement the game theme, DeDeaux said, resulting in “a stunning cohesive game package design to add high levels of player engagement.”
Built for player comfort, the Orion Rise features a low-profile customer player interface and wider footwell for more leg room. An integrated USB charging port enables players to charge their phones or tablets while they play, DeDeaux said.
ORION 49C Slot Cabinet
The Orion 49C, AGS’ first curved slot cabinet, features an LCD Ultra HD curved portrait monitor for a more immersive game-play experience
The 49-inch curved touchscreen portrait monitor features 4K resolution for cinematic slot entertainment, highlighted by “spectacular color, breathtaking contrast, and incredible detail,” DeDeaux said.
“We’re seeing more portrait-style games dominate the market in terms of performance and popularity,” he said. “This is a nice extension of our Orion game family. The display is a bit larger than our competitors. The game looks phenomenal and is really going to stand out on customer’s floors. We have a lot of games on the product roadmap for this, and we’re really excited about launching this in the for-sale category of the market.”
AGS is timing the 49C’s release for mid-2020.
A 21.5-inch High-Definition LCD slot topper with LED lighting celebrates wins and game-play action, DeDeaux said. The large 10.1 LCD button deck is, like the one on the Rise, built with Gorilla Glass for superior damage resistance and durability, and the button deck and dual bash buttons are surrounded by similar high-bright lights to enhance game play.
AGS’ signature Orion U-shaped lighting design showcases this platform with more than 400 game-controlled LED lights that change color based on game events, music, and sounds. A premium, custom-designed audio system adds to the theater-like game-play experience, and the 49C also offers USB charging stations.
ORION PREMIUM PORTRAIT WITH STARWALL
AGS’ Starwall, which just won the Gaming & Technology Silver award for Best Slot Product, is a large-format free-standing video display that’s “a stunning game merchandising option for our Orion Portrait premium games.”
A first-of-its-kind, Starwall combines hundreds of direct-view LED tiles “to create a seamless video backdrop in a harmonious combination of pure black and color,” DeDeaux said. Measuring 8.5 feet wide by 8.5 feet tall and 5 feet deep, AGS’ Starwall is designed to attract players from across the floor, he said.
“Starwall adds attraction through high-impact motion graphics complementary to the game theme,” DeDeaux said. “The front, back, and side panels are composed of brilliant LED lights, enveloping the player in the game-play experience and attracting players passing by.”
Direct-view LED technology offers the highest maximum brightness of all leading display technologies, which DeDeaux said is perfect for a dimly lit casino floor.
“The whole package is breathtaking,” DeDeaux said. “It accommodates a six pack of games – three on each side – and the display wraps around the entire package. You can see all the graphics trailing around the Starwall display that are complementary to each other. It helps us accentuate the brand. It’s a beautiful display, and it will stand out on casino floors because there’s truly nothing like it.”
There are a half-dozen games in development for the Starwall that are premium for-lease and participation only, DeDeaux said.
The timing on the Starwall’s release is set for late in the first quarter or early second quarter 2020.
