While the AGS display at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention boasts several new slot games and features, Jackson Floyd says everything together tells a bigger story.
“We’re focused on showcasing the diversity and depth of our games,” said Floyd, the company’s senior director of product management.
AGS became known for high-volatility titles in the penny video segment. Many were based on a platform used by slot maker Cadillac Jack, which AGS acquired in 2015.
Floyd said the company’s new titles use a platform developed over the past two years and allows game developers to be much more creative with the play and graphics. That has led to player-selectable multi-denomination games, high-denomination three-reel video games, and a variety of options that were not available previously.
“As AGS matures and grows, we felt it extremely important to service different types of game segments and mechanics, so we can reach a wider audience,” Floyd said.
One example is Rakin’ Bacon Deluxe, which is marking its one-year launch anniversary.
“The features, functionality, and graphics are a huge step forward,” Floyd said. “There’s a very stark difference between what we produce now and what we used to have.”
Mega Diamond and Gold Inferno are multi-denomination, nine-line, three-reel video games designed for high-limit players or those who enjoy playing something other than a penny machine. Players can select their denomination, from 25 cents to $5 per credit. The games are on display at the NIGA show, but will not be available until later this year, Floyd said.
The games offer multiple progressive jackpots and feature “simplistic aesthetics” in the style of successful games already in the high-denomination market. “There aren’t bonus rounds. There aren’t a lot of frills,” he said. “A progressive chase is the main feature.”
Golden Dragon, available with the imposing 4K Starwall video display, boasts “extremely rich graphics,” possible only with the new game platform, Floyd said. Starwall – 8.5 feet tall, 8.5 feet wide, and 5 feet deep – displays graphics that complement game play on the company’s Orion Portrait cabinet.
Golden Dragon is a five-reel video game, with player-selectable multi-denomination ranging from one to 10 cents. A golden pot beneath each reel offers rewards of free spins or a spin on the jackpot wheel. At times, a reel drops a coin into the pot, which awards the prize.
“The different denominations have different prizes in the pots,” Floyd said. “You can kind of shop around and see what the best prizes are.”
Panda Blessings and Monkey Legends, both with a twist on the hold-and-spin feature, are additions to the Imperial 88 family of games. Floyd said the bonus round includes chances for multipliers that automatically increase all the credit amounts on the screen and “instant-win” symbols that award all the credit amounts on the screen before resuming the hold-and-spin bonus. “You just feel like the upside is very, very high and there’s a very big-win opportunity, which keeps it exciting,” Floyd said.
Floyd said Mighty Power is an innovative five-reel penny game because of what it doesn’t have: a progressive payout. That allows the money normally set aside for those infrequent large payouts to be added to bonus features and base-game wins. Another feature is the use of two “megareels,” one occupying the space normally used by reels 1 and 2 and the other occupying the space for reels 4 and 5. If the megareels show identical symbols, one or two other reels overlay them. In the Mighty Power feature round, reel 3 becomes all wilds with multipliers.
“A great thing about AGS games is our prizes scale up considerably,” Floyd said. “It allows big-win opportunities for the player, which really drives a lot of excitement.”
The AGS formula is to “double down on the stuff that that got us here,” Floyd said. “Adding these innovative concepts and different product segments brings home the diversity and depth that we’re chasing.”
AGS is at booth 1431 at this week’s tradeshow.
